Should I switch my RCIA parish?

[Nabooru]

The one I’m at now is very friendly, but not very orthodox. They seem to think my New Age/Dharmic background isn’t a big deal, like that wasn’t a sin or anything. They’re far more interested in discussing the how’s and the when’s, like “this is the liturgical year” and “this is how to properly cross yourself”, etc., but don’t seem to be particularly into the WHY of being a Christian and knowing Christ. To them, it’s as though Catholicism is a regional expression of faith rather than the only known path to heaven.

But should I necessarily switch? I can just as easily enter Catholicism here as anywhere else - the rite of acceptance is the same, and I know what I know about the faith, even if they’re not the best teachers.

 

[papaececi]

I would switch if I were in your shoes. There can’t be a lot of grace flowing at a parish that is involved in new age thinking and though you will do your own reading you may inadvertently pick up some unorthodox teaching there without being aware of it. I’m guessing you don’t want to just join the Catholic Church so you can be a mediocre Catholic, you want to be a good Catholic. Why not seek out the best RCIA program you can?

Also, I’ve never done RCIA (I’m a cradle catholic) but from what I have heard from others, it can be a place where you make life long friends who are catholic. It would be a shame to go through it and then leave the parish. Why not join a parish where you will find like-minded people.

 

[onjac]

The one I’m at now is very friendly, but not very orthodox. They seem to think my New Age/Dharmic background isn’t a big deal, like that wasn’t a sin or anything. They’re far more interested in discussing the how’s and the when’s, like “this is the liturgical year” and “this is how to properly cross yourself”, etc., but don’t seem to be particularly into the WHY of being a Christian and knowing Christ. To them, it’s as though Catholicism is a regional expression of faith rather than the only known path to heaven.

But should I necessarily switch? I can just as easily enter Catholicism here as anywhere else - the rite of acceptance is the same, and I know what I know about the faith, even if they’re not the best teachers.

I would switch if I were in your shoes. There can’t be a lot of grace flowing at a parish that is involved in new age thinking and though you will do your own reading you may inadvertently pick up some unorthodox teaching there without being aware of it. I’m guessing you don’t want to just join the Catholic Church so you can be a mediocre Catholic, you want to be a good Catholic. Why not seek out the best RCIA program you can?

Also, I’ve never done RCIA (I’m a cradle catholic) but from what I have heard from others, it can be a place where you make life long friends who are catholic. It would be a shame to go through it and then leave the parish. Why not join a parish where you will find like-minded people.

I guess I’m reading the OP’s thread differently. I don’t think the OP means that the parish is involved in New Age thinking as opposed to making a big deal about the OP’s background.

To be honest, when I went to RCIA, it was informative but it was so dry. The dim lighting and the painstakingly slow speaking didn’t help. If it hadn’t been for the fact that the deacon showed Fr. Barron’s Catholicism series, I would have fallen asleep. The lessons themselves didn’t spark any burning passion for me. If I wasn’t already interested in becoming Catholic, I probably would have went away.

But I didn’t have an option at the time. I never expected RCIA to be perfect but during that time and now, I found other resources to learn about the Faith. I find that conversing with the priests and sisters (and the occasional friar) to be the most helpful. In fact, it was a sister who helped me finish the last leg of the RCIA program.

If you can find a Parish more suitable for you, then join it.

Hope this helps!

 

[Linusthe2nd]

The one I’m at now is very friendly, but not very orthodox. They seem to think my New Age/Dharmic background isn’t a big deal, like that wasn’t a sin or anything. They’re far more interested in discussing the how’s and the when’s, like “this is the liturgical year” and “this is how to properly cross yourself”, etc., but don’t seem to be particularly into the WHY of being a Christian and knowing Christ. To them, it’s as though Catholicism is a regional expression of faith rather than the only known path to heaven.

But should I necessarily switch? I can just as easily enter Catholicism here as anywhere else - the rite of acceptance is the same, and I know what I know about the faith, even if they’re not the best teachers.

Hang in there as long as you understand the faith anyway. Just keep quiet and get the sacraments. Do you have a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church? It is on line here if you don’t : vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

 

[TheRealJuliane]

The one I’m at now is very friendly, but not very orthodox. They seem to think my New Age/Dharmic background isn’t a big deal, like that wasn’t a sin or anything. They’re far more interested in discussing the how’s and the when’s, like “this is the liturgical year” and “this is how to properly cross yourself”, etc., but don’t seem to be particularly into the WHY of being a Christian and knowing Christ. To them, it’s as though Catholicism is a regional expression of faith rather than the only known path to heaven.

But should I necessarily switch? I can just as easily enter Catholicism here as anywhere else - the rite of acceptance is the same, and I know what I know about the faith, even if they’re not the best teachers.

CAN you easily switch now that you’re enrolled? I would think that would be difficult. I suppose you can ask, but what would you tell the parish you’re currently in? Maybe you can help in formation with your fellow candidates - talk to them during breaks, etc. Ask questions. Challenge the current RCIA teachers with Church teaching. Be bold in your new faith! You know that dabbling in New Age activities can be sinful, but a lot of Catholics might not even realize that. You can make assertions with your questions in class as well. Read your apologetics and give your teachers a heart attack!!

 

[papaececi]

I guess I’m reading the OP’s thread differently. I don’t think the OP means that the parish is involved in New Age thinking as opposed to making a big deal about the OP’s background.

You are right, I totally misread that! Sorry!

 

[InternetWoman]

Maybe you can help in formation with your fellow candidates - talk to them during breaks, etc. Ask questions. Challenge the current RCIA teachers with Church teaching. Be bold in your new faith! You know that dabbling in New Age activities can be sinful, but a lot of Catholics might not even realize that. You can make assertions with your questions in class as well. Read your apologetics and give your teachers a heart attack!!

I teach RCIA and I thoroughly endorse this approach! Quote from the Catechism! Quote form Church encyclicals! Quote the early Church Fathers! Faith matters! God is the only one whose opinion matters!

 

[aicirt]

The one I’m at now is very friendly, but not very orthodox. They seem to think my New Age/Dharmic background isn’t a big deal, like that wasn’t a sin or anything. They’re far more interested in discussing the how’s and the when’s, like “this is the liturgical year” and “this is how to properly cross yourself”, etc., but don’t seem to be particularly into the WHY of being a Christian and knowing Christ. To them, it’s as though Catholicism is a regional expression of faith rather than the only known path to heaven.

But should I necessarily switch? I can just as easily enter Catholicism here as anywhere else - the rite of acceptance is the same, and I know what I know about the faith, even if they’re not the best teachers.

You could ask the instructor to have the class explain why they wish to convert or why they’re interested in Catholicism? I love hearing those stories and that could stimulate some thougthful discussions.

CATHOLICISM FOR DUMMIES is recommended for converts. EWTN has some marvelous shows on various aspects of Catholicism. Mesmerizing.

 

[Nabooru]

Oh dear. My RCIA director just sent me an email full of quotes…from Neale Donald Walsch. For those who don’t know, he’s the disaffected Catholic that wrote Conversations with God, and is a whole host of issues in himself, although I won’t go into all of them here.

This is the exact stuff I was running away from, and now I’m getting it sent to me by the person who’s supposed to be helping me transition away from it! But I just don’t know how to say, “I’m sorry, but I’m not coming anymore.” I’m too polite. Help!

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Oh dear. My RCIA director just sent me an email full of quotes…from Neale Donald Walsch. For those who don’t know, he’s the disaffected Catholic that wrote Conversations with God, and is a whole host of issues in himself, although I won’t go into all of them here.

This is the exact stuff I was running away from, and now I’m getting it sent to me by the person who’s supposed to be helping me transition away from it! But I just don’t know how to say, “I’m sorry, but I’m not coming anymore.” I’m too polite. Help!

I recommend you draft a reply that says more of less what you said here. The this author has been dangerous to your Christian faith and that of others. That you recommend he notuse this author’s works any more, and that you may need to move to another program because of this. Ask for an appointment to talk to him.

Write it but don’t send it right away. Sleep on it and look at it at least once more before you send. You should also ask for an appointment with the pastor of this parish. He should know what the RCIA director is doing and how much of a problem it is for converts.

I’ll be praying for you.

 

[Nabooru]

I recommend you draft a reply that says more of less what you said here. The this author has been dangerous to your Christian faith and that of others. That you recommend he notuse this author’s works any more, and that you may need to move to another program because of this. Ask for an appointment to talk to him.

Write it but don’t send it right away. Sleep on it and look at it at least once more before you send. You should also ask for an appointment with the pastor of this parish. He should know what the RCIA director is doing and how much of a problem it is for converts.

I’ll be praying for you.

I can write such a reply but honestly I feel it will fall on deaf ears. The nun I spoke to at the beginning of RCIA wore makeup and flipflops and talked about various feel-good spiritual topics. I’m thinking of perhaps simply saying that something has come up (mainly, liberality with regards to faith, although I need not specify it) and I won’t be able to attend Sunday, and leave it open as to whether I will attend again, stating that I seriously need to consider what I’m doing and why. Does that sound okay with you guys?

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I can write such a reply but honestly I feel it will fall on deaf ears. The nun I spoke to at the beginning of RCIA wore makeup and flipflops and talked about various feel-good spiritual topics. I’m thinking of perhaps simply saying that something has come up (mainly, liberality with regards to faith, although I need not specify it) and I won’t be able to attend Sunday, and leave it open as to whether I will attend again, stating that I seriously need to consider what I’m doing and why. Does that sound okay with you guys?

That may be the best route with the RCIA director. Although I do want to note that religious sisters (not nuns, they are cloistered) are allowed to wear flipflops.

Do you know where you will move to for RCIA? I beleive strongly in attending your territorial (local) parish, but I do understand that there are some circumstances where that is not the best thing and your situation is a good example of that.

I do think that speacing to the pastor of this parish may be worth the effort. Perhaps after you have found a parish that will help you more and are enrolled in RCIA there.

I’ll be praying for you.