Reception of child into the Church who was baptized in another denomination

[thephilosopher6]

A young man at my parish, who is 12 years old, took first communion last Sunday. I had spoken to his parents who were new comers to our parish about 3 months ago. The mother is Catholic but the father was Presbyterian. The child was baptized Presbyterian but, when the mother decided to come back to Catholicism, her family came along. From what I understand, her husband had been confirmed and received into the Catholic Church not too long before, but as said, their child only received communion and was not confirmed. He did receive private instructions at the parish. Now, I thought the regular manner of reception, even of children, is through confirmation? I do understand some diocese have an age policy, I’d day the usual time someone is confirmed in my diocese is anywhere from 14-17 years of age. So, is the child in full communion with the Church or not? Is this correct?

Edit: There was a similar situation actually at my parish too, a Methodist boy, about 14, also taking first communion but not confirmed. He was later confirmed about a year later.

 

[SMHW]

A young man at my parish, who is 12 years old, took first communion last Sunday. So, is the child in full communion with the Church or not? Is this correct?

When unbaptized older children are received into the Church, they enter the Church via the standard RCIA which culminates in baptism and confirmation at the Easter Vigil. But in the case of baptized children, the method of reception is not as cut and dried. In fact, there is some variation in the way baptized persons of legal adulthood are received into the Church.

I would trust your pastor to see that this young person is now Catholic.

 

[thephilosopher6]

When unbaptized older children are received into the Church, they enter the Church via the standard RCIA which culminates in baptism and confirmation at the Easter Vigil. But in the case of baptized children, the method of reception is not as cut and dried. In fact, there is some variation in the way baptized persons of legal adulthood are received into the Church.

I would trust your pastor to see that this young person is now Catholic.

Alright. I wish the Church did have a clear cut way of receiving a baptized person without causing confusion like the Eastern Orthodox Church does as they typically receive a baptized person through confirmation or confession if that person was already confirmed.

 

[SyroMalankara]

I agree that there should be a clear path, however, its odd to cite the EO example as clear, since the EO manner of reception varies per bishop and in some cases, per priest

 

[thephilosopher6]

I agree that there should be a clear path, however, its odd to cite the EO example as clear, since the EO manner of reception varies per bishop and in some cases, per priest

Some Orthodox Bishops, most especially Bishops in ROCOR, do receive all non-Eastern Orthodox Christians through baptism, although generally most Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions accept validly baptized Christians (i.e those baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with water) through confirmation or confession. This is the position of Constantinople, but there are indeed some more “conservative” Bishops who do not. But as said, generally Eastern Orthodox do have a more clear cut way it seems.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

For those above the age of reason baptized elsewhere, reception into the Church and confirmation often go together, but that is not required nor are they the same thing. Reception into the Church is just that - being received into the Church upon a solemn profession of faith. Confirmation is a sacrament celebrated according to it’s own rite; we’re just accustomed to having those two things occur within moments of each other such that we blend them into a single event.

 

[thistle]

For those above the age of reason baptized elsewhere, reception into the Church and confirmation often go together, but that is not required nor are they the same thing. Reception into the Church is just that - being received into the Church upon a solemn profession of faith. Confirmation is a sacrament celebrated according to it’s own rite; we’re just accustomed to having those two things occur within moments of each other such that we blend them into a single event.

Correct.
I was a baptised Methodist. I went through the RCIA program and at Easter 1992 was received into the Church. Nothing complicated or confusing about it.
Our Confirmation was 6 months later.

 

[CB_Catholic]

A young man at my parish, who is 12 years old, took first communion last Sunday. I had spoken to his parents who were new comers to our parish about 3 months ago. The mother is Catholic but the father was Presbyterian. The child was baptized Presbyterian but, when the mother decided to come back to Catholicism, her family came along. From what I understand, her husband had been confirmed and received into the Catholic Church not too long before, but as said, their child only received communion and was not confirmed. He did receive private instructions at the parish. Now, I thought the regular manner of reception, even of children, is through confirmation? I do understand some diocese have an age policy, I’d day the usual time someone is confirmed in my diocese is anywhere from 14-17 years of age. So, is the child in full communion with the Church or not? Is this correct?

Edit: There was a similar situation actually at my parish too, a Methodist boy, about 14, also taking first communion but not confirmed. He was later confirmed about a year later.

Most Catholic children receive their first Communion before they are confirmed. In your two cases, it is not unusual, since they were privately instructed, for them to receive Communion first, then be confirmed later with the other children in the diocese at the appropriate age. It is done all the time.

 

[Casilda]

Alright. I wish the Church did have a clear cut way of receiving a baptized person without causing confusion like the Eastern Orthodox Church does as they typically receive a baptized person through confirmation or confession if that person was already confirmed.

 

[thephilosopher6]

Most Catholic children receive their first Communion before they are confirmed. In your two cases, it is not unusual, since they were privately instructed, for them to receive Communion first, then be confirmed later with the other children in the diocese at the appropriate age. It is done all the time.

I understand this. But since they were previously baptized outside the Church, I assumed their reception would include confirmation which seems not to be the case even when baptized adults join now that I understand. So this child, and others received in a similar manner, are fully 100% Catholics if I really understand correctly?

 

[Casilda]

For those above the age of reason baptized elsewhere, reception into the Church and confirmation often go together, but that is not required nor are they the same thing. Reception into the Church is just that - being received into the Church upon a solemn profession of faith. Confirmation is a sacrament celebrated according to it’s own rite; we’re just accustomed to having those two things occur within moments of each other such that we blend them into a single event.

The Orthodox and traditionally the Maronites (Eastern Catholic) baptized, confirmed and communed infants. The Maronite’s were forced to delay communion to age 7, but we’re allowed to keep confirmation (chrismation) for infants. This was all done together and the Latin church somehow separated them. Only converts, alas, have the benefit of the three-fold reception into the church.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I understand this. But since they were previously baptized outside the Church, I assumed their reception would include confirmation which seems not to be the case even when baptized adults join now that I understand. So this child, and others received in a similar manner, are fully 100% Catholics if I really understand correctly?

Yes. They are 100% fully Catholic. They just have not completed their Sacraments of Initiation.

 

[Crusaderbear]

At our Easter Vigil, we had it all, several people were baptized, confirmed, and received first communion, others were confirmed and received first communnion, and three just were confirmed. I think flexibility is important, many roads lead to the Lord. It’s important people know they can enter that path at any point in their lives!

The saddest thing I could imagine is someone not choosing the Faith because they thought they were ‘too old’ for confirmation or some other erroneous reason.

 

[1ke]

I understand this. But since they were previously baptized outside the Church, I assumed their reception would include confirmation which seems not to be the case even when baptized adults join now that I understand. So this child, and others received in a similar manner, are fully 100% Catholics if I really understand correctly?

You are correct that those over the age of reason should be received, confirmed, and commune at the same time. That is normative. But these are three distinct things, and there is no necessity that they be done together for validity or effectiveness.

Reception into the Church does make you Catholic, it matters not whether confirmation and/or communion accompany reception or come a time a different time. Yes, 100% Catholic.

 

[FrDavid96]

Alright. I wish the Church did have a clear cut way of receiving a baptized person without causing confusion like the Eastern Orthodox Church does as they typically receive a baptized person through confirmation or confession if that person was already confirmed.

I understand this. But since they were previously baptized outside the Church, I assumed their reception would include confirmation which seems not to be the case even when baptized adults join now that I understand. So this child, and others received in a similar manner, are fully 100% Catholics if I really understand correctly?

The Church does have such a rite. It is printed in the Rite of Baptism books.

A child under age 7 can be received into the Church using that rite—that of supplying the missing rites. It’s done when a child was privately baptized, or a non-Catholic baptism.

The child is received into the Church and what was missing from the baptism (such as the anointing) are done by the priest/deacon.