Would an ex-Catholic need to be baptised again to receive sacraments?

[Krisdun]

Or would confession with an appropriate penance suffice?

 

[po18guy]

Someone returning to the Church? The Catholic Church does teach one of the “Once/Always” beliefs, i.e. “Once Baptized, always Baptized.” Baptism leaves an indelible mark on your soul.

Call the parish office and ask to speak with Father. If you did not receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, that would need to be prepared and arranged for. If you have received it, then confession is the door to grace.

 

[Krisdun]

I am asking in the scenario if someone renounced their faith then realised later they made a mistake

 

[po18guy]

Post-Confirmation, a good examination of conscience and confession will suffice AFAIK. Remember the case of Saint Peter. He renounced his knowledge of, or association with Christ. Later, he repented in tears and was restored by Christ, retaining his role as prince of the Apostles (John 21).

A call to Father at your local parish will quickly put your mind at ease.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

You can’t be baptized twice. It’s a “one and done” situation.

As @po18guy says, the first thing to do, is to call your priest. Confirmation, while highly desirable, is not absolutely necessary for salvation, and there is no tragedy in delaying it until you have had a good catechesis. Confession is something you do need to take care of as soon as possible. Despite all the old jokes about having to pack a lunch and a sleeping bag, confessions after years away from the sacraments do not have to take a terribly long time. The priest is used to this kind of thing, and will be happy to help you. After you’ve done this, feel free to receive communion every day if you wish.

Welcome back! Like Motel 6, the Catholic Church will “leave the light on for you”!

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[phil19034]

No. Confession with an appropriate penance is all that is required (assuming they received First Communion).

NOW - if one didn’t receive First Communion and/or confirmation, the priest may want to get that person into RCIA first.

 

[adamhovey1988]

No such thing as an Ex Catholic. Only practicing and non practicing.

 

[InThePew]

I am asking in the scenario if someone renounced their faith then realised later they made a mistake

If you had publicly joined another church (so more than just showing up at services) or renounced the faith in some other public way then you would normally make a profession of faith (i.e. recite the creed) at a mass as a way of reaffirming your baptismal promises. This would of course follow confession. If you haven’t been confirmed then the profession of faith would happen as part of this.

 

[TheLittleLady]

NOW - if one didn’t receive First Communion and/or confirmation, the priest may want to get that person into RCIA first.

The Rites of Christian Initiation are for the unbaptized. The pastor will determine what sort of Sacramental prep is needed after a meeting.

 

[TheLittleLady]

renounced the faith in some other public way then you would normally make a profession of faith (i.e. recite the creed)

I’ve only witnessed this when someone converted formally to a religion that has a formal process, for instance, with someone who became Jewish or Muslim.

 

[phil19034]

phil19034:

NOW - if one didn’t receive First Communion and/or confirmation, the priest may want to get that person into RCIA first.

The Rites of Christian Initiation are for the unbaptized. The pastor will determine what sort of Sacramental prep is needed after a meeting.

I know. But there are still a ton of parishes that use “RCIA” for everyone.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

The only way baptism would be admistered is if it was done conditionally, i.e. if there was doubt about the validity of your baptism. Otherwise, no. Talk to your priest and he will be able to help you.

 

[Swiftdove]

My husband was baptized as a baby and still went through RCIA to join the church. It’s just what they do in our neck of the woods, baptized or not.

 

[TC3033]

TheLittleLady:

phil19034:

NOW - if one didn’t receive First Communion and/or confirmation, the priest may want to get that person into RCIA first.

The Rites of Christian Initiation are for the unbaptized. The pastor will determine what sort of Sacramental prep is needed after a meeting.

I know. But there are still a ton of parishes that use “RCIA” for everyone.

IMHO, that’s too bad. I think that keeps some people away.

 

[TheLittleLady]

“My neck of the woods” is simply the official documents of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults which goes back to Vatican II. Prior to VII, every adult went through private instruction.

What is meant by coming into full communion with the Church?​

Coming into full communion with the Catholic Church describes the process for entrance into the Catholic Church for already baptized Christians. In most cases, these individuals make a profession of faith but are not baptized again. To prepare for this reception, the people, who are called Candidates, usually participate in a formation program to help them understand and experience the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. Although some preparation may be with Catechumens preparing for baptism, the preparation for Candidates is different since they have already been baptized and committed to Jesus Christ, and many have also been active members of other Christian communities. The Candidates may be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil or at another Sunday during the year depending on pastoral circumstances and readiness of the Candidate.

UK Bishops document

https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Rites/RCIA.pdf

Granted, in some areas, parishes shove the already baptized into the RCIA preparation classes. Bishops are working to correct this practice, and the corrections have been in place in my Diocese, last year all of the priests went to a training session to be reminded of the proper procedures. My neck of the woods is back on track!

 

[Swiftdove]

Yeah, it RCIA wasn’t the best for him either. He actually DID end up going through private sessions with Father because a lot of his questions were not being answered, or understood.
I hope one day I can invite the baptized to the church without trying to appeal the rcia classes to them.

 

[TomH1]

No! Baptism is a sacrament you can only receive once. Catechesis would certainly be most appropriate. Of course, they should go to confession. That applies to all Catholics. It is far better to receive a sacrament in a state of grace than in a state of sin.

 

[TC3033]

trying to appeal the rcia classes to them.

That has been one huge hurdle for me.

 

[Horton]

Then you must have an over abundance of priests able to put a lot of time into individual instruction. In my diocese we do not. We have some parishes with station churches that get Mass once a month, with one priest covering 4 churches. Even in my parish where we have two priests and one church our priests do not have the time to do individual instruction.

Many times those with a valid baptism need as much instruction as the unbaptized, if not more. Especially those coming from a Protestant faith tradition. There are a lot of myths and fallacies to overcome. Ideally there would be two classes going at the same time, one for the unbaptized and one for the baptized but in my mind the only ones who could fit into a individual instruction model would be those Catholics who have been practicing Catholics and are in need of Confirmation only, those who already have a strong base in the Catholic faith.

 

[Horton]

IMHO, that’s too bad. I think that keeps some people away.

If the idea of having to commit to a period of instruction in a class setting is keeping them away from coming into the Catholic Church, then their desire to come into the Church is less than their desire to appear a certain way.