RCIA - Should candidates be told the question they're asked at the Easter Vigil?

[Elzee]

I’m hoping someone can help me get this straight in my mind because I’m not sure if I should bring it up with our RCIA Director or not. If I remember correctly, at the Easter Vigil, the candidates (not the catechumens) are asked if they promise to " believe all the Catholic Church teaches". I may not have gotten those exactly words right but if I have the concept right, that raises my next question.

We do not tell our candidates that they will be asked to answer this question during the Easter Vigil. (Actually, we don’t tell them they are obligated to believe as Catholics during our entire RCIA program (but that’s another story)).

My thought is this, so please tell me if I’m right or wrong, or somewhere in between. This seems like an extremely important question that is intended to be taken seriously that needs to be answered truthfully - not just with a ‘yes’ because ‘its the thing to do and part of the ritual’. It doesn’t seem like a question we should surprise our candidates with when they are in front of hundreds of people at the Easter Vigil Isn’t this something we should discuss with them DURING RCIA so they can pray and prepare themselves before entering into the Easter Vigil to be sure this is a decision they want to make?

 

[jc-servant]

Our program does tell people up front that certain beliefs are requirements to coming in full communion. They also tell you the questions for the scrutinies and the vigil. It sounds like you have a much larger problem if they did not make it clear what is dogma before now.

 

[puzzleannie]

I’m hoping someone can help me get this straight in my mind because I’m not sure if I should bring it up with our RCIA Director or not. If I remember correctly, at the Easter Vigil, the candidates (not the catechumens) are asked if they promise to " believe all the Catholic Church teaches". I may not have gotten those exactly words right but if I have the concept right, that raises my next question.

We do not tell our candidates that they will be asked to answer this question during the Easter Vigil. (Actually, we don’t tell them they are obligated to believe as Catholics during our entire RCIA program (but that’s another story)).
?

candidates for full communion in the Catholic Church are required to make a profession of faith, and the elect to be baptized make baptismal promises, both based on statement of doctrines in the Creed, so it is essential that they have been taught that Creed and enough understanding of the doctrines to give informed, intelligent consent.
That is why one of the first topics in the inquiry period is the Creed, why teaching doctrine is essential in RCIA, no matter what plan you follow (lectionary based or systematic), and why there is a presentation of the Creed following the first scrutiny.

if you have not been teaching doctrine during this entire time, your candidates have not participated in RCIA but in the Breakfast Club or some equivalent.

 

[Andruschak]

I’m hoping someone can help me get this straight in my mind because I’m not sure if I should bring it up with our RCIA Director or not. If I remember correctly, at the Easter Vigil, the candidates (not the catechumens) are asked if they promise to " believe all the Catholic Church teaches". I may not have gotten those exactly words right but if I have the concept right, that raises my next question.

We do not tell our candidates that they will be asked to answer this question during the Easter Vigil. (Actually, we don’t tell them they are obligated to believe as Catholics during our entire RCIA program (but that’s another story)).

My thought is this, so please tell me if I’m right or wrong, or somewhere in between. This seems like an extremely important question that is intended to be taken seriously that needs to be answered truthfully - not just with a ‘yes’ because ‘its the thing to do and part of the ritual’. It doesn’t seem like a question we should surprise our candidates with when they are in front of hundreds of people at the Easter Vigil Isn’t this something we should discuss with them DURING RCIA so they can pray and prepare themselves before entering into the Easter Vigil to be sure this is a decision they want to make?

In my RCIA Class, NO. Given the FUBAR state of most RCIA, probably NO all over the landscape. I know of it, because I’ve been around the block several times, and have read Church documents and literature, including The Affirmation Of Faith. But that affirmation has yet to be mentioned in my RCIA Class. Perhaps they think of it as a “given” and no real thought is required. “You want to be a Catholic, right? Just say yes.”

 

[Andruschak]

if you have not been teaching doctrine during this entire time, your candidates have not participated in RCIA but in the Breakfast Club or some equivalent.

What she said. But note that most RCIA classes are aimed at the Catecumans. Us Candidates get to tag along as long as we know our place, don’t rock the boat, and behave ourselves. I’ve lost track of how many times in this Forum I’ve been told to learn patience, humility, and obediance through all this.

So I learn patience, humility, obediance, and very little else from RCIA. Oh what a good boy am I.

Meanwhile, the catecumans get mostly stuff about being called by name. Doctrine is not important, the word “catechism” is rarely heard. Are you being called by God to be a Catholic?

(I am under the impression that it has been the BVM calling me, and NOT to be a Jehovah Witness, either)

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’m hoping someone can help me get this straight in my mind because I’m not sure if I should bring it up with our RCIA Director or not. If I remember correctly, at the Easter Vigil, the candidates (not the catechumens) are asked if they promise to " believe all the Catholic Church teaches". I may not have gotten those exactly words right but if I have the concept right, that raises my next question.

We do not tell our candidates that they will be asked to answer this question during the Easter Vigil. (Actually, we don’t tell them they are obligated to believe as Catholics during our entire RCIA program (but that’s another story)).

My thought is this, so please tell me if I’m right or wrong, or somewhere in between. This seems like an extremely important question that is intended to be taken seriously that needs to be answered truthfully - not just with a ‘yes’ because ‘its the thing to do and part of the ritual’. It doesn’t seem like a question we should surprise our candidates with when they are in front of hundreds of people at the Easter Vigil Isn’t this something we should discuss with them DURING RCIA so they can pray and prepare themselves before entering into the Easter Vigil to be sure this is a decision they want to make?

We always went over an outline of the Vigil, not very detailed. But made sure that they understood their responses and asked them if they had any reservations in answering, if so we took them aside and addressed the issue.

 

[Elzee]

We always went over an outline of the Vigil, not very detailed. But made sure that they understood their responses and asked them if they had any reservations in answering, if so we took them aside and addressed the issue.

Brother Rich, what would you do if someone told you that they just can’t accept a specific doctrine, such as the Assumption of Mary or the Church’s teaching on artificial birth control and couldn’t answer ‘yes’ to the question ‘do you promise to believe all the Church teaches’? Would that person still be able to join the Church and receive Communion?

 

[Joe_Kelley]

It is important to note that “Accepting all that the Catholic Church teaches” does not imply having a detailed knowledge of all Her teachings. It is to accept the Catholic Church as the authority on all that She teaches. That is, you accept the teaching not because you have studied it and agree with the Church’s conclusion, but because you accept the Church as proper source for that knowledge.

Thus if you disagree with one teaching, you have rejected Her as the source of truth, and must continue your search for truth.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Brother Rich, what would you do if someone told you that they just can’t accept a specific doctrine, such as the Assumption of Mary or the Church’s teaching on artificial birth control and couldn’t answer ‘yes’ to the question ‘do you promise to believe all the Church teaches’? Would that person still be able to join the Church and receive Communion?

We would recomend to the pastor that they not be received at this time. It would have to be his call. We would speak with the sponsor also trying to gain an understanding of how we missed this.

 

[Elzee]

It is important to note that “Accepting all that the Catholic Church teaches” does not imply having a detailed knowledge of all Her teachings. It is to accept the Catholic Church as the authority on all that She teaches. That is, you accept the teaching not because you have studied it and agree with the Church’s conclusion, but because you accept the Church as proper source for that knowledge.

Thus if you disagree with one teaching, you have rejected Her as the source of truth, and must continue your search for truth.

This is what I told one of our candidates, almost word for word.