Can you be baptised as an adult without going through RCIA?

[beyondthesmile]

Can you be baptised Catholic as an adult without going through the RCIA process?

 

[Mom2Alex]

Can you be baptised Catholic as an adult without going through the RCIA process?

It is possible but typically only in extremely rare situations. The person would have to ask the parish priest if this were possible in his/her diocese. Either way, there would have to be an education process whether it be meeting with an RCIA program or privately with a priest for several sessions.

I'm on our parish RCIA team, so I'm a bit partial.

 

[beyondthesmile]

It is possible but typically only in extremely rare situations. The person would have to ask the parish priest if this were possible in his/her diocese. Either way, there would have to be an education process whether it be meeting with an RCIA program or privately with a priest for several sessions.

I'm on our parish RCIA team, so I'm a bit partial.

Thanks. I'm starting RCIA but I'm back and forth between two cities because of school and will therefore be missing several classes (while I'm out of town at school). The RCIA team has been very understanding and is willing to let me go through the process regardless, but I was wondering if there were alternatives and figured it was worth asking. Thank you.

 

[Mom2Alex]

Thanks. I'm starting RCIA but I'm back and forth between two cities because of school and will therefore be missing several classes (while I'm out of town at school). The RCIA team has been very understanding and is willing to let me go through the process regardless, but I was wondering if there were alternatives and figured it was worth asking. Thank you.

You're more than welcome. I mentored a young man who entered an RCIA program in a parish that was closer to his school as he was able to attend more meetings there than at his home parish. This is very common in college towns and quite often the college, depending on the size, may have its own RCIA program through a Newman Center. Either way, do update us with how things are going for you.

God bless you

 

[beyondthesmile]

You're more than welcome. I mentored a young man who entered an RCIA program in a parish that was closer to his school as he was able to attend more meetings there than at his home parish. This is very common in college towns and quite often the college, depending on the size, may have its own RCIA program through a Newman Center. Either way, do update us with how things are going for you.

God bless you

Thank you again
Would you mind if I PMed you with a few questions?

 

[Mom2Alex]

Thank you again
Would you mind if I PMed you with a few questions?

Of course you can pm me. I'll give you my e-mail address.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

In a word-:yup. Talk to your priest about your options.

 

[katholikos]

Can you be baptised Catholic as an adult without going through the RCIA process?

No. The only exceptions I have ever heard of is in case of a life threatening near-death situation, in which case ANY baptised Catholic can baptise you, or if you are so extraordinarily knowledgable about Catholicism that the bishop waives the need for RCIA. (For example: I believe Tim Staples, who is an apologist at Catholic Answers and a convert from protestantism, was offered a waiver. He declined though; he still wanted to go through the Rite because of its being an ancient practice.)

 

[katholikos]

Oaky, we have different opinions here. Let me ask: What are you now? A protestant? A non-Christian?

 

[katholikos]

CANON LAW:

Can. 865 §1. For an adult to be baptized, the person must have manifested the intention to receive baptism, have been instructed sufficiently about the truths of the faith and Christian obligations, and have been tested in the Christian life through the catechumenate. The adult is also to be urged to have sorrow for personal sins.

vatican source:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2X.HTM

 

[Mom2Alex]

Oaky, we have different opinions here. Let me ask: What are you now? A protestant? A non-Christian?

Read her reply to me - you'll see more of the picture.

RCIA is the ordinary way, but not the only way to become Catholic. Having said that, it sounds like the RCIA team is willing to work with her when she misses her scheduled meetings due to college. We've done that numerous times in our group. We have make-up meetings at a different time.

 

[Mom2Alex]

CANON LAW:

Can. 865 §1. For an adult to be baptized, the person must have manifested the intention to receive baptism, have been instructed sufficiently about the truths of the faith and Christian obligations, and have been tested in the Christian life through the catechumenate. The adult is also to be urged to have sorrow for personal sins.

vatican source:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2X.HTM

And the ordinary means today is by attending an RCIA program. Instruction does include private meetings with the priest who catechizes the adult seeking Baptism and full communion with the Church.

 

[katholikos]

And the ordinary means today is by attending an RCIA program. Instruction does include private meetings with the priest who catechizes the adult seeking Baptism and full communion with the Church.

But that does not cover "...tested in the Christian life through the catechumenate.."


Can. 865 §1. For an adult to be baptized, the person must have manifested the intention to receive baptism, have been instructed sufficiently about the truths of the faith and Christian obligations, and have been tested in the Christian life through the catechumenate. The adult is also to be urged to have sorrow for personal sins.

 

[Rhamiel]

I think the RCIA system is a little too much for some people, it is a good general rule that people should go to RCIA first, but everybody is differant. It is important that people know what the Church teaches and takes the time to think if they really want to be part of the Church, but that does not mean everybody has to go through RCIA.
I have a friend who is in the military, he is a chaplins assistant (a cross between a secretary and body guard) and he attended some RCIA classes, he is 25 and has known a lot about Christian history and doctrine ever since he was in high school, me and him have talked theology for hours and over the years he has become more sacremental and traditional in his faith. Because he is in the military he has been moved around a bit and never compleated RCIA but the priest said he could be confirmed whenever because he has such a good understanding of the Catholic Faith

 

[ukok]

It does happen, but here is what it says in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

CCC1247 Since the beginning of the Church, adult Baptism is the common practice where the proclamation of the Gospel is still new. The catechumenate (preparation for Baptism) therefore occupies an important place. This initiation into Christian faith and life should dispose the catechumen to receive the gift of God in Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.

CCC1248 The catechumenate, or formation of catechumens, aims at bringing their conversion and faith to maturity, in response to the divine initiative and in union with an ecclesial community. The catechumenate is to be "a formation in the whole Christian life . . . during which the disciples will be joined to Christ their teacher. The catechumens should be properly initiated into the mystery of salvation and the practice of the evangelical virtues, and they should be introduced into the life of faith, liturgy, and charity of the People of God by successive sacred rites."[47]

So, you see, it is for our own good that we need to ideally have a certain appreciation for and understanding of, what exactly it is that we are being baptised into. Once baptised Catholic, we remain Catholic for life and that carrys with it an enormous responsibility which should not be taken without due preparation.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

A priest can offer private instruction for people entering the faith with difficult circumstances. There needs to be instruction, it doesn't need to be an RCIA program, it's at the pastor's discretion. Some parishes don't even have an RCIA program--the preists personally prepare each of the candidates and catechumens.

 

[Mom2Alex]

But that does not cover "...tested in the Christian life through the catechumenate.."


Can. 865 §1. For an adult to be baptized, the person must have manifested the intention to receive baptism, have been instructed sufficiently about the truths of the faith and Christian obligations, and have been tested in the Christian life through the catechumenate. The adult is also to be urged to have sorrow for personal sins.

Catechumenate:

The period of instruction in the faith before baptism and admission of converts to the Catholic Church. The Second Vatican Council set down specific directives on the catechumenate by: 1. distinguishing between the more intense and normally prolonged catechumenate in mission lands: 2. stressing the importance of not only instruction but training in the practice of virtue; 3. pointing out the responsibility of the whole Christian community to co-operate in the preparation of catechumens; and 4. directing that the catechumenate be integrated with the liturgical year and the celebration of the Paschal Mystery (Ad Gentes Divinitus, 13-14). (Etym. Latin catechumenus; from Greek kat_khoumenos, from kat_khein, to catechize.)

Many, many parishes have no RCIA program. Certainly you are not saying that if they meet with the priest weekly for instruction and are Baptized when the priest deems them properly prepared that their Baptism is not valid.

 

[beyondthesmile]

Thank you for the responses everyone.

I haven't been able to speak with the priest but someone at the church closest to be said that RCIA is the only way to be baptised at their church. I guess other parishes might say otherwise and might allow private meetings with a priest...I think I might actually prefer that. I think I will just go through the RCIA process, though, so long as the team will allow it with my absences (the priest at another church in town told me I could not begin RCIA this year because I would be missing more than 3 classes). The lady who runs the RCIA program at this church is very flexible and will fill in the blanks with me when I'm away at school.

Thank you everyone.

 

[Rhamiel]

RCIA does do a lot of good, and seems to work fine for most people,but there are other ways to go about it. Beyondthesmile, try to hang in there and go through with RCIA, but if it proves too much for you then ask the priest what you should do.

 

[katholikos]

Well, either way, the parish priest in the end will have the last say, at least at his church.

But I would still strongly suggest you go through RCIA. And I would go even further than that and say you should study on your own. Being a Catholic is much deeper, and is a much deeper commitment that just being in some other church. There are things that require sacrafice and things that are hard to accept unless you are truly commited, such as teachings on contraception, permanence of marriage, the Eucharist, etc.: Its no easy road being an obedient Catholic. You really want that time to pray, think, to make friends and experience formation & instruction. That is my advice.