Non-Catholic children of converts questions

[1ke]

But RCIA is for adults. It may adapted for children, but it is for adults… as the name says.

As far as the Church is concerned for the purpose of Sacraments, anyone over the age of of reason is an adult. You are either an infant (below 7) or an adult (above 7).

I can see how the church would end up in this pickle.

The Church isn’t in a pickle.

Normally children come into the church via their parents.
Adults come in via RCIA

And a child over the age of reason is an adult where it pertains to the Sacraments of Initiation.

Children are generally not allowed to convert until they have left home and are considered adults.

This is not true.

Children of adults who convert would be instructed in the faith by their parents whose faith is formed (quickly) via RCIA, and further by CCD, Religious Education, Faith Formation(FF) or todays name for it (whatever that may be).

They are received into the Church via the RCIA. They are instructed in whatever manner their parish provides, which can be a combination of RCIA catechesis, religious education, etc.

But children in those middlen years, need a boost to get into FF… Hence RCIAMFC, or, as many parishes call it, RCIC.

There’s no such thing as RCIC, no matter how many parishes offer something called that.

 

[1ke]

How odd that there is no official rites to welcome children into the church.

Certainly there is an official rite to welcome children. As Bro Rich has pointed out, there are two… depending upon the age of the child.

 

[Evan]

We have two official Rites to welcome children:

Under the Age of Reason - The Rite of Infant Baptism.

Over the Age of Reason - The Rite of Chtistian Initiation of Adults.

Isn’t it interesting how many Catholic parishes continue to use terms and processes that are incorrect and misleading, and no one seems to do anything about it, but perpetuate it.

since children (as used around here) are older than infants and I would like to think they are not adults yet, it seems that something like RCIC could have been formulated. The vatican abbreviation list agrees with your list above. So you are right, mea culpa. But I know around here a 14 year old girl, can refuse to take medication, can get an abortion on her own, can get birth control w/o parental notification, so I assume she is an adult. But a 13 year old, some of them may have reached the age of reason, but have not yet gained the wisdom that come in being 14 years old, in being an adult . Perhaps the church may someday recognize the difference between an infant and an adult (I know the state doesn’t) until that day, I shall refer to all christians old enough to commit a mortal sin (ie above the age of reason) as adults, the rest shall be infants.

 

[Evan]

The Church isn’t in a pickle.

Apparently you haven’t seen one of the churchs recently built here in the Seattle archdiocese. They say it’s supposed to look like the inside of the Ark. I think it looks like the inside of a pickle. So the church in that parish is in a pickle.

Evan:

Children are generally not allowed to convert until they have left home and are considered adults

This is not true.

At our parish, if an 8th grader wants to convert, his parents object, he is asked to wait.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Apparently you haven’t seen one of the churchs recently built here in the Seattle archdiocese. They say it’s supposed to look like the inside of the Ark. I think it looks like the inside of a pickle. So the church in that parish is in a pickle.

At our parish, if an 8th grader wants to convert, his parents object, he is asked to wait.

Of course! That is a legal issue not a Sacramental one.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

since children (as used around here) are older than infants and I would like to think they are not adults yet, it seems that something like RCIC could have been formulated. The vatican abbreviation list agrees with your list above. So you are right, mea culpa. But I know around here a 14 year old girl, can refuse to take medication, can get an abortion on her own, can get birth control w/o parental notification, so I assume she is an adult. But a 13 year old, some of them may have reached the age of reason, but have not yet gained the wisdom that come in being 14 years old, in being an adult . Perhaps the church may someday recognize the difference between an infant and an adult (I know the state doesn’t) until that day, I shall refer to all christians old enough to commit a mortal sin (ie above the age of reason) as adults, the rest shall be infants.

Actually Canon Law does have a break point at 14 years old at which certain laws apply. But it’s not pertinent to this issue.

 

[puzzleannie]

How odd that there is no official rites to welcome children into the church.

there is. It is called RCIA and the ritual book has a section covering special circumstances, one of the being reception of minor children over the age of reason, called the Children’s Catechumenate. But it is all RCIA. RCIC is an abbreviation used as shorthand for the secretary or DRE who is keeping records, not a legit liturgical usage. We also have a rite for infants (those udner age 7) it is called the Rite of Infant Baptism. OPs question has been answered. The pastor or his delegate will interview the family and determine the needs of each member, and receive them according to the rites and usages that apply, after preparation needed, adapted to the needs and age of each person.

 

[Sr_Sally]

This year we had a little boy receive his First Communion with his mother, who was received into the Church at the Easter Vigil. He had already been baptized Catholic because his father is Catholic, but the family had been attending the mother’s church. Then the father wanted to return to the Catholic Church and the mother decided to become Catholic, too. The boy and his sister attended CCD and since the boy was old enough for First Communion, he was prepared for it and received it with his mother. He was not Confirmed, though. That will happen in the usual manner when he reaches the proper age.

Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion are the Sacraments of initiation. You will usually see children confirmed at the Easter vigil when a family joins the Church together.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My question is how the already-baptized child of a convert goes about being received into the Church? The baptism was not Catholic but should be valid. Will she have to wait until she is older and can be confirmed with her peers (they do not do it at the same time as first Communion here for children) before she can receive Holy Communion, since she is technically still a non Catholic? Or are there exceptions that can be made under the circumstances or because she is a child? I am not sure how this is going to work. Naturally I will have to ask our priest about it as well but if anyone has been through this or has an idea of how this is going to work, I’d really appreciate it. There is also the issue of first Penance, she will soon be of the age of reason obviously, will she not be able to confess her sins despite being raised Catholic if she has to wait years for Confirmation because she was not baptized in the Church?

Once you are Catholic, your already Baptized children will simply fall into the normal process. They would receive First Penance and First Communion with her age group, or the next group if he/she is older, then be Confirmed with the age group. They would not have to wait and be Confirmed before receiving First Penance and Holy Communion.