Sacrament of Confirmation Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter ItsBenjamin
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I

ItsBenjamin

Guest
Hi,

I am an Anglican (currently) living in the United Kingdom. I am 17 years old. I have over the past few months discovered the Catholic faith and how it fitted in better with my High-Church Anglican beliefs.

I was not satisfied being an Anglican and so have now finally decided to convert. I have spoken to a priest who said if I finally made the full jump and stopped going to my Anglican church he would give me instruction to be confirmed in the Catholic Faith.

My question is however - my mother is rather anti-Catholic, she does not agree with nearly anything that is said by the catholic church. Therefore would I need her permission in order to be confirmed? or would I have to wait until I could consent myself?

Thanks for your answers:)
 
What is the age of majority in the UK? In the US it is 18 and I would probably suggest that you wait a year so that this isn’t an issue. But perhaps it’s a different age in the UK.

Will you be finishing school this year and going off to college? If so, that might be another reason to wait. If you’re living away from home it might be easier.

Finally, how does your father feel about this? Would he support you in becoming Catholic? Would he be on your side in convincing your mother that it’s OK?

No real answers, just lots of questions.
 
Majority is 18 here.
My Father lived away and my parents are divorced. Although he is catholic he’s fallen away from the faith.
 
The priest you’ve spoken with would probably be your best resource. To me it’s kind of an iffy situation. If you were older it wouldn’t be an issue and if you were younger it probably wouldn’t be an option. You’re old enough to know what you want but still young enough to be under the guidance of your parents.

I know that you expect your mother to be opposed to the idea, but I wonder if you can talk with her about it? You don’t necessarily have to counter every argument she might make, but listen to what she has to say and discuss it with her.

Others will probably be along with more thoughts on this.
 
You could try an Anglican Use Parish from the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham

ordinariate.org.uk/groups/groups.html

If you are not familiar, these are Parishes which are in full communion with the Catholic Church, but use a Liturgy which on the surface is similar to the Anglican Church.

It might be a great way to “compromise” with your mother.

If you have any questions, please let me know.
 
ItsBenjamin said:
would I need her permission in order to be confirmed? or would I have to wait until I could consent myself?
Click to expand...
Can. 98 §2. A minor, in the exercise of his or her rights, remains subject to the authority of parents or guardians except in those matters in which minors are exempted from their authority by divine law or canon law.

You do not need your mother’s permission to convert to the faith.
 
Paleocon said:
Can. 98 §2. A minor, in the exercise of his or her rights, remains subject to the authority of parents or guardians except in those matters in which minors are exempted from their authority by divine law or canon law.

You do not need your mother’s permission to convert to the faith.
Click to expand...
Paleocon,

You have to be careful throwing Canon Law around as the end all, be all.

There is more to the OPs dilemma that needs to be considered than the Code, which you may very well be misapplying to the situation (anyone can cut and paste the Code, a canon lawyer is a well trained specialist that considers case precedence and other technicality of the complex legal system used by the church).
 
Paleocon said:
Can. 98 §2. A minor, in the exercise of his or her rights, remains subject to the authority of parents or guardians except in those matters in which minors are exempted from their authority by divine law or canon law.

You do not need your mother’s permission to convert to the faith.
Click to expand...
Divine law is if his parents wanted him to do something sinful. That’s not the case here.

As for Canon Law, well, as a minor if he were in danger of dying he could be baptized or convert without his mother’s permission but I don’t think you’ll find anything that says he could convert without her permission under ordinary circumstances.
 
Neofight said:
Paleocon,

You have to be careful throwing Canon Law around as the end all, be all.

There is more to the OPs dilemma that needs to be considered than the Code, which you may very well be misapplying to the situation (anyone can cut and paste the Code, a canon lawyer is a well trained specialist that considers case precedence and other technicality of the complex legal system used by the church).
Click to expand...
Practical considerations aside, I don’t see what complexity is involved in the specific question. No natural authority can justly forbid a person who possesses the use of reason from entering the Church, this follows from the divine mission of the Church.

As far as civil law, I’m pretty sure that the UK recognizes a “mature minor” doctrine regarding matters of religion.
 
Joining the Church is not a decision to be made likely. Adequate spiritual and mental preparation is required. Could you possibly meet with a Catholic priest for instruction until you’re 18, at which point you could be confirmed?

That’s what I did. I too became convicted of the truth of the Catholic Church when I was 17. I met with the local priest for about a year before finally being confirmed and received into the Church shortly after I turned 18. My parents warmed to the idea over time, but were initially very opposed to it.

As has been noted, have you considered the Anglican Ordinariate?
 
Thank you all for your answers.

I have no doubt that my mother would reject any aspect of me entering the Catholic Faith. She detests any thought that I could even enter ‘such a place’ (Her Christian background is quite Low-Church Anglicanism - rather anti-Catholic. I believe it would be possible to go to instruction for a year. I just pray to God my mother with change her mind (unlikely but still possible) or more likely I can find some sort of way to get around needing her permission.

I have been going to the Catholic Church frequently for about a year and am 100% sure where the truth lies.
 
Paleocon said:
Remaining outside the Church when one knows it to be the true Church is sinful.
Click to expand...
Not if you are prevented by your parent. In the same way, you are not guilty of disobeying your parent if you refuse to commit a sin they want you to commit.
 
Benajmin, perhaps it will be possible for you to study and prepare, then make things official once you turn 18. Prayers for you during this time of waiting.
 
ItsBenjamin said:
Thank you all for your answers.

I have no doubt that my mother would reject any aspect of me entering the Catholic Faith. She detests any thought that I could even enter ‘such a place’ (Her Christian background is quite Low-Church Anglicanism - rather anti-Catholic. I believe it would be possible to go to instruction for a year. I just pray to God my mother with change her mind (unlikely but still possible) or more likely I can find some sort of way to get around needing her permission.

I have been going to the Catholic Church frequently for about a year and am 100% sure where the truth lies.
Click to expand...
Again, perhaps the Anglican Ordinariate might be a good place for you. Perhaps you could convert your mom if you join the Ordinariate??

Again, they are 100% Catholic, but have the traditions and feel of the Anglican Church.
 
Phemie said:
Not if you are prevented by your parent. In the same way, you are not guilty of disobeying your parent if you refuse to commit a sin they want you to commit.
Click to expand...
The possibility that an unjust precept could make it physically impossible (although that’s not the case here) to observe divine law does not make the unjust precept morally valid.

IOW, you’re making a circular argument.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top