When is a convert "Catholic"?

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If someone is in the process of entering the Catholic Church after having been baptized and raised in a Protestant denomination, I understand that they are called a candidate, right? If a person in this position believes all the Church teaches, but has not yet received all the Sacraments of Initiation, does it make sense for them to think/speak of themselves as “Catholic,” or is that premature?

What do you think about situations where being technical isn’t so important? For example, if you were filling in a bubble on a survey - you’d go for the “Christian - Catholic” one, right? 🙂
 
Catholic_Mike said:
If someone is in the process of entering the Catholic Church after having been baptized and raised in a Protestant denomination, I understand that they are called a candidate, right? If a person in this position believes all the Church teaches, but has not yet received all the Sacraments of Initiation, does it make sense for them to think/speak of themselves as “Catholic,” or is that premature?

What do you think about situations where being technical isn’t so important? For example, if you were filling in a bubble on a survey - you’d go for the “Christian - Catholic” one, right? 🙂
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I converted from atheism/agnosticism/whatever-I-thought-ism. So I wasn’t even baptized before the Easter Vigil Mass. As to salvation, I asked a priest and was told that, if sincere, I would be considered baptized by desire if I died before the ceremony. As to casual conversation, I would’ve been specific: becoming Catholic. As to a cold, hard form: I think I would’ve checked “Catholic” because I certainly believed it all – was just waiting for it to become official.

Good luck with whatever you’re thinking about.
 
Catholic_Mike said:
If someone is in the process of entering the Catholic Church after having been baptized and raised in a Protestant denomination, I understand that they are called a candidate, right? If a person in this position believes all the Church teaches, but has not yet received all the Sacraments of Initiation, does it make sense for them to think/speak of themselves as “Catholic,” or is that premature?

What do you think about situations where being technical isn’t so important? For example, if you were filling in a bubble on a survey - you’d go for the “Christian - Catholic” one, right? 🙂
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A person would need to be validly Baptized and made a profession of Faith, they become fully united to the Catholic Church with the reception of Confirmation and Holy Communion. To fill in a “bubble” a person seeking full union with the Catholic Church who is practicing the Catholic faith and living the Catholic Faith could do so in good conscience before being officially received into full union.
 
We do like to put people in “boxes” (in fact people like to put themsleves in boxes) but it seems to me that faith is much more of a journey than that with ebbs, flows, back-currents. I can fully understand why people like to know when they can be seen as having crossed a particular line to be in a certain group - but I really doubt if God sees faith as that simple a binomial.
 
Solomon_Wisdom said:
We do like to put people in “boxes” (in fact people like to put themsleves in boxes) but it seems to me that faith is much more of a journey than that with ebbs, flows, back-currents. I can fully understand why people like to know when they can be seen as having crossed a particular line to be in a certain group - but I really doubt if God sees faith as that simple a binomial.
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Is one said to have “crossed the Tiber” once they reach the middle of the river?
 
I pretty much agree with what Lisa said. In a casual conversation, I’d usually said I was becoming Catholic, but for some kind of form, I would have just filled in the bubble for Catholic since that would be what I identified as.
 
Catholic_Mike said:
If someone is in the process of entering the Catholic Church after having been baptized and raised in a Protestant denomination, I understand that they are called a candidate, right? If a person in this position believes all the Church teaches, but has not yet received all the Sacraments of Initiation, does it make sense for them to think/speak of themselves as “Catholic,” or is that premature?

What do you think about situations where being technical isn’t so important? For example, if you were filling in a bubble on a survey - you’d go for the “Christian - Catholic” one, right? 🙂
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Such persons would be entitled to Catholic burial, by virtue of the fact that their intention to join the Church itself unites them to the Church, although not as fully as complete reception. So yes, they are Catholic, but not fully-initiated Catholics.
 
Canon law considers Catechumens to be a special class of the faithful, and thus catholics.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
Is one said to have “crossed the Tiber” once they reach the middle of the river?
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I would say that you are trying again to force a binary answer out of a more complex question. I never use the phrase “crossed the Tiber” myself as I believe it reinforces an over-simplistic view of Christian faiths.
 
Solomon_Wisdom said:
I would say that you are trying again to force a binary answer out of a more complex question. I never use the phrase “crossed the Tiber” myself as I believe it reinforces an over-simplistic view of Christian faiths.
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I never said it was easy to answer.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
I never said it was easy to answer.
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Indeed - in that I think we both share an appreciation of the complexity and depth of the question - it is something we can continually peel layers from probably for all of our lives, unless we are one of the very few that reach the end of spiritual growth in this life.
 
I felt like I was Catholic by default approximately 2 years before I converted simply for the fact that I was in agreement with RCC teachings and doctrine. I did realize that I was not yet in full communion at that time, but I intended to convert as soon as I could. I had a few obsticles placed in my way, but I realize now that I ended up joining when God meant for me to join.

God Bless!
Ericka
 
I have a question that relates to the original question but with a slightly different take on it.

I am not sure what to tell my 8 year old son. I am Catholic. My husband is not. I was out of the church and then reverted back in when my son was 6. My son was baptized in the Lutheran church. However, he is now enrolled in his faith formation class at my parish and will be making First Holy Communion and First Reconcilliation next year. I am also teaching him the faith at home with Catholic resources (lots of catch up to do). He understands the basic difference between Catholicism and Protestantism. I think I have done a pretty good job of presenting him the faith while also maintaining sensitivity to the fact that his father is not Catholic, nor wishes to be, and very much trying not to undermine respect for his father.

But now he is asking me if he is Catholic or not. Part of me wants to ask him what he thinks or wants but I’m almost afraid to in case I don’t like his answer. :o What do you think is the technical answer to this? And then how would you answer this to this young child so as to be honest and encourage him in the Catholic faith?
 
jujubee said:
I have a question that relates to the original question but with a slightly different take on it.

I am not sure what to tell my 8 year old son. I am Catholic. My husband is not. I was out of the church and then reverted back in when my son was 6. My son was baptized in the Lutheran church. However, he is now enrolled in his faith formation class at my parish and will be making First Holy Communion and First Reconcilliation next year. I am also teaching him the faith at home with Catholic resources (lots of catch up to do). He understands the basic difference between Catholicism and Protestantism. I think I have done a pretty good job of presenting him the faith while also maintaining sensitivity to the fact that his father is not Catholic, nor wishes to be, and very much trying not to undermine respect for his father.

But now he is asking me if he is Catholic or not. Part of me wants to ask him what he thinks or wants but I’m almost afraid to in case I don’t like his answer. :o What do you think is the technical answer to this? And then how would you answer this to this young child so as to be honest and encourage him in the Catholic faith?
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Generally speaking a child under the age of reason who is validly Baptized and their parent is a practicing Catholic can be received into Catholic communion by registering their Baptism in the parish Baptismal record. Which could be done I would assume at any time. They would then receive the other Sacraments with the other children their age.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
Is one said to have “crossed the Tiber” once they reach the middle of the river?
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Considering that God sees the end from the beginning (or the middle), I would say yes.

I considered myself Catholic from the time that I made my formal declaration of intention to convert to our parish priest. Obviously, I did not yet claim the full rights and privileges of being Catholic (like receiving Communion), but if I had been filling out a survey, I would have checked “Catholic” and my conscience would have been clear.

DaveBj
 
jujubee said:
I have a question that relates to the original question but with a slightly different take on it.

I am not sure what to tell my 8 year old son. I am Catholic. My husband is not. I was out of the church and then reverted back in when my son was 6. My son was baptized in the Lutheran church. However, he is now enrolled in his faith formation class at my parish and will be making First Holy Communion and First Reconcilliation next year. I am also teaching him the faith at home with Catholic resources (lots of catch up to do). He understands the basic difference between Catholicism and Protestantism. I think I have done a pretty good job of presenting him the faith while also maintaining sensitivity to the fact that his father is not Catholic, nor wishes to be, and very much trying not to undermine respect for his father.

But now he is asking me if he is Catholic or not. Part of me wants to ask him what he thinks or wants but I’m almost afraid to in case I don’t like his answer. :o What do you think is the technical answer to this? And then how would you answer this to this young child so as to be honest and encourage him in the Catholic faith?
Click to expand...
He is baptized, and practicing the Catholic faith. He’s Catholic. Just get his baptism entered into the registry before first communion and first confession.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
Generally speaking a child under the age of reason who is validly Baptized and their parent is a practicing Catholic can be received into Catholic communion by registering their Baptism in the parish Baptismal record. Which could be done I would assume at any time. They would then receive the other Sacraments with the other children their age.
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Back to the “journey” theme, I do wonder whether any child wakes up in the morning of the “age of reason” being transformed in some way.

When does the “age of reason” happen? Is it the same for all people? And it is a momentary change?
 
I was a convert myself, from the Presbyterian church.

One may live as a catholic throughout the conversion process,
but obviously not receive the majority of the sacraments.

One is officially considered part of the Church during the Rite of Acceptance (I believe that is what it is called), during Easter Vigil usually for those in RCIA. At that point, the candidates make an affirmation and statement of intention asking to enter the Church, and the priest follows through by officially welcoming the candidates to the Church. Obviously, this happens between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist during the Mass, so that the newly-Catholic candidates may receive the Eucharist.
 
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