C
cheezey
Guest
Thank you, Lisa!!
Not all parishes meet everyone’s needs. Sometimes people and personalities just don’t mesh.Going to a different parish may well be the key to continuing on your journey with more kindred spirits
I hope for a good move all the way around…Not all parishes meet everyone’s needs. Sometimes people and personalities just don’t mesh.
Hopefully, you’ll find the right teacher/situation sooner, rather than later.
I’m curious what falsehoods you were taught. It’s surprising to hear this as the point of RCIA is not to lure in unsuspecting Protestants and then drop the net. I remember my ex husband being amazed at the RCIA process. He said won’t they “just take you…especially if you promise to donate money?” I explained that RCIA is a process to see if you are able to truly become Catholic. They don’t just want bodies in the pews each week or even regular tithing so much as having your entire heart.FWIW, I wish the RCIA program at my wife’s parish had been more substantial. It seemed like they were trying to tell me what they thought I wanted to hear. They told me plenty of falsehoods about Catholicism, which had the effect of making it more appealing to an Episcopalian. If I hadn’t done some research on my own, if I had just gone along with the group, I would have converted. It wouldn’t have been Catholicism I converted to, however, but a misrepresentation of Catholicism. Kinda like the famous Fulton Sheen quote.
May I ask a slightly off topic question? If a person converts because of falsehoods they were taught in RCIA, essentially theological malpractice, are they really Catholic?
The RCIA team at that parish taught me that women would soon be priests, that use of condoms to limit family size was just being responsible, that a Catholic could receive communion at an Episcopal Church - indeed, the layman in charge said that a person could be both Catholic and Budhist. We were not taught about the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception or the Assumption, nor about many Catholic obligations, some of which I’m still learning about now.I’m curious what falsehoods you were taught.
Good, I’m glad to hear that.During the years I’ve been on the RCIA Team, I’ve heard many questions and challenges, particularly from the Evangelicals. In no way did our Priest or RCIA Director water down their answers to “trick” anyone into joining.
The RCIA team at that parish taught me that women would soon be priests, that use of condoms to limit family size was just being responsible, that a Catholic could receive communion at an Episcopal Church - indeed, the layman in charge said that a person could be both Catholic and Budhist. We were not taught about the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception or the Assumption, nor about many Catholic obligations, some of which I’m still learning about now.
That’s also my own experience. Those converting for all the “wrong” reasons (to get married, to get a job in a Catholic school, to get their kid into Catholic school) seem to stick with it, while those who “read their way in” also have a way of “reading their way out.”From my own personal experience, the “most challenging” person who shows up and says in effect, “I read the catechism, I read this work (fill in the blank), I have memorized the Creed, I’m not interested in community or sharing or works of mercy… when do I get baptized?”
That’s incredibly unfortunate. I did run into people at an RCIA leaders’ retreat who actually thought that way, though, so I believe you, even though such a thing ought to be impossible. I expect they were probably the same people.The RCIA team at that parish taught me that women would soon be priests, that use of condoms to limit family size was just being responsible, that a Catholic could receive communion at an Episcopal Church - indeed, the layman in charge said that a person could be both Catholic and Budhist. We were not taught about the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception or the Assumption, nor about many Catholic obligations, some of which I’m still learning about now.
Hi - I think you made a decision of integrity As you may have noticed on other threads on CAF the Catholic Church has been having much difficulty in the past few decades with the issue of people - including public figures - being nominally or culturally Catholic while ignoring or even working against the Church’s teachings.Well, this was several years ago. I didn’t know much about Catholic teaching then.
No disrespect intended (and no debate wanted at this time, please, wouldn’t want to derail the thread), but I’ve studied the issue and choose to remain Episcopalian.
nice…Hi - I think you made a decision of integrity As you may have noticed on other threads on CAF the Catholic Church has been having much difficulty in the past few decades with the issue of people - including public figures - being nominally or culturally Catholic while ignoring or even working against the Church’s teachings.
It’s better not to misrepresent oneself; if you decide to pursue becoming Catholic at a later date and can really accept Catholicism without reservation that’s great, we’d love to have you. If you remain Episcopalian, then one knows you will believe and act as an Episcopalian will with your full heart and mind.
And though Catholics and Episcopalians or other Christian churches have differences, at least we will have the cards out on the table, and we can also seek and maximize our areas of agreement and do good in the world in those areas where doctrinal differences won’t be stumbling blocks.
God bless you and have a great weekend!
Awesome post.Hi - I think you made a decision of integrity As you may have noticed on other threads on CAF the Catholic Church has been having much difficulty in the past few decades with the issue of people - including public figures - being nominally or culturally Catholic while ignoring or even working against the Church’s teachings.
It’s better not to misrepresent oneself; if you decide to pursue becoming Catholic at a later date and can really accept Catholicism without reservation that’s great, we’d love to have you. If you remain Episcopalian, then one knows you will believe and act as an Episcopalian will with your full heart and mind.
And though Catholics and Episcopalians or other Christian churches have differences, at least we will have the cards out on the table, and we can also seek and maximize our areas of agreement and do good in the world in those areas where doctrinal differences won’t be stumbling blocks.
God bless you and have a great weekend!
[SIGN]Thank you!!![/SIGN]Thanks guys. Cheezey, I will keep your situation in my prayers. Keep leaning on God - He knows your heart!
Sounds almost like my RCIA class. I thought mine was horrible. However, our director would always say that we were free to think that she was full of **** and agree w/ “the Company”. (i.e. the Official positions of the church)The RCIA team at that parish taught me that women would soon be priests, that use of condoms to limit family size was just being responsible, that a Catholic could receive communion at an Episcopal Church - indeed, the layman in charge said that a person could be both Catholic and Budhist. We were not taught about the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception or the Assumption, nor about many Catholic obligations, some of which I’m still learning about now.
=3DOCTORS;11093110]I think every RCIA class should present several “tough dilemma” scenarios and emphasize what really committing to become Catholic entails. Maybe even role play a response. Examples:
- You are on vacation and your non-Catholic family members present an item on the itinerary that would preclude Mass attendance on Sunday morning, and you also have something on Saturday evening you all are doing. Plus they look at you weird when you ask them for a phone book to look up Mass times, you don’t have your own vehicle or one to borrow . . . you get the picture.
- You hear about a “tough case” of a married couple who has children and the pregnancies have been high risk, and all the “reasonable” people around them are advising - sometimes quite sternly - they use artificial birth control or sterilization. Or you might be part of the couple in question.
- Your favorite niece is “marrying” her lesbian “partner” and wants you to attend the ceremony.
- You really don’t get the whole veneration of the Blessed Mother thing, and one of your friends from your former Protestant congregation shows you a Bible verse that “proves” it’s wrong. Or one that proves you shouldn’t call your priest “Father.” Or any number of similar scenarios. Suddenly you are all twisted up inside.
- There is another instance of scandal in the Church reported in the news media.
- You have a personal life crisis where you question everything and whether you made the right decision to convert.
- You feel lonely and adrift in your parish after the Easter Vigil is long past, no one seems to care whether you’re there or not, or you are even actively snubbed by one or more parishioners. Or you are the center of some controversy and very upset about it.
MY DEAR FRIEND IN CHRIST,I’m sure many reading this could add their own items to the list. I’m a firm believer in “troubleshooting” - it can’t prevent every problem, but maybe it would help.
Hi PJM - what you describe sounds pretty good. It seems, though, from what I’ve known of people who later leave the Catholic Faith after converting, that not all RCIA programs are up to snuff. Assuming they’re teaching the doctrine correctly in the first phase you describe, for instance - well, to put it bluntly, that can’t be assumed in every place. There are a lot of “progressives” teaching RCIA and getting the bit in their teeth and misleading people.MY DEAR FRIEND IN CHRIST,
AS ONE WHO HAS [AND CONTINUES TO TEACH OUR FAITH] FOR 20+ YEARS INCLUDING 3 YEARS OF RCIA; I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE.
RCIA is broken into two broad segments:
And introduction to what we believe and why with an opportunity to question and then decide for ones self if this is what God is calling them towards
Once the decisiion is made to continue; the topics are covered in greater depth.
You perhaps are under estimating the the very powers of God’ grace to these people.?
God Bless you,
PJM
There are, but once people receive their Sacraments, they tend to drop out. We keep the doors open for them until Pentecost, but often it’s only the Catechists and sponsors who show up.Are there ongoing meetings for neophytes, and are they effective and focused? That might be a big help for many.
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