What is the minimum set of beliefs required to be accepted as a candidate for baptism?

[Hokomai]

I have been wondering if the faith requirements for baptism can be accurately described in a simpler way that the detail of the creed(s) or the CCC. It seems to me that only two things are required: to believe that there is a God, and that Church teaching is true. All else is captured by this. Am I right?

 

[Philotheatoo]

Have you already memorized all of the beliefs of the Catholic Church? Or, do you believe that, all you need to know is what you hear from whoever is up at the pulpit? Nothing could be further from the truth or the Truth. God gave us a will to use to direct ALL of our actions toward glorifying and loving Him. If you want to become a Catholic, there is a LOT more to it than what you read in a book.

 

[philial]

I have been wondering if the faith requirements for baptism can be accurately described in a simpler way that the detail of the creed(s) or the CCC. It seems to me that only two things are required: to believe that there is a God, and that Church teaching is true. All else is captured by this. Am I right?

Actually, I would tend to agree with you, if not in word, then in sentiment. Menbership of the Church is available to ALL, regardless of ability to understand or discern. We have many members, for example, who have Down’s Syndrome, who may be incapable of understanding sophistocated theologies, yet are welcomed members of the Body of Christ.

God loves each of us, and we seek to respond as fully as we can. I consider myself to be blessed with membership of the Latin church, as the fullest expression of individual & comminity worship to God. I would pray that all of us are thus blessed. But all of us, without exception, enter Heaven by grabbing the coattails of Jesus. Only He has the natural right to Heaven, which He extends to us out of Love. The Sacraments of the Church are, undoubtably, the surest ‘grab’ we can have of Jesus (and His coattails!).

So, while we can become have a simple start point - which, for a Christian, has to be the actuality of the Resurrection - we are obliged to develope according to what capasity we have been given. To him who has been given much, much is required!

 

[Jim_Dandy]

Every adult who wishes to enter the Catholic Church must publicly make the following profession of faith (or one similar that expresses the same commitment):

"I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God."

That means one must know all of the beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church to understand the commitment one is making. As Father Graham Leonard, former Bishop of London who became a Catholic priest (may he rest in peace) said, “Catholicism won’t fit in a teacup.”

It’s not the Protestant requirement of merely “asking Jesus into your heart” or “accepting Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.” (Some Protestant groups require more, but they are a minority.)

Exceptions are made for those with mental disabilities.

 

[Joe_5859]

Actually, I would tend to agree with you, if not in word, then in sentiment. Menbership of the Church is available to ALL, regardless of ability to understand or discern. We have many members, for example, who have Down’s Syndrome, who may be incapable of understanding sophistocated theologies, yet are welcomed members of the Body of Christ.

God loves each of us, and we seek to respond as fully as we can. I consider myself to be blessed with membership of the Latin church, as the fullest expression of individual & comminity worship to God. I would pray that all of us are thus blessed. But all of us, without exception, enter Heaven by grabbing the coattails of Jesus. Only He has the natural right to Heaven, which He extends to us out of Love. The Sacraments of the Church are, undoubtably, the surest ‘grab’ we can have of Jesus (and His coattails!).

So, while we can become have a simple start point - which, for a Christian, has to be the actuality of the Resurrection - we are obliged to develope according to what capasity we have been given. To him who has been given much, much is required!

Well put.

The one thing I would add is that if the OP is talking about some situation where a person is in danger of death, Baptism should be given even if the faith expressed is the minimum. I’m not sure if this is the type of situation the OP was imagining or not.

 

[Heuchler]

I would say just do your best to follow the Baptismal promises(even though your first statement is all that is truly required).

Do you reject Satan?
And all his evil works?
And all his empty promises?
Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth?
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

RCIA paragraph 75 sets out the requirements for baptism, namely word, worship, community, and service.

It calls for 1) a suitable catechesis…that leads the catechumens not only to an appropriate acquaintance with dogmas and precepts but also to a profound sense of the mystery of salvation in which they desire to participate; 2) the catechumens learn to turn more readily to God in prayer, to bear witness to the faith, in all things to keep their hopes set on Christ, to follow supernatural inspiration in their deeds, and to practice love of neighbor, even at the cost of self renunciation; 3) celebrations of the word of God are arranged for their benefit, and at Mass they may also take part with the faithful in the liturgy of the word, thus better preparing themselves for their eventual participation in the liturgy of the eucharist; 4) since the church’s life is apostolic, catechumens should also learn how to work actively with others to spread the Gospel and build up the Church by the witness of their lives and by professing their faith.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

"I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God."

That means one must know all of the beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church to understand the commitment one is making. As Father Graham Leonard, former Bishop of London who became a Catholic priest (may he rest in peace) said, “Catholicism won’t fit in a teacup.”

Exceptions are made for those with mental disabilities.

With respect, I don’t think so. One can’t be expected to know all of the beliefs and teachings of the Church right away - or even after just a year of RCIA! Saints like St. Francis Xavier baptized natives in Asia based on far, far less. I think that a willingness to accept all that the Church believes and teaches in advance - assuming a basic knowledge of them is acquired (i.e. what’s in the typical $2 paperback prayerbook: creed, laws of the Church, commandments, Gospels, etc.) - would suffice… that is to say, one must have at leas the attitude that “if the Church teaches it, then I accept it, even if I haven’t learned about it yet.” The key principle is accepting that the Church teaches in the name of Christ - so we need to accept everything it teaches in advance.
I am a lifelong Catholic with an advanced education, and even I don’t know everything the Church teaches!

 

[jmcrae]

With respect, I don’t think so. One can’t be expected to know all of the beliefs and teachings of the Church right away - or even after just a year of RCIA! Saints like St. Francis Xavier baptized natives in Asia based on far, far less. I think that a willingness to accept all that the Church believes and teaches in advance - assuming a basic knowledge of them is acquired (i.e. what’s in the typical $2 paperback prayerbook: creed, laws of the Church, commandments, Gospels, etc.) - would suffice… that is to say, one must have at leas the attitude that “if the Church teaches it, then I accept it, even if I haven’t learned about it yet.” The key principle is accepting that the Church teaches in the name of Christ - so we need to accept everything it teaches in advance.
I am a lifelong Catholic with an advanced education, and even I don’t know everything the Church teaches!

I think this is what the vow envisions. Obviously, no one can know everything that the Church teaches. Even if by some miracle the person had perfect attendance at RCIA, and the RCIA went over every doctrine of the Church in detail, the person would still not remember all of it.

The willingness to believe what the Church teaches, and a desire to know it, is essential, however.

 

[Castello]

I believe in many things I do not know or understand. Heck, I believe that this computer keyboard will take my letters and publish them to the world. It happens even if I do not understand it.

When we converts make that profound statement, we are saying “I believe and trust the Church that I know that I can accept even what my mortal mind does not know today. I trust Jesus and His Church.”

 

[Joe_Kelley]

In brief, one must accept the Catholic Church as the source of religious truth. Note that this refers to those things taught by the authority of the Church; not what this or that teacher thinks or speculates.

 

[Anna_Claire]

If you are speaking about the RCIA process…In the INQUIRY stage, you’re just finding out about Jesus, Christianity, and the Catholic Church.

In the CATECHUMENATE your faith has begun to develop. Now you need to learn and grow more.
You focus on catechesis in this stage: learning about the faith, how to live as a Christian, and develop your interior life.
Your job now is to come into closer contact with the Living God and learn more about the Catholic Faith.

The period of PURIFICATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT is the final stage before receiving the Easter sacraments of initiation into the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist.
This stage of intense reflection calls you to deeper conversion in preparation for your renewal at Easter. This is what the season of Lent is for, but it has a special intensity as you enter the Church and receive the sacraments of initiation.