RCIA Problems... :(

[distracted]

I recently reached out an Orthodox church and will be meeting with the priest next week. I never thought it would come to this but I am done with trying to get Confirmed in the Catholic Church.

i really feel for you. I have been treated the same kind of way in the Catholic Church (though i have never had your particular problem). Every once in awhile, i ask myself why i bother with the Church… so much liberalism… lack of reverence for the Blessed Sacrament and the Mass (etc, etc…). and then there are uncaring Catholics you speak of… It seems there are more friendly people in Baptist churches… (and others)… I may visit a non-Catholic Church but i will never leave the RCC… i just offer up my sufferings for the souls in Purgatory and for conversions (etc)… sometimes i go to a different Church… but i know that there are “things” the other “churches” don’t have… so i will never leave… I don’t know much about the orthodox churches… I think they are OK (in the eyes of the RCC)???

God bless…

 

[Matariel]

What is happening to our Church??

What did he mean by “you caught me?” You told the priest and he didn’t like it??

I just came back from RCIA, tonight. It was good, and abortion was denounced and the incarnation was properly taught.

Unfortunately, the deacon said that the Catholic Church at one time officially endorsed slavery. I immediately interrupted, saying, “No, the Church has never ever officially endorsed slavery.”

The subject was quickly changed, and class resumed.

Fortunately the rest was orthodox. Unfortunately, the kindly Religious Ed. Lady was nowhere to be found.

However, I got one up on the deacon; I purchased orthodox Catholic books about the Church, Sacraments, and history of the Church and handed them out to the eager co-learners after class.

They were happy and were sure to read them!

 

[Matariel]

i…I don’t know much about the orthodox churches… I think they are OK (in the eyes of the RCC)???

God bless…

The Orthodox churches are various national churches which broke away from the Catholic Church in the 11th (really, though, the 15th) and thus became Schismatics. Although they are the closest and most authentic form of Christianity besides the Church itself, they were and are perpetually divided amongst themselves like the Protestants-- mostly for national or ethnic reasons-- and, although they are wonderful and sincere Christians, their various churches are no substitue for the Church itself.

 

[distracted]

I just came back from RCIA, tonight. It was good, and abortion was denounced and the incarnation was properly taught.

Unfortunately, the deacon said that the Catholic Church at one time officially endorsed slavery. I immediately interrupted, saying, “No, the Church has never ever officially endorsed slavery.”

The subject was quickly changed, and class resumed.

Fortunately the rest was orthodox. Unfortunately, the kindly Religious Ed. Lady was nowhere to be found.

However, I got one up on the deacon; I purchased orthodox Catholic books about the Church, Sacraments, and history of the Church and handed them out to the eager co-learners after class.

They were happy and were sure to read them!

thanks for the interesting story…

sorry if i am asking you to repeat (?) but i am wondering about your spiritual background… What religion you were raised in, your (approx) age… how you came to be interested in the RCC… etc…

I am fascinated by conversion stories… (i guess because - or parly because… they seem so rare in my world…)…

 

[distracted]

The Orthodox churches are various national churches which broke away from the Catholic Church in the 11th (really, though, the 15th) and thus became Schismatics. Although they are the closest and most authentic form of Christianity besides the Church itself, they were and are perpetually divided amongst themselves like the Protestants-- mostly for national or ethnic reasons-- and, although they are wonderful and sincere Christians, their various churches are no substitue for the Church itself.

i feel like a dummy for asking this… but do they have a valid Eucharist… the Real Presence???

 

[Matariel]

i feel like a dummy for asking this… but do they have a valid Eucharist… the Real Presence???

They (along with some Independent Catholic churches and Continuing Traditional Anglican churches) have a primary place in the oecumenical effort, because they do have valid holy orders and Holy Eucharist, as well as the other holy Sacraments; however, they do not acknowledge the authority of the Universal Bishop, the Pope, and do not have unicity either.

 

[Matariel]

thanks for the interesting story…

sorry if i am asking you to repeat (?) but i am wondering about your spiritual background… What religion you were raised in, your (approx) age… how you came to be interested in the RCC… etc…

I was raised as a “non-denominational” Christian (really a misnomer) and saw the lack of definitive teaching and final authority, as well as the disparity in the Protestant “churches” (which are not “churches” in the most proper sense). Despite anti-Catholicism on all sides of my upbringing, I became Anglican, and eventually entered RCIA!

I am fascinated by conversion stories… (i guess because - or parly because… they seem so rare in my world…)…

Don’t worry-- it’s just the times we live in. I think it has alot to do with God’s judgement for all the Catholics who are disobeying (voting pro-death, using contraception, etc.) and the fact that catechisis is deplorable. However, I was reading a very interesting article, that had statistics, and while the Catholics who left the Church to join a separated sect were generally unknowledgable about there faith (and usually left over personal disputes) the Protestants who became Catholic were people who knew their faith extremely well.

Also, I think it may be regional; I hear alot of reports of conversions, and the Church’s claims are clearly superior to any of the thousand shattered sects out there-- which were created by men, unlike the Holy Catholic Church.

 

[Allen537]

I am sure this has already been proposed, but I would speak to the Pastor and the RCIA director.

In Carmel,

Br. Allen

 

[distracted]

They (along with some Independent Catholic churches and Continuing Traditional Anglican churches) have a primary place in the oecumenical effort, because they do have valid holy orders and Holy Eucharist, as well as the other holy Sacraments; however, they do not acknowledge the authority of the Universal Bishop, the Pope, and do not have unicity either.

hmmm… this is probably another “dumb” question (but if i don’t know the answer, it can’t be dumb, right? )… but how can they have valid Eucharist if they don’t acknowledge the pope, who was “assigned” by Christ (St. Peter was chosen by Christ, that is…therefore He also instituted the office of the papacy)?

 

[distracted]

I was raised as a “non-denominational” Christian (really a misnomer) and saw the lack of definitive teaching and final authority, as well as the disparity in the Protestant “churches” (which are not “churches” in the most proper sense). Despite anti-Catholicism on all sides of my upbringing, I became Anglican, and eventually entered RCIA!

i went to a pentecostal church the other day… because i was kind of tired of certain things going on in my Church… and just out of curiousity or what have you… I felt SO lonely there… & uncomfortable… like a fish out of water, to say the least… Nothing weird or anti-Catholic was done/said but… well, i left… and realized more strongly than ever just how much the Catholic Church, despite its problems (and members…) is HOME!!!

I was reading a very interesting article, that had statistics, and while the Catholics who left the Church to join a separated sect were generally unknowledgable about there faith (and usually left over personal disputes) the Protestants who became Catholic were people who knew their faith extremely well.

that sounds about right… I am in an area that is not strongly Catholic… I don’t think there has been an on-fire orthodox priest in a long time in the area where i live…

Also, I think it may be regional; I hear alot of reports of conversions, and the Church’s claims are clearly superior to any of the thousand shattered sects out there-- which were created by men, unlike the Holy Catholic Church.

True… the problem is… HOw do we get poeple to SEE that they are superior? I try to get them to see through letters written anonymousy… but in face-to-face confrontations/conversations… i get a little tongue-tied because… i am just kind of nervous with people i don’t know (or trust) very well… Plus, i never know what to talk about and waht to avoid…(so much anti-Catholicism out there… ) so maybe i should keep going with the anonymous stuff…

 

[Matariel]

hmmm… this is probably another “dumb” question (but if i don’t know the answer, it can’t be dumb, right? )… but how can they have valid Eucharist if they don’t acknowledge the pope, who was “assigned” by Christ (St. Peter was chosen by Christ, that is…therefore He also instituted the office of the papacy)?

The efficacy of the Sacraments in not dependent on acknowledgement of Petrine Authority; it is dependent on Apostolic Succession. Since , although defective (yet holy) churches, they maintain Apostolic Succession and a proper understanding of the holy Sacraments, they do receive the bare minimum of graces bestowed in the Sacraments, i.e., the graces promised by Christ (His Presence in Eucharist, regeneration in Baptism, Forgiveness in Confession, etc.).

They have primacy in oecumenical situations, because of their close ties with the Church. The Orthodox Patriarchs occasionally attend a Mass at the Vatican, and sometimes the Pope visits the Patriarchs.

 

[distracted]

The efficacy of the Sacraments in not dependent on acknowledgement of Petrine Authority; it is dependent on Apostolic Succession. Since , although defective (yet holy) churches, they maintain Apostolic Succession and a proper understanding of the holy Sacraments, they do receive the bare minimum of graces bestowed in the Sacraments, i.e., the graces promised by Christ (His Presence in Eucharist, regeneration in Baptism, Forgiveness in Confession, etc.).

They have primacy in oecumenical situations, because of their close ties with the Church. The Orthodox Patriarchs occasionally attend a Mass at the Vatican, and sometimes the Pope visits the Patriarchs.

hmm… i understand except for the last paragraph…

primacy in oecumenical situations??

Also: are they required to visit the pope occassionally???

 

[Matariel]

hmm… i understand except for the last paragraph…

primacy in oecumenical situations??

Because there is less obstacles to overcome, doctrinally speaking, than the errant and perpetually divided Protestants.

Also: are they required to visit the pope occassionally???

No; they can decline the Pope, although Patriarch Bartholomew has stated that one day the Orthodox churches and the Catholic Church may be reunited, as they were before the 15th century.

Do not, however, confuse them with Eastern Rite Catholics. Eastern Rite Catholics are a part of the Catholic Church, although they maintain their venerable Eastern traditions in liturgy and iconography, and they acknowledge the Pope as supreme head of the universal Catholic Church.