Once Catholic, always Catholic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter comgrad05
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Apologies, Marian. I get carried away - there are so many far more superior and authorative sources than just my “say so”.
 
Sean,

You are correct as far as pre-1983. This is one of the things that changed with the current code. The marriage canons specifically refer to Catholics who have left the Church by formal act as no longer being bound by the Church’s laws on the form of marriage.
Can. 1117 The form established above must be observed if at least one of the parties contracting marriage was baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it and has not defected from it by a formal act…
Click to expand...
So according to this canon one who has “left the Church” would no longer be bound to get married in a Catholic Church with a proper ceremony. It would seem that such a person would be viewed as a baptized non-catholic who could validly marry in another church or with a justice of the peace.
 
I think the difficulty posed by “once Catholic, always Catholic” is that the question can be answered on different levels.

Once baptized Catholic, an individual has an indelible imprint on the soul which makes him ontologically Catholic.

However, that ontological standing is not helpful in determining whether one is theologically Catholic or a Catholic in good standing, which seem to be the meanings more often sought. It is based on these meanings, and not the indelible mark of baptism which would contradict it, that I would refer to heretics, apostates, etc. as non-Catholics.
 
Thanks for the response, Sean. You make some good points and I am in agreement.

My post was intended to communicate the status of fallen away Catholics in regard to marriage laws.

Thanks!
 
Andreas Hofer:
It is based on these meanings, and not the indelible mark of baptism which would contradict it, that I would refer to heretics, apostates, etc. as non-Catholics.
Click to expand...
And, on that basis, I guess that would be O.K.

However, on the matter of “Membership” and whether those “non-Catholics” are not subject to ANY of the Laws of the Church" - here is a little more:
jloughnan.tripod.com/ham2.htm
 
Andreas Hofer:
I think the difficulty posed by “once Catholic, always Catholic” is that the question can be answered on different levels.

Once baptized Catholic, an individual has an indelible imprint on the soul which makes him ontologically Catholic.

However, that ontological standing is not helpful in determining whether one is theologically Catholic or a Catholic in good standing, which seem to be the meanings more often sought. It is based on these meanings, and not the indelible mark of baptism which would contradict it, that I would refer to heretics, apostates, etc. as non-Catholics.
Click to expand...
And then there is the idea that no matter where you go,. if you were educated in the Catholic faith after your Baptist and accepted the Church as a youth and then left, there will be this naggy little voice inside you that keeps telling you to go back home.
 
Im a little confused but I would like to read this as it is ok for me to tell my husband that his being baptized in the Methodist Church really means that he was baptized a Catholic since baptism is Catholic? That all baptism is basically Catholic no matter how anyone else chooses to see it? This should be fun since he has never lived his Methodist faith and is actually agnostic who is slowly being spoon fed by a our Catholic Community. Is this logical thinking, that everyone who is baptized really is a Catholic no matter what they really think?
 
VeronicasJude
Im a little confused but I would like to read this as it is ok for me to tell my husband that his being baptized in the Methodist Church really means that he was baptized a Catholic since baptism is Catholic?
Click to expand...
The Sacraments were instituted by Christ and “belong to the Church”; they are “of the Church”, “by her” and “for her"her”. CCC 1118. Christ left the specifics as to the “matter and form” of the Sacraments to be determined by the Church under His Vicar. The Church determined - for the Sacrament of Baptism - the pouring of water (or immersion) while saying the words of the Trinitarian Baptismal form. The Church recognizes Methodist baptism as being valid. Therefore, when your husband was Baptized - he became a Catholic. Strictly, he became a Methodist Christian when he formally adhered to the Methodist church.
That all baptism is basically Catholic no matter how anyone else chooses to see it?
Click to expand...
Subject to the above - yes. But if the the matter or form is not correct - or the intention of the baptizer not to “do as the Church does” then, no!
This should be fun since he has never lived his Methodist faith and is actually agnostic who is slowly being spoon fed by a our Catholic Community
Click to expand...
What a wonderful opportunity for him to see your local priest to REALLY find out?
Is this logical thinking, that everyone who is baptized really is a Catholic no matter what they really think?
Click to expand...
Not quite: usually a child does not, at the time “think” about it - but, it is usually his parents who do so. It is they who want their child to be baptized a Christian and who take the steps to effect this. Then there may be conscious or unconscious steps that may be taken to reject Catholicism for another ecclesial church or for none.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top