When can you *not* return to the Church?

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thiicat

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Hi, I hope I’m asking this question in the right place.
My sister joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) about 3 years ago after being converted by missionaries. After reconnecting with our family, she wants to return to the Catholic Church and have her two children baptized into the faith. Since she was baptized as a child, I thought she could go to confession, do penance and return to Mass, and once she’s comfortable talk to the pastor about her children. Is that all she needs to do, or does the fact that she joined another church mean she is no longer Catholic?
 
Did your sister receive any sacraments or other instruction in the Catholic faith after baptism?

If not, she might benefit from some instruction before returning to the practice of the faith.

You do not mention whether she is married or has ever been married. Her situation in this regard may also need to be looked at - as a person who has been baptised Catholic she needs to ensure any existing marriage is valid per Church law.

The mere fact of her having being Mormon would not be a barrier provided she confessed same, and there is no such thing as an ex-Catholic, only one who is not practicing.
 
Yes, all she has to do is go to Confession. The priest will take care of the rest. 👍
 
The Catholic Church believes the mormon baptism as a non-valid. There is concern about how involved you were but most definitely talk with your priest. If you are not comfortable in talking with him, confession is always an option, he will be bound by secrecy until you release him to talk to the Church.

I pray for your conversion
 
thiicat said:
Hi, I hope I’m asking this question in the right place.
My sister joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) about 3 years ago after being converted by missionaries. After reconnecting with our family, she wants to return to the Catholic Church and have her two children baptized into the faith. Since she was baptized as a child, I thought she could go to confession, do penance and return to Mass, and once she’s comfortable talk to the pastor about her children. Is that all she needs to do, or does the fact that she joined another church mean she is no longer Catholic?
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Hello thiicat,
I did a little google, and found this on Catholic Answers.:
catholic.com/tracts/the-great-heresies

Once a person denies they are a Catholic then they are in a state of apostasy by embracing heresies. Those heresies need to recognised admitted and denounced. Until then the heretic is not a Catholic but are a heretic.

1 John 2:19
They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

Sometimes though a person needs to go away in order to discover their Catholic heart. Your sister may be a lot stronger for what she experienced. She now knows the Mormon mind set, so she may find herself being used by God in the conversion of Mormons.

May God bless and protect your sister and her children.
 
Steve_Jay said:
Hello thiicat,
I did a little google, and found this on Catholic Answers.:
catholic.com/tracts/the-great-heresies

Once a person denies they are a Catholic then they are in a state of apostasy by embracing heresies. Those heresies need to recognised admitted and denounced. Until then the heretic is not a Catholic but are a heretic.

1 John 2:19
They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

Sometimes though a person needs to go away in order to discover their Catholic heart. Your sister may be a lot stronger for what she experienced. She now knows the Mormon mind set, so she may find herself being used by God in the conversion of Mormons.

May God bless and protect your sister and her children.
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Isn’t that what would happen in confession?
 
RKO said:
Isn’t that what would happen in confession?
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Hello RKO
that would be an essential part of it.
LillyM mentioned something that could be of value too. That is that they also take instruction.
There is certainly a need to speak with a priest. The priest should then be able to better identify her needs.
 
andy92 said:
The Catholic Church believes the mormon baptism as a non-valid. There is concern about how involved you were but most definitely talk with your priest. If you are not comfortable in talking with him, confession is always an option, he will be bound by secrecy until you release him to talk to the Church.

I pray for your conversion
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He states that his sister was baptized in the Catholic Church, not the LDS.
 
andy92 said:
most definitely talk with your priest. If you are not comfortable in talking with him, confession is always an option, he will be bound by secrecy until you release him to talk to the Church.
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:confused: Whaaa…?

What are you trying to say here, andy? A priest is always bound by the seal of the confessional, not “until you release him” …!!! 😉
 
Thanks very much to everyone who has responded to my question.
LilyM said:
Did your sister receive any sacraments or other instruction in the Catholic faith after baptism?

If not, she might benefit from some instruction before returning to the practice of the faith.

You do not mention whether she is married or has ever been married. Her situation in this regard may also need to be looked at - as a person who has been baptised Catholic she needs to ensure any existing marriage is valid per Church law.

The mere fact of her having being Mormon would not be a barrier provided she confessed same, and there is no such thing as an ex-Catholic, only one who is not practicing.
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My sister received her First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation in the Church as a child. She was never married, and unfortunately ran into a priest who refused to baptize her first child, which I think was probably part of why she stopped attending Mass. I know she went to confession regularly before leaving the Church and she regretted having her children out of wedlock, but we all love them and of course want them to be baptized.
 
thiicat said:
Thanks very much to everyone who has responded to my question.

My sister received her First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation in the Church as a child. She was never married, and unfortunately ran into a priest who refused to baptize her first child, which I think was probably part of why she stopped attending Mass. I know she went to confession regularly before leaving the Church and she regretted having her children out of wedlock, but we all love them and of course want them to be baptized.
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This being the case…She need only do a good examination of Conscience - go to confession and she is all set.

As to her children’s baptism…
So long as your sister has reformed her life and is prepared to raise her children in the faith - by example as well as teaching - having her children baptized should not be an issue.

I hope the above does not sound snarky…But not knowing your sister I felt I should be clear - if blunt.

Peace
James
 
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