SPLIT: Married by a judge so can't receive communion?

[Gorgias]

RCIA is for non-Catholics. It is not the proper place for Catholics. Yes, they should receive proximate preparation for the sacrament either in a group or individually. This is typically about 6 weeks of catchesis.

Interesting. Have you seen parishes that have separate programs for catechumens and candidates? Given available resources, that seems somewhat burdensome for a parish…

Many do. If it is a small parish that would be appropriate.

If we’re talking about two or three adults each year, then we’re talking about a commitment of about 12-36 hours of “class” time (not counting prep time for the catechist). More than that, though… well, ‘unreasonable’ and ‘burdensome’ are the words that immediately come to mind. I mean, imagine if your employer came to you and told you that an existing training program was “not the proper place” for a particular group of trainees, and asked you to spend an extra 40 hours of time to develop a personally-tailored program for them. Hmm…

If it is a larger parish with a number of adult Catholics seeking confirmation, then an adult confirmation class would be in order, taught by the pastor or his designee. Again, NOT RCIA.

And in a parish with less-than-unlimited resources, you’re saying that the “adult confirmation class” isn’t RCIA?

(Edited to add…) Just out of curiosity, what do you think the differences in substance might be, between a class solely for catechumens and one solely for candidates?

 

[Irishgal49]

i want to know why a preist told me today at confession that he couldnt except it today because i got married by a judge and i cant receive comunion untill i get my marriage blessed why is that i am very upset

First of all, you do not have to be confirmed although it would be a good idea if you haven’t been. I know couples who were married and one wasn’t confirmed, due to no classes being available and such. It all depends on the Diocese.

Is your husband Catholic? Have you been married before? Has he? Why did you get married by a judge? Are you pregnant? All of the unanswered questions are best discussed with a priest who can help you. If you don’t have a good rapport with your home church priest, go to any priest…they can let your home church pastor know what’s going on–I know sometimes you can feel slighted and feel like you aren’t wanted. You can still go to Mass, just don’t take communion until you have a radical sanation or convalidation. A priest can explain these to you–we can’t help you on here except to say that you are in our prayers.

 

[Phemie]

And in a parish with less-than-unlimited resources, you’re saying that the “adult confirmation class” isn’t RCIA?

(Edited to add…) Just out of curiosity, what do you think the differences in substance might be, between a class solely for catechumens and one solely for candidates?

RCIA is designed primarily for those seeking Baptism. Yes, it can be used for candidates seeking to be in full Communion but if it’s at all possible, that should be avoided. If it can’t be avoided, they should be treated very differently from the catechumens and they shouldn’t be made to wait longer than is necessary to be received. If a catechized Anglican is ready to be received after 6 weeks, he/she should not be made to wait until the Easter Vigil, since the Pastor has the faculty to receive him/her at any time.

We are so lax that we want to lump everything together, even when they are not meant to be. The Vigil is properly for those who are being baptized. A Catholic who has been coming to church regularly but who, for whatever reason, missed Confirmation when he/she was young, should only be made to wait until he/she has been properly catechized and that’s not a long process. If at all possible they should be prepared for the next time the Bishop is in town.

Ultimately, it’s up to the Bishop. If he’s happy with the Pastor conferring Confirmation on Catholic adults, he’ll grant him the faculty to do so. Our last one confirmed adults who were prepared at the same time as he did the kids. A few times he granted the faculty to the Pastor when kids who had been prepared were unable to be present for the Bishop’s ceremony (one was ill, one was on another continent on a trip that had been bought and paid for before the Bishop’s schedule came out.

 

[1ke]

Interesting. Have you seen parishes that have separate programs for catechumens and candidates? Given available resources, that seems somewhat burdensome for a parish…

Yes.

If we’re talking about two or three adults each year, then we’re talking about a commitment of about 12-36 hours of “class” time (not counting prep time for the catechist). More than that, though… well, ‘unreasonable’ and ‘burdensome’ are the words that immediately come to mind. I mean, imagine if your employer came to you and told you that an existing training program was “not the proper place” for a particular group of trainees, and asked you to spend an extra 40 hours of time to develop a personally-tailored program for them. Hmm…

These are not trainees and RCIA and adult confirmation are not programs. this is entirely the wrong mentality.

And in a parish with less-than-unlimited resources, you’re saying that the “adult confirmation class” isn’t RCIA?

Yes, it can be done. I do it.

Please stop being rude with the eye rolling icon.

(Edited to add…) Just out of curiosity, what do you think the differences in substance might be, between a class solely for catechumens and one solely for candidates?

Well, for one, the Catholic is already initiated and therefore is already participating in the sacramental life of the Church. They have had catechesis. The adult confirmation program is proximate preparation for the sacrament, NOT wholesale catechesis appropriate for a non-Christian or a non-Catholic.

 

[joanofarc2008]

A lot has been discussed here but I think the important part is that we are supportive of the OPs feelings. Right now there seems to be some anger and confusion. It’s OK… It does not seem like from what has been said that this is an irreparable situation. Just think of this as a time that you can make a sacrifice of penance and then reapproach the Lord as a couple after a time of introspection and soul searching as a couple once you have received the Sacraments of Holy Matrimony and Reconciliation. It could be a chance for you both to grow spiritually if it is approached the right way, with the right attitude, together.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Yes.

These are not trainees and RCIA and adult confirmation are not programs. this is entirely the wrong mentality.

Yes, it can be done. I do it.

Please stop being rude with the eye rolling icon.

Well, for one, the Catholic is already initiated and therefore is already participating in the sacramental life of the Church. They have had catechesis. The adult confirmation program is proximate preparation for the sacrament, NOT wholesale catechesis appropriate for a non-Christian or a non-Catholic.

Whoa…wait a minute…there is more then these two categories…

Yes…Those needing to be baptized-confirmation-and Eucharist.-in RCIA

But there are also those who have a valid baptism (maybe Catholic…maybe in another faith) but that is it (Canidates). They need to be confirmed and Eucharist. Most of these have not been going to Mass and also need RCIA as well.

Then there are those Catholics (like myself) that are missing confirmation. Typically they are baptized by the Bishop and not in RCIA. HOWEVER…There are those (such as myself) who go with their husbands to RCIA (since he needed it) and receive confirmation that way. Hey…it had been a LONG time since CCD classes.

 

[Irishgal49]

But ‘grave inconvenience’ is in the eyes of the beholder. If the Bishop refuses to delegate imposition of Confirmation to the Pastors in cases like these you will find many a non-confirmed Catholics being married. I know it’s getting more and more common in my parish where fewer and fewer opt to be confirmed when they are still in their teens.

I know two such Catholics–I don’t agree with it, because in our Diocese you have to undergo a nine month period before getting married, so surely there would be a chance to be confirmed but I know two who were not. Very odd and sad.

 

[Gorgias]

These are not trainees and RCIA and adult confirmation are not programs. this is entirely the wrong mentality.

The problem is, parishes don’t have the resources to handle separate catechumen and candidate preparation programs. I’ll send you a PM, because I’d like to ask you for information on how you can make it happen, since (from what I’ve seen) it’s not something that’s very do-able, given typical parish resources…

Please stop being rude with the eye rolling icon.

LOL…! Please stop thinking I’m trying to be rude when I roll my eyes!

Well, for one, the Catholic is already initiated and therefore is already participating in the sacramental life of the Church. They have had catechesis.

Wow. Each of these statements are quite the assumption! For the sake of conversation, let me ask: what do we do when the baptized RCIA participant is either not “already participating in the sacramental life of the Church” or hasn’t “had catechesis”, or both? To my experience, the baptized who we get in RCIA don’t fit into either of your categories…!

The adult confirmation program is proximate preparation for the sacrament, NOT wholesale catechesis appropriate for a non-Christian or a non-Catholic.

Yes, it is that… but you’re presuming that they’ve already had “wholesale catechesis”, aren’t you?