Terrible First RCIA Meeting

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nucatholic

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I am an ex-Protestant and I have been on the forums for a while now. I consider myself Catholic in my heart and was pretty excited about going to RCIA this evening. When I got there no one greeted me and the older man running it just kinda nodded. The subject for this first meeting was Church History. He proceeded to tell us that if we didn’t believe in evolution “we need to open our eyes.” Well that sure opened my ears and made me red hot because I believe in creation and the Church says I am allowed to. I thought that maybe it would get better but he then dropped a huge bomb by telling us that the prophets in the Old Testament didn’t exist and were only good stories. I couldn’t believe it! This is a professing Catholic that would dare tell me that God couldn’t have spoken through the prophets because they didn’t exist! Safe to say I will be looking for a new RCIA program as soon as possible. Anyone else have some bad experiences? I was so upset today that I could hardly even do my work.
 
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nucatholic:
I am an ex-Protestant and I have been on the forums for a while now. I consider myself Catholic in my heart and was pretty excited about going to RCIA this evening. When I got there no one greeted me and the older man running it just kinda nodded. The subject for this first meeting was Church History. He proceeded to tell us that if we didn’t believe in evolution “we need to open our eyes.” Well that sure opened my ears and made me red hot because I believe in creation and the Church says I am allowed to. I thought that maybe it would get better but he then dropped a huge bomb by telling us that the prophets in the Old Testament didn’t exist and were only good stories. I couldn’t believe it! This is a professing Catholic that would dare tell me that God couldn’t have spoken through the prophets because they didn’t exist! Safe to say I will be looking for a new RCIA program as soon as possible. Anyone else have some bad experiences? I was so upset today that I could hardly even do my work.
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Yes, unfortunately. I went through two parishes before I finally approched a priest at Gonzaga who I knew to be orthodox. When I went to the parish priest in Cheney I was told that the parish’s “spirituality would not mesh” with my own and was directed to find a parish in the city. So I went to the Cathedral in Spokane and on my first day there heard “well, the Church won’t baptize infants for much longer. It’s superstitious” … I nearly stormed out and was at a loss as to what to do.

Although RCIA is theoretically the normative means for being received into the Church, it would be best for you to go to a parish in your area that you KNOW is orthodox and approach the priest there and inform him of your situation. That’s what I did, and it paid off. Since you are coming from a protestant ecclesial community, you probably have a valid baptism, and that means that your course of study will be different than the course of study taken by the unbaptized catechumens. The best thing for any ex-protestant who’s been living as a closet Catholic for years to do is to approach the parish priest directly.

I am not familiar with Oklahoma, but I noticed that you are attending school there. There’s an FSSP parish (www.fssp.org) near Oklahoma City geocities.com/okclatinmass/index.html. Fr. Joseph Poisson is the priest in residence there. If you can get out there it would be worth it to hook up with him. The priests of the Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri know their stuff.

If you’re closer to Tulsa, there’s a parish with an FSSP priest (the North American District Superior, no less!!!) who offers the Tridentine Mass Saturdays and Sundays at 9. Looks like St. Peter Parish parishofstpeter.net/ . If you wish to enter the Roman Rite, your best bet is to be catechized by a priest of the FSSP. He may decide that your knowledge of the faith is sufficient enough to allow you to be received into the Church privately by the diocesan bishop or he may be decide that more study is needed and will get you on your way! Remember, FSSP=good, and in full communion with the Holy Father SSPX=bad, and in schism. lol. I’ll be praying for you!
 
From what I have heard, most RCIA classes are just a burden you have to bear until you enter the church-- there liberal and theologically incorrect.
I attend a very, very orthodox parish and so far have just loved RCIA. It really depends on the teacher. You may want to try and combat some of the things he says with actual Church writings.
 
I have been on an RCIA team in our parish here in Wisconsin and handle the lessons on the Bible, How Catholics View the Bible, Early Christianity, and Church History. What you experienced in Oklahoma is way bad in my opinion. Our converts are more than happy with the process and its results. Many of our sponsors who attend right along with the candidates/catachumens are also pleased because they gain so much in knowledge and a deeper spirituallity through the course of about nine months. I have never thought of our team as being very traditional or very progressive. Now I am wondering if we are not a lot more traditional than I ever realized. I believe that we hew closely to the truths of our faith and combine that with the idea that laypeople are also called to holiness and an active part in our parish community. I apologize to you for the unfortunate experience you have had and like the messages above say find a reliable priest and you will likely find a reliable program. By the way we use a series of lessons put out by Ligouri press and combine that with a study of each Sundays scripture readings, a visit to a Carmelite Monastery, and attend Mass as a group on most of the Sundays that occur during the process.
 
Oy. My first response would be to say, “get outta there!” But if that’s your only ticket into the Church, then you have to stand it. Still, if there is ANYwhere else you can go, I would advise you to do it. RCIA can be torture, but there is no reason to endure this program if there are better options.
 
Like some teachers, not all are gifted with the ability to be welcoming or even interesting. Sometimes, they have been doing it for so many years that it has become mundane, but no one else is there to fill their shoes. My Suggestion to you, is to contact the diocese, and see if there is something available to supplement or pique your interest. Listen to Catholic radio, over the internet or satellite radio if none is available in your area. Order some Catholic texts, and be pro-active in your quest for knowledge. Go on a led retreat at a retreat house, or enroll in a adult religious education class at a nearby college. There are so many ways to fill your hunger to become Catholic. God will nag at you until you are caught. And after you are in fully in communion with the Catholic church, go a step further and consider becoming a catechist yourself, replacing the tired worn out people currently involved. Nothing catches others, than the enthusiasm of a person who has recently come home to the Faith! God bless you, and keep working!
 
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nucatholic:
. I thought that maybe it would get better but he then dropped a huge bomb by telling us that the prophets in the Old Testament didn’t exist and were only good stories. I couldn’t believe it! This is a professing Catholic that would dare tell me that God couldn’t have spoken through the prophets because they didn’t exist!
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That is incredibly sad that a Catholic, PARTICULARLY one teaching RCIA thinks that the prohets didn’t exist.

I would have asked him to explain the Nicene Creed, that is recited at every Holy Mass, the part about 'he has spoken through the prohets".

Then, I would have a word with the pastor.
 
I started going to a RCIA program with 2 ladies teaching. One lady was fine but the other faked an answer. I was asking a question that I already knew the answer to and it seemed obvious to me that she faked it. Couldn’t trust her teaching after that. Afterwards, I had a conversation with her about another topic and she was off the wall about it. Also told me about her family life and it wasn’t too good.

Anyways, I guess between that and the fact that I wasn’t quite ready yet made me wait for another year. I then took my instruction from a very holy priest who has since retired. One on one instruction.

My sponsor is now a CCD teacher and she is wonderful. Unfortunetly, she is at a church too far away from me, otherwise, I’d have her teach my children. They really remember the things that she tells them. She is a wonderful lady who makes a real difference in children’s (and adults’) lives.

She is also a poster on this forum somewhere.
 
Thanks guys for the advice! I was seriously so upset by this that I couldn’t do any of my work last night. I am considering talking to the Priest about this and possibly enrolling at a different parish. We have three in our University town. Supposedly there is a very traditional (traditional meaning actually teaches from the catechism) parish about 10 mins away. Thank you once again for the advice. I was actually validly babtized twice, once as an infant and then as an adult in my protestant Church. I have read through the Catechism and have been researching and studying for 7 months. I feel like I am more ready to partake of the Eucharist than half the Catholics out there but I also know I have to go through RCIA to become confirmed. Argh, its so frustrating! Hopefully it will be a different story at the other parish. Is there another way into the Church without RCIA? I have been told that I am labeled a “Candidate” because I have been babtized.
 
I’m so sorry for your terrible experience…I would look for another program ASAP!

I have taught RCIA in the past and the material I had to work with was awful! It’s been a few years so I can’t say if they have cleaned up their act…but the stuff that person was spewing isn’t what we had (as bad as it was) Were these his personal opinions?
Annunciata:)
 
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nucatholic:
I am considering talking to the Priest about this and possibly enrolling at a different parish.
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Good move.
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nucatholic:
Supposedly there is a very traditional (traditional meaning actually teaches from the catechism) parish about 10 mins away.
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What’s stopping you?
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nucatholic:
I was actually validly babtized twice, once as an infant and then as an adult in my protestant Church.
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Whoa! You might encounter some difficulty there on account of the problematic issue of being baptized twice. Check this right away with whichever pastor you decide to go with.
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nucatholic:
Is there another way into the Church without RCIA? I have been told that I am labeled a “Candidate” because I have been babtized.
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There can be alternatives. You can bet Bernard Nathanson never did any of this! I was exempted from the catechetical portion but they asked (forced) me to go through all the ceremonies.
 
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mercygate:
Oy. My first response would be to say, “get outta there!” But if that’s your only ticket into the Church, then you have to stand it. Still, if there is ANYwhere else you can go, I would advise you to do it. RCIA can be torture, but there is no reason to endure this program if there are better options.
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I agree, but don’t let the devil have his day by running you out of RCIA. If this RCIA program ultimately leads you to the Eucharist, see if you can switch to a different program or stick it out. It will be worth it.

I am sorry that you have had a bad experience. May things get better and God abundantly bless you in this process.
 
In my experience, the problems in RCIA are just the tip of the iceburg. I found many aspects of RCIA odd and troubling, but didn’t have the vocabulary for it. As I got deeper into the local parishes I found more and more that was odd, bizarre, and out of keeping with tradition. In the case you describe, the problem appears to be an infestation of modernism. In my case, the RCIA leaders were infected with charismaticism, in which they wanted to have an effect on me, and tried to orchestrate feely sorts of occasions, like singing a song in the darkness, or holding hands, or getting me to say how I feel about this or that. Or getting us to describe what we think about one thing and another.

If you want to be Catholic, read old books. It is extremely important.
 
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csr:
In my experience, the problems in RCIA are just the tip of the iceburg. . . . In my case, the RCIA leaders . . . wanted to have an effect on me, and tried to orchestrate feely sorts of occasions, like singing a song in the darkness, or holding hands, or getting me to say how I feel about this or that. Or getting us to describe what we think about one thing and another.
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Aaaarrgh. I’m hyperventilating. This is revolting. I’ve heard that people have had to make clay pots to show how God is the potter and we are the clay. Draw pictures of their faith journey. A nun I know takes torn clothing and makes people sew it together to show how God mends us.

RCIA tends to be a one-size-fits-all (or none) garment, and has little accommodation for people who already know their former faith or much about the Catholic Church. The humility to endure this patiently is a very great grace.
 
csr said:
In my experience, the problems in RCIA are just the tip of the iceburg. I found many aspects of RCIA odd and troubling, but didn’t have the vocabulary for it. As I got deeper into the local parishes I found more and more that was odd, bizarre, and out of keeping with tradition. In the case you describe, the problem appears to be an infestation of modernism. In my case, the RCIA leaders were infected with charismaticism, in which they wanted to have an effect on me, and tried to orchestrate feely sorts of occasions, like singing a song in the darkness, or holding hands, or getting me to say how I feel about this or that. Or getting us to describe what we think about one thing and another.
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I had a rough day today csr so I hope its O.K that your post really made me laugh, not that I think warm and fuzzy carismatics are funny, but I can somehow picture it, singing in the dark holding hands…o man i am still laughing.
 
I taught CCD for 10 years, now have responsibility for RCIA, and it saddens (but does not surprise me) that the same people that succeeded in making CCD an ordeal a kid has to survive in order to “get” confirmation now have in 30 short years suceeded in making RCIA an ordeal you have to survive to become Catholic.

The Rites that are required for the unbaptized are the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens, and the Rite of Election and of course the sacramental rites, preferably at Easter of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist. Everything else is optional. There are parallel rites for those baptized but not yet Catholic, but they are not mandatory. An adequate period of study of doctrine and the gospel is required, but it can take many different forms. One on one instruction with a priest is great, it is just that the priests with time to do this are getting few and far between.

Catholic Home Study from Liguori is an option, but you need dialog and interaction with a priest, deacon or catechist, and still need the rites. The RITES and the INSTRUCTION are not identical. The trouble with one-on-one and home study is that it is not preparing you to become part of a community.

The reality is we belong to a very messy Church, and just like when you get married you have to find a way to get along with the in-laws, you better make up your mind you are becoming part of a huge often dysfunctional family.

It is the right of every Catholic, and of every catechumen and candidate for sacraments, to receive sound teaching and preaching. No priest, no catechist, no DRE has the right to deny this, it is a grave breach of canon law. If you really want to be Catholic, better learn now to participate in one of our favorite activities, bitchin’ to the bishop. Don’t stop until you find a place to learn what you need, and please, forgive us our trespasses.

God bless you, if you haven’t got yours yet, buy a Catechism of the Catholic Church, try to read a few sections every night. It will take a year or so, but stick with it. Then you can wipe the eye of next lame-brained catechist that tries to teach her doubt instead of the faith of the Church.
 
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puzzleannie:
If you really want to be Catholic, better learn now to participate in one of our favorite activities, bitchin’ to the bishop.
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I was thinking this same thing. I would think that the bishop would want to know that nonsense like that is going on in one of his parishes.

In Christ,
Nancy 🙂
 
Yes I did buy a Catechism a few months ago and have been reading it off and on. It has a great wealth of info on the Faith and I love looking through it. Oddly enough I enjoy reading through canon law also. I spoke with the director of RCIA at my parish and I will be attending next week. If they preach the same kind of modernist mumbo jumbo I’m going to be more than happy to drive the extra 10-15 mins every week. Once again its great to see such a response. I was really upset by this whole ordeal but you guys have really helped me out. God bless you!
 
I’m so sorry for your experience. My husband had a similiar experience- and unfortunately- stopped him from entering the church (for now). One of the officiating priests kept calling God “she”- end eluded to the catechumens that communion was the same as the Lutherans’. After we stopped going, I heard that this same priest “presided” over a mini “communion” service were everyone was sitting in the rectory basement at tables, and passing the bread and wine around to each other. I only PRAY that the priest didn’t say the actually words of concecration- if he did, then they were horsing around with the REAL DEAL. UGH!!! :mad:
 
Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience. Hope you will use it in a positive way. I don’t like to label people. You have touched on one point that has interested me for some time. Greeters at Mass or at any parish function or ministery are necessary. Some churches are so cold when you walk in and are looking for at least a smile and a handshake. I have found it difficult to recruit greeters. One of our faithful old greeters passed away some time back and now nobody covers his Mass. I enjoyed being a greeter before Ordination and I still perform this ministry.

They will know we are Christians by our love.
God bless you and your family,
Deacon Tony
 
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