Should I Stay In RCIA?

[Brother Adam]

Make your own decision. But consider: Should I get rebaptized even though I was already baptized Catholic? Of course not. It's meaningless, pointless, and sends the wrong message, not to mention it can be sinful if done for the wrong reasons.

You are a baptized Christian in RCIA. You are saying "I am not a Christian" by attending that class.

[flip]

this is weird that husband and wife are talking to each other on phatmass....

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='flip' date='Jul 23 2004, 05:47 PM'] this is weird that husband and wife are talking to each other on phatmass.... [/quote]
You haven't been around us long have you, eh?

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

Well..I talked to Father Don and the reason why they want me to continue is to get the 'feel' for the Catholic community.

[Brother Adam]

Attend a pro-life walk, go to the bakesales and help out, get involved with choir or CCD classes (perhaps as a teacher), start an evening prayer and song gathering, start a "Catholic" AWANA, spend time at adoration. There are tons of more appropriate ways to get a sense of community.

[Don John of Austria]

Okay this is a serious issue and one which many of my friends who have converted to the true faith have had, several I told to move to other programs( one in particular was being run by a deacon who was a panthiest heretic.) still the Bishops ofour country have decided that that is THE method upon which we will allow people in the Church, some programs are good some are Bad, but all allow you communion with the Church and access to the Sacraments, which are the deliverers of the Grace needed for salvation, Play the game or if you can't find another Program that's better, but do whatever you have to to enter the Church in full communion and recieve the Sacraments which God hads seen fit to use as the instruments of salvation.

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

Well...the way it has been explained to me recently, is that those going through RCIA are saying that they aren't a Christian and would like to come into the church.

Well...I'm a baptized Christian, who wants to come back into full communion with the church.

[Don John of Austria]

no unfortunatly there is no other method for you to come in to the Church. Frankly I think the unbaptized are the ones getting tohe worst treatment, we should baptize anyone willing to make a profession of faith and then require education for the other sacraments of initiation, You at least are already part of Gods Family, with holding the sacrament of Batism for 8 mounths to 2 years depending on what program your in is simply atrocious, still there is no other system set up for returning Christians. Frankly, incomeing protestants( and my whole family are converted Protestants) need the most educatuion as they are the ones who had the most propoganda taught them. However, if you find a priest that will allow you to recieve the Sacraments with out it, Go for it.

[Fides_et_Ratio]

[quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' date='Jul 23 2004, 06:14 PM'] Well...the way it has been explained to me recently, is that those going through RCIA are saying that they aren't a Christian and would like to come into the church.

Well...I'm a baptized Christian, who wants to come back into full communion with the church. [/quote]
How do they do RCIA at your parish?(or maybe I am reading your posts wrong)


RCIA is for both those who have been baptized (but not yet Confirmed and/or First Communion), and for those who have not participated in any Sacraments. At least, that's the way it works in my diocese.

[Mateo el Feo]

This doesn't really answer your original question, but...

I've never attended an RCIA class, but around my neck of the woods, the RCIA classes are a catch-all for all who are preparing for baptism and/or confirmation. The split between those from other religions and from other Christian denominations (Protestants) was about 50-50.

Enjoy!

[Mateo el Feo]

[quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' date='Jul 23 2004, 05:50 PM'] Well..I talked to Father Don and the reason why they want me to continue is to get the 'feel' for the Catholic community. [/quote]
I think the reason for RCIA should be to get a "feel" for the Catholic faith and teachings, not the Catholic community!

[BurkeFan]

*didn't read other posts* but, so you can help the others who would otherwise be left to the teaching of the RCIA leader. That could be a horrific tragedy. But, you may have a very good RCIA leader. But, maybe not.

[Mateo el Feo]

[quote name='BurkeFan' date='Jul 23 2004, 06:37 PM'] *didn't read other posts* but, so you can help the others who would otherwise be left to the teaching of the RCIA leader. That could be a horrific tragedy. But, you may have a very good RCIA leader. But, maybe not. [/quote]
I think attending RCIA classes with a bad teacher counts against your time in Purgatory...

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Mateo el Feo' date='Jul 23 2004, 05:45 PM'] I think attending RCIA classes with a bad teacher counts against your time in Purgatory... [/quote]
Hmm, that would be nice.

Mrs. Bro Adam,
I voted yes, but was extraordinarily busy at work today so didn't get a chance to write out a full-fledged answer. So here goes.

The purpose of RCIA is not simply catechesis but also to provide you the opportunity to get to know other people who are in your class as well as people in your parish. There are a couple of really good posts on this towards the end of the RCIA thread in the Converts Anonymous section, and I'd recommend you read them. Also, read the RCIA thread to get a flavor for some of the experiences your fellow phatmassers have had in RCIA. Lots of us haven't found it to be too fun, but we have grown through the experience.

Here's a quote from Sheperd's post on the RCIA thread:

[quote]RCIA is not the class that makes you Catholic per se, but prepares you for baptism and/or full initiation into the Church if you have already been baptized (but that's not the ultimate goal). Baptism is the key for those not baptized (it is what brings us into the family of God, begins our new identity, begins our mission as Christians). [b]However, baptism and/or full initiation isn't the ultimate goal of RCIA -- the ultimate goal is discipleship[/b].[/quote]

And another:
[quote]RCIA is all about initiation into the Church, yes, but it is not an education class. Yes, you need to be catechized appropriately (key word - appropriately), but that doesn't mean everyone should be reading the CCC. Catechesis is only one part of what should be every catechumen's/candidate's RCIA experience. If you want to read the CCC, dude, that's cool and all, but it's not a necessity. It's the responsibility of your RCIA catechist to teach you what you need to know. IE, salient theological points revealed through the scriptures. The primary goal of RCIA is to nurture the discipleship of those entering the Church. That's why RCIA doesn't end (or isn't supposed to) at Easter. The final period of RCIA is called mystagogy, the period between Easter and Pentecost, ie, you're supposed to keep meeting during this period. Mystagogy extends throughout the newly initiated's first year (during which they are called a neophyte), and should still be meeting on some kind of regular schedule.[/quote]

and another
[quote]Paragraph 75 of the ritual text gives a fourfold instruction for the education of the initiate: doctrine/catechesis through the liturgical scripture, familiarity with the Christian way of life through the sponsor and the wider Church community, liturgical rites, and apostolic works (ie, spreading the Gospel, witnessing, professing the faith; for example, many programs involve initiates in various social ministries).[/quote]

I was in RCIA for about nine months, and I had prayed and studied a good deal before ever making the decision to join the church. I probably was ready to join a couple of months before Easter, but I did need time to adjust and recover from a painful split from my previous church.

Technically, you're right that you shouldn't have to sit through all of RCIA, but this is something up to the discretion of your priest. Through this time, you can work on valuable spiritual characteristics, like submission to authority even when you don't agree with it.

It sounds to me like your priest is telling you that he thinks you need to learn something from RCIA, so perhaps it would be wise to spend some time in self-examination to see how it is God would have you grow through this experience.

So there ya go, my .02. Hope that helps.

[St. Catherine]

First off I voted yes.

and a question for you Mrs Bro. Adam.

[quote]Why should I remain in RCIA when I am not allowed to answer only from the text in front of me, and that text is of a lower level than where I am at? If I cannot help others during RCIA, and the material is not contributing to my growth as a Catholic, why should I remain in the program? [/quote]

Why can't you????


RCIA here has a lot of people who go every year just to grow in the faith even more. RCIA is for everyone no matter what your level of knowledge of the Church. You can go to add more insight to the discussions or just go to find out more. You go at your level. Just because you are more advanced than everyone else in the class does not mean that they will not benefit a great deal from your presence.