When does a "Catholic" become a Catholic?

[Colorado_Mike]

This has to do with the sacraments of initiation. If a person (of the age of reason) has only been baptized in the Church, are they “Catholic” and subject to canon law? What if they are baptized and received first communion, but not confirmation? Does the absence of communion and/orconfirmation make a difference with respect to, for example, the validity of a marriage celebrated outside of the Church??

 

[marci]

This has to do with the sacraments of initiation. If a person (of the age of reason) has only been baptized in the Church, are they “Catholic” and subject to canon law?

Yes

What if they are baptized and received first communion, but not confirmation?

 

[Colorado_Mike]

But my understanding of baptism is that all baptisms initiate the person into the One True Church, wherever performed, as long as they are with water and in the trinitarian form (father, son, holy spirit). Therefore, all who are baptized are Catholic in their baptism. But we don’t say that baptized Methodists are subject to canon law (e.g. required to attend Mass each Sunday).

 

[1ke]

This has to do with the sacraments of initiation. If a person (of the age of reason) has only been baptized in the Church, are they “Catholic” and subject to canon law?

Yes.

Can. 11 Merely ecclesiastical laws bind those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it, possess the efficient use of reason, and, unless the law expressly provides otherwise, have completed seven years of age.

What if they are baptized and received first communion, but not confirmation?

Confirmation is not required for canon law to apply. See above, Canon 11.

Does the absence of communion and/orconfirmation make a difference with respect to, for example, the validity of a marriage celebrated outside of the Church??

No. First Communion and Confirmation do not make a difference with regard to a marriage lacking canonical form. A baptized Catholic married outside the Church without permission marries invalidly.

 

[1ke]

But my understanding of baptism is that all baptisms initiate the person into the One True Church, wherever performed, as long as they are with water and in the trinitarian form (father, son, holy spirit). Therefore, all who are baptized are Catholic in their baptism. But we don’t say that baptized Methodists are subject to canon law (e.g. required to attend Mass each Sunday).

Those who are baptized in the Catholic Church are subject to Canon Law.

I’m not sure what you are getting at, as you are mixing two different subjects (those baptized in the Catholic Church and those baptized elsewhere).

Canon 11 applies to all persons baptized in the Catholic Church.

 

[Colorado_Mike]

Thanks! Love having a clear answer!

 

[jmm08]

So when does a baptised Methodist become a Catholic?

a) When they first desire to become Catholic
b) When they sign up for RCIA
c) When they are received into the Church
d) When they are confirmed (Catholic)
e) other?

jmm08

By the way, I was baptised Methodist as an infant. Then received confirmation in the Methodist Church (around the same age that Catholics also get confirmed).

In college, I sang in the Catholic Chapel Choir for a year (the only non-Catholic in the choir). And now years later I went through RCIA.

 

[1ke]

So when does a baptised Methodist become a Catholic?

a) When they first desire to become Catholic
b) When they sign up for RCIA
c) When they are received into the Church
d) When they are confirmed (Catholic)
e) other?

jmm08

Canon 11: Merely ecclesiastical laws bind those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it, possess the efficient use of reason, and, unless the law expressly provides otherwise, have completed seven years of age.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

This has to do with the sacraments of initiation. If a person (of the age of reason) has only been baptized in the Church, are they “Catholic” and subject to canon law? What if they are baptized and received first communion, but not confirmation? Does the absence of communion and/orconfirmation make a difference with respect to, for example, the validity of a marriage celebrated outside of the Church??

A person who has been Baptized in the Catholic Church is Catholic, and subject to Canon Law, unless they have formally left it.

 

[puzzleannie]

This has to do with the sacraments of initiation. If a person (of the age of reason) has only been baptized in the Church, are they “Catholic” and subject to canon law? What if they are baptized and received first communion, but not confirmation? Does the absence of communion and/orconfirmation make a difference with respect to, for example, the validity of a marriage celebrated outside of the Church??

a CAtholic becomes CAtholic when baptized Catholic. a baptized non-Catholic becomes CAtholic when they make a profession of faith, are confirmed and admitted to the Eucharist. The Catholic completes Christian initiation with reception of Eucharist and Confirmation. I don’t understand the last line. For a Catholic, a marriage celebrated outside the Church is invalid, assuming by that designation you mean the Catholic did not follow Church law on marriage. Canon law requires that a Catholic be Confirmed before marriage if it can be done without undue hardship. Why on earth would someone attempt the difficult and challenging vocation of marriage without all the sacramental graces of full Christian initiation?