When does a child become Catholic?

[Lutheranteach]

A student posed an interesting question today. When does a child, validly baptized in another Christian faith become Catholic? FIrst communion? First reconciliation? Confirmation? When?

 

[Spencerian]

A student posed an interesting question today. When does a child, validly baptized in another Christian faith become Catholic? FIrst communion? First reconciliation? Confirmation? When?

Hi.

My two cents:

The key is “validly baptized,” but it’s also more than that.

Children have greater flexibility when coming from another faith that has valid baptisms. So it’s merely a matter of Catholic catechism from that point on to bring the child into communion with the Church. So it’s not an “instant” thing, but, with a valid baptism, the child is already a Catholic in principle, if not in teaching.

Formally, I believe the child becomes Catholic at First Communion, where the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is presented. Others here might have more to say or clarify about it.

 

[kage_ar]

Lets say child is baptized validly in the Methodist Church at birth.

Child is 3 when parents become Catholic. The child is considered an infant and becomes Catholic along with mom and dad.

If that child is age 7 or older, the child will make a profession of Faith along with mom and dad. At that time they become Catholic. The 7+ year old MAY choose not to make that profession, they are considered an adult by the Church and may choose to remain uncatholic.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

A student posed an interesting question today. When does a child, validly baptized in another Christian faith become Catholic? FIrst communion? First reconciliation? Confirmation? When?

It would depend on their age.

If over the Age of Reason then when they make a profession of Faith and receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. (Which they would receive at the same time thru the RCIA process)

If under the Age of Reason then when their Baptism is recorded in the parish Baptismal Register or at the time of Conditional Baptism if necessary. This of course would be well before First Holy Communion or Confirmation.

 

[Lutheranteach]

It would depend on their age.

If over the Age of Reason then when they make a profession of Faith and receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. (Which they would receive at the same time thru the RCIA process)

If under the Age of Reason then when their Baptism is recorded in the parish Baptismal Register or at the time of Conditional Baptism if necessary. This of course would be well before First Holy Communion or Confirmation.

The student’s question was specific to a second grader who is attending a Catholic school, not in RCIA

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

The student’s question was specific to a second grader who is attending a Catholic school, not in RCIA

A second grader attending Catholic school would still enter the Church through RCIA (adapted for children).

 

[kage_ar]

The student’s question was specific to a second grader who is attending a Catholic school, not in RCIA

Are the parents converting? RCIA and Catholic school are not mutually exclusive - it is the normal process for people to come into the Church.

If a parent is converting, and the child is 7 or younger, they will become Catholic when parent does. If the child is over 7, the child can decide to come in themselves. They will make their own profession of Faith.

 

[SMHW]

A student posed an interesting question today. When does a child, validly baptized in another Christian faith become Catholic? FIrst communion? First reconciliation? Confirmation? When?

This answer to this question can get complicated depending on the age of the child and the status of the parents in the Catholic Church.

If the child is considered to be over the age of reason (around age seven, but the pastor has some discretion) it is usual for the child to enter the Church through the RCIA process for converts from other Christian denominations. It will be adapted for children and the child will likely attend some of the same classes as children who are already Catholic. The child will make a profession of faith.

If the child is under the age of reason and the parent(s) the child are entering the Catholic Church and/or becoming fully initiated then the child becomes Catholic at the same time as the parent. It might be at the Easter Vigil or it could be at some other time.

If the child’s parents are already Catholic but the child was baptized into another denomination then the parents need to work with the pastor on this one.

In any case, there are certain Catholic rites that are supposed to accompany baptism and a child who was not baptized Catholic is supposed to receive those rites and the child’s record of baptism needs to be recorded into the Catholic baptismal record.

It does get confusing in the case of children in the second grade since they are right at that point of being considered “adults”. It’s important that the Catholic school and the child’s parish are on the same page about this. (You’d think they would be but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way.) The parents of this child should talk to both the principal and the pastor to find out if the child is supposed to make his First Communion with the rest of the second graders or if the child will make his First Communion at the time of formal entry into the Church.

 

[1ke]

A student posed an interesting question today. When does a child, validly baptized in another Christian faith become Catholic? FIrst communion? First reconciliation? Confirmation? When?

A child baptized in another Christian denomination becomes Catholic upon profession of faith. But, it depends upon the age of the child who makes that profession-- parent or child.

If the child is **below **the age of reason (determined by interviewing the child, but around 7-8 years old) then the parents make that decision for the child by approaching the Church and asking that the child be brought into full communion.

The Rite of Bringing A Baptized Child Into the Church is used. In this Rite, the parents are asked " What do you ask of God’s Church, now that your child has been baptized?" They respond “We ask that the whole community will know that he (she) has been received into the Church.” The rites of baptism are completed, including anointing with chrism, receiving the white garment and candle. But the child is already baptized so it’s just these other rites that are performed.

The child would then attend religious formation, receive Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation at the appropriate time with their peers as specified by the diocesan guidelines.

If the child is **over **the age of reason then it is the *child *who makes the decision to be brought into full communion as they are considered an adult in canon law for this purpose. They would make a profession of faith themselves before the congregation. They would have some period of formation-- possibly something adapted specifically from RCIA or possibly regular religious education classes-- depending upon their background. The would then receive Reconciliation, Eucharist, and possible Confirmation. Sometimes Confirmation will be delayed and they will receive it with their peers per diocesan guidelines.

 

[1ke]

The student’s question was specific to a second grader who is attending a Catholic school, not in RCIA

If the child is deemed mature enough at this age to be considered over the age of reason, then the child makes the decision and profession of faith.

If the child is attending Catholic school, he is probably well catechized and can likely demonstrate to the pastor that he is ready to proceed with the various sacraments such as Reconciliation and Holy Communion with his peers.

The “how” and the “when” of receiving formation, making a profession of faith, and receiving various sacraments for a child over the age of reason would be determined by the pastor.

The fact that he/she is attending Catholic school should only assist in providing the assurance that they have the foundation in the faith necessary to make this decision and possibly accelerate the reception into the church. Such a child would probably not require much in the way of parish formation classes.

Well, that’s if it were up to me (in my role as RCIA director). I’d interview the kid and make a recommendation to the pastor based on that interview, then have the child talk to the pastor and go from there.

So, if you have a child in your class interested in becoming Catholic have him talk to the priest of the parish.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

If the child is deemed mature enough at this age to be considered over the age of reason, then the child makes the decision and profession of faith.

If the child is attending Catholic school, he is probably well catechized and can likely demonstrate to the pastor that he is ready to proceed with the various sacraments such as Reconciliation and Holy Communion with his peers.

The “how” and the “when” of receiving formation, making a profession of faith, and receiving various sacraments for a child over the age of reason would be determined by the pastor.

The fact that he/she is attending Catholic school should only assist in providing the assurance that they have the foundation in the faith necessary to make this decision and possibly accelerate the reception into the church. Such a child would probably not require much in the way of parish formation classes.

Well, that’s if it were up to me (in my role as RCIA director). I’d interview the kid and make a recommendation to the pastor based on that interview, then have the child talk to the pastor and go from there.

So, if you have a child in your class interested in becoming Catholic have him talk to the priest of the parish.

This is an important point, Sacraments and reception into the Church take place in the child’s parish under the guidance of the pastor. Not the Catholic school,especially if the school serves multiple parishes.

 

[Lutheranteach]

Are the parents converting? RCIA and Catholic school are not mutually exclusive - it is the normal process for people to come into the Church.

If a parent is converting, and the child is 7 or younger, they will become Catholic when parent does. If the child is over 7, the child can decide to come in themselves. They will make their own profession of Faith.

One is Catholic and one is not. They are not fully on the same page.

 

[puzzleannie]

short answer: a non-Catholic child enrolled in Catholic school should be referred to pastor of the parish in which he resides to establish his status, to request his initiation into the Catholic Church, and to start the process. The parents have to do this, relatives and friends cannot. The parents have to at least give consent formally. Also the child herself must ask for the sacraments and initiation. We are speaking school-age here, over age 7.

No she probably will not make first communion at the same time with her classmates at Catholic school.

 

[Looking_back]

Interesting thread. What if one parent is for it, but the other is forbidding it and both have made their wishes known to the DRE and priest. What happens then? And, what exactly is a profession of faith?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Interesting thread. What if one parent is for it, but the other is forbidding it and both have made their wishes known to the DRE and priest. What happens then? And, what exactly is a profession of faith?

Usually the Catholic parent is told to talk with their spouse and discuss this in light of the promise made at the time of Marriage. The Catholic parent then must deicde what they are going to do since it is their responsibility to Baptize and raise their children in the Catholic faith. The non-Catholic spouse is not supposed to interfere in the decisions of the Catholic regarding the children and their religion. It’s not up to the DRE, it’s up to the Catholic parent.

A profession of Faith is usually presented as a question and response.

Do you believe in God the Father almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth? “I DO”

Do you believe in Jesus Christ our Lord…? “I DO”

Do you believe in the Communion of Saints…? “IDO”

Do you believe in the One, Holy, Catholic, Church…? “IDO”

 

[Looking_back]

Usually the Catholic parent is told to talk with their spouse and discuss this in light of the promise made at the time of Marriage. The Catholic parent then must deicde what they are going to do since it is their responsibility to Baptize and raise their children in the Catholic faith. The non-Catholic spouse is not supposed to interfere in the decisions of the Catholic regarding the children and their religion. It’s not up to the DRE, it’s up to the Catholic parent.

A profession of Faith is usually presented as a question and response.

Do you believe in God the Father almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth? “I DO”

Do you believe in Jesus Christ our Lord…? “I DO”

Do you believe in the Communion of Saints…? “IDO”

Do you believe in the One, Holy, Catholic, Church…? “IDO”

Well, I’m not quite sure I get it. I’ve heard those exact words used in a Catholic, Lutheran, and Methodist church so I’m not getting how those would make someone Catholic. Also, from what I read above, the non-Catholic spouse never agreed and they married in a protestant church so they wouldn’t have to make any such promise. They’re complicated! Is this a common thing? I’ve got to admit I’m finding this intriguing.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Well, I’m not quite sure I get it. I’ve heard those exact words used in a Catholic, Lutheran, and Methodist church so I’m not getting how those would make someone Catholic. Also, from what I read above, the non-Catholic spouse never agreed and they married in a protestant church so they wouldn’t have to make any such promise. They’re complicated! Is this a common thing? I’ve got to admit I’m finding this intriguing.

I didn’t list the exact wording but there are a few statements that most Protestants whould say I can’t agree with that. One is something like do you accept and believe all that the Catholic Church teaches? “I DO”.

That is why they are not validly Married. It is a very common thing, Many Catholics are not Married according to Catholic Canon Law some to avoid the necessary pre-Marriage preparation where this is required before the Bishop will grant his permission for a Catholic to Marry a non-catholic.

 

[Looking_back]

Thank you. I guess I find this interesting because I can see myself in this same position in a few years.