Sacrament of Confirmation Denied to My Son.

[TOP]

I was confirmed when I was 34 after being away from the Church since 8 y.o. I had one meeting with our parish Priest in which he gave me a CCC. I was confirmed and had my civil marriage blessed a week later. I think my Priest was trying to help me remedy a sinful lifestyle first and foremost. Tim

 

[jmcrae]

RCIA is not for adults seeking confirmation-- neither those baptized Catholic nor those baptized in other denominations. RCIA is for catechumens.

Catechumens also receive Confirmation as one of their Sacraments of Initiation, do they not?

Candidates and adult Catholics seeking Confirmation should not have any requirements other than religious instruction and reception of the Sacraments.

The “hoops” involve finding a way to receive religious instruction, and finding a priest who is willing to give you the Sacraments. In my case, I ended up auditing an RCIA Catechism program, and being received into the Church on the Easter Vigil. Not the “proper” way, I know, but it was the only thing available, at the time.

 

[1ke]

Catechumens also receive Confirmation as one of their Sacraments of Initiation, do they not?

Catechumens are unbaptized persons.

They receive all three Sacraments at the Easter Vigil.

The “hoops” involve finding a way to receive religious instruction, and finding a priest who is willing to give you the Sacraments. In my case, I ended up auditing an RCIA Catechism program, and being received into the Church on the Easter Vigil. Not the “proper” way, I know, but it was the only thing available, at the time.

Sorry to hear that.

 

[jmcrae]

Catechumens are unbaptized persons.

They receive all three Sacraments at the Easter Vigil.

My point was only that they, too, are adults seeking Confirmation.

 

[1ke]

My point was only that they, too, are adults seeking Confirmation.

Well, not really. It is for adults seeking Baptism. The other two Sacraments of Initiation are confered **after **Baptism even though in proximity to it.

And, I was clear I was speaking about baptized Catholics and baptized non-Catholics seeking full communion.

 

[Leopard]

RCIA is not for adults seeking confirmation-- neither those baptized Catholic nor those baptized in other denominations. RCIA is for catechumens…

RCIA is for Catechumens, who are unbaptized persons who intend to become Catholics through receiving baptism, confirmation, and Holy Communion.

But it is also for Candidates, who have received baptism, either as Catholics or in some other Christian church with a valid baptism, but who have not received the sacrament of Confirmation in the Catholic Church (or Chrismation in an Eastern Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Church), and/or first Holy Communion in the Catholic Church (or an Eastern Orthodox Church).

For members of the Orthodox Churches who have valid sacraments, usually only a Profession of Faith is needed to become Catholic. However, even these Christians may find the RCIA preparation program educational.

 

[1ke]

But it is also for Candidates, who have received baptism, either as Catholics or in some other Christian church with a valid baptism, but who have not received the sacrament of Confirmation in the Catholic Church

No, actually the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults is ONLY for the Catechumens. The Second Vatican Council restored the Catechumenate and promulgated the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults.

It is NOT for the baptized, although baptized converts commonly get lumped in to an RCIA program.

The process for adults already baptized is simply Profession of Faith and completion of the remaining Sacraments.

When VII restored the Catechumenate it was never intended for those already baptized.

 

[jmcrae]

No, actually the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults is ONLY for the Catechumens. The Second Vatican Council restored the Catechumenate and promulgated the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults.

It is NOT for the baptized, although baptized converts commonly get lumped in to an RCIA program.

The process for adults already baptized is simply Profession of Faith and completion of the remaining Sacraments.

When VII restored the Catechumenate it was never intended for those already baptized.

There is a whole section in the RCIA document dedicated to the treatment of baptized persons. There are even Rites that are specifically for them, right in the RCIA itself. So, it seems as though, yes, the RCIA does anticipate that baptized persons will want to become Catholic, and provides a process for them to do so.

 

[1ke]

There is a whole section in the RCIA document dedicated to the treatment of baptized persons.

Which RCIA document is that?

There are even Rites that are specifically for them, right in the RCIA itself. So, it seems as though, yes, the RCIA does anticipate that baptized persons will want to become Catholic, and provides a process for them to do so.

No, RCIA is **only **for Catechumens. See here:

usccb.org/comm/archives/rciaq&a98.shtml

 

[AlexV]

Actually, the catechumenate was ALWAYS there, as proven by the 1961 supplement to the Rituale Romanum that allows for how the catechumenate stages can be observed for adult converts using the Order of Baptism.

Again, a little knowledge goes a long way. The catechumenate was already there before Vatican II and before the 1972 (Latin) and 1988 (definitive US English) versions, it was just not as widely practiced, admittedly.

And yes, a simple examination of the 1972 and 1988 ritual volumes will show that RCIA is a blanket term that includes ALL receptions of initiation sacraments by adults: B, C, and E.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

There is a whole section in the RCIA document dedicated to the treatment of baptized persons. There are even Rites that are specifically for them, right in the RCIA itself. So, it seems as though, yes, the RCIA does anticipate that baptized persons will want to become Catholic, and provides a process for them to do so.

Actually, the catechumenate was ALWAYS there, as proven by the 1961 supplement to the Rituale Romanum that allows for how the catechumenate stages can be observed for adult converts using the Order of Baptism.

Again, a little knowledge goes a long way. The catechumenate was already there before Vatican II and before the 1972 (Latin) and 1988 (definitive US English) versions, it was just not as widely practiced, admittedly.

And yes, a simple examination of the 1972 and 1988 ritual volumes will show that RCIA is a blanket term that includes ALL receptions of initiation sacraments by adults: B, C, and E.

I don’t think anyone is disputing that RCIA can be used for the baptized seeking full communion, but I was going to make 1ke’s point that RCIA is not for the baptized. During its design it was not intended for the baptized, and IIRC (though I don’t have the texts handy) the books contain classic Vatican phraseology along the lines of “…these rites are NOT to be used for those already baptized…BUT if they ARE used, here is how to do it.” Putting baptized Christians through RCIA is the lazy, though admittedly in some if not many cases reasonable, method for admitting them to communion. All that is truly necessary is for the pastor to examine them, receive their profession of faith, and confirm them.

 

[jmcrae]

Which RCIA document is that?

There is only one. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a document that was put out by Pope Paul VI, under a decree of the Second Vatican Council.

Paragraphs 376 to 515 are specific directions for the initiation of persons who have been baptized previously, but have not received the other two Sacraments of Initiation, and refers both to uncatechized Catholics and to former Protestants.

It includes the Rite of Welcome, the Call to Lenten Renewal, and the Reception into the Church with First Confession, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion.

 

[brownjt]

It’s funny…I called the diocese for help and they never mentioned the “Home School” requirements. They said that they must support the priest.

I will call again and specifically ask for them. We also have a new bishop and will soon get a new priest.

Thanks for your advice.

Vote with your soul, your heart, your mind, and your feet - go to another dicocese. This is why the faith is LOSING people in churches.

 

[BornCatholic7]

YADA’s post is really bad advice on this topic and I hope no one in the future follows it. If people knew the canon laws, the catechism on family and parental rights, and pope encyclicals people wouldn’t be speaking nonsence on a topic they obviously know nothing about. No one, whether they be priest, confirmation teacher, bishop or pope is above the canon law, or catechism. Nor can they take away the parental rights to teach initiation sacraments to their children. See Canon Law 841, 843, 837-838: "sacred ministers cannot refuse the sacraments to those ask for them at appropriate times, are properly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them. Canon 843. To read Canon laws simply go to the vatican web site. Or a wonderful website with home schooling information on it with sacraments is Setonhome.org -when there go to the Home tab and scroll down to parent resources. This will take you to an article on Preparing Children for the Sacraments written by a Canon lawyer Edward Peters, JCD Pope Benedict has wrote that it is a mortal sin to deny one their confirmation. Another web page is on Keeping it Catholic web site. The web page article is Can Parents Really Prepare Their Children for the Sacraments? St. Thomas has even wrote that the parent’s role in teaching the faith is so important that he has compared it being as important as a priest. I am currently going through this same situation with my son. This denying parent’s rights to teach the faith seems to me to be a spiritual war between the sacrament of priesthood and sacrament of marriage. It is a liberal trend that has been around since I was 16, and probably started creeping in even before that.
Gods blessings to all who will read this information now and in the future.