My letter to my modernist RCIA class

Jared R · May 27, 2017

I don't think this letter is a prudent choice. To be frank, it sounds raving. It's definitely fair to disagree with the content of your RCIA course, and I'm not telling you it's wrong to feel that it hasn't been Catholic enough, but this letter is not going to accomplish anything productive. If anything, it will just confirm someone's opinion that traditionalists are angry and reactionary, and they will just pity you.

If your conscience is telling you that you need to speak up, then write a letter to your priest:

Dear Fr. X,

I am grateful to the volunteers who give of their time and talent to serve the parish's RCIA program. At the same time, I have been uncomfortable with the content of the program at times. My concerns are that...

Etc.

JesusLovesOurLady · May 27, 2017

I've asked wether or not the priest is available to see complaints, I'll try to draw up a list of errors, that were made at RCIA. But I still feel like they need to know, that if I don't tell them, the anger and resentment will just eat away at me. This isn't the first time that I tried to them, earlier this month, I sent them the following letter:

"I have to say this, it’s [been eating] away at me for too long… You probably won’t like what I’m about to say, but I have to say it. I didn’t enjoy RCIA, I was quite frankly terrified and deeply disturbed by what I heard and saw. I am deeply ashamed by the way I behaved there, you will probably be making a lot of judgements about me because of my shameful conduct, perhaps I deserve it.

Please don’t talk to me about this, you can talk to me about anything else, but not this, I just needed to say [this] because all [of] the horrible and hurtful things that were said and shown there, are haunting me, and I can’t continue to be silent about them anymore.

Glory to God
and
Hail Mary!

[real name here]"

Could I perhaps email them, something like this:

"Look, you have to know, I didn't feel welcome at RCIA. I was miserable there. I have been haunted ever since, by all the mean-spirited, malicious stuff that was said there. The only reason I stayed there, was because I believed the Faith, I know you look down on people for that, but I don't care anymore. I acted like a disgusting coward there and I'm deeply ashamed of it, I'll stop doing that now. From now on, I will speak the Truth in Love!

Farewell!

Glory to God
and
Hail Mary!

[real name here]"

I just need to say something, so I can get over with it, and move on.

JesusLovesOurLady · May 28, 2017

Actually, how about this:

"Can I ask you a series of questions? Please just answer them! Don't say anything not in relation to the answers, just answer them:

Is there absolute truth? Yes or no?
If there is absolute truth, can humanity know it? If not, why? And what does that mean?
If humanity can know absolute truth, is it okay, for those who know the truth, to say that they know it? If yes, why? If no, why? And is there any harm in doing one or the other?
Finally, if one can, and does know have the truth, would it be right for one to act contrary to the truth, one way or the other? If yes, why? If know, why?

Glory to God
And
Hail Mary!

[real name here]"

What do think of this? Should I send this to my RCIA instructor? Or should I send the above letter, only touched up a bit, or changed all together? If I shouldn't send this to the instructor, can I at least send it to the woman, who attended RCIA with me? She was really brainwashed by the modernist, and I really want to undo the damage, in anyway I can!

Gabriel Anton · May 28, 2017

Peace be with you.

RCIA is like beginner's class, right?

You're not really meant to know anything in beginner's class so you have to act like it because you are a Beginner. Just smile and nod your head.

Virtue Required: Humility.

What you can do is later start a class in the Parish to study and teach certain aspects of the Faith which are more Complex to understand.

God bless you.

Anhelyna · May 28, 2017

You really want my opinion ??

Stay right out of this - you have admitted you have already tried sending a letter once - was there any response ?

RCIA is intended as an introduction - how people move forward after that is up to them.

How long have you been Catholic ?

Stabat Mater dolorosa · May 28, 2017

JLOL
What you can do is to send the letter to them with a copy to the bishop too.
It's not unlikely that the bishop is lost in modernism too though.

Personally I would recommend for you to go to Sunday mass, hence receive communion and to keep all other spiritual life elsewhere.

Could you spend some of this misdirected anger and its energy on something different, perhaps even pious?

Visitor in jail, giving blood, soup kitchen, going with communion to sick and elderly, etc.

?

pdudgeon · May 28, 2017

there are a couple of points here:
1.It's quite possible that your RCIA class reflected the prevailing feelings and beliefs of the parish as a whole, and not necessarily those of the Catholic Church. That's not supposed to happen.

2. yes, by all means talk to your parish priest and get this matter straightened out.

3. Ask him if your parish is subscribing to an internet program called "Formed". www.formed.org there is also a 7 day FREE trial subscription available so that both of you can explore the site before deciding if you wish to subscribe.
It's an online program for Catholic teaching and has an excellent 2 part course with videos called "Symbalon" that goes into detail about many Catholic beliefs. If your parish does not subscribe, it is possible to get a subscription for yourself so that you can view the videos online and get the good teaching that you need.

Stabat Mater dolorosa · May 28, 2017

One should be careful not to be to much of a besserwisser as a catholic neophyte btw.
There are cradle Catholics that find two-year olds quite irritating.

It sometimes come of as "knowing more than the professor the first semester at the university"...

Anhelyna · May 28, 2017

JLOL

A question for you - what do you see in the RCIA programme that was 'modernist ' i.e. what is your understanding of the term 'modernist'

JesusLovesOurLady · May 28, 2017

Anhelyna said:
JLOL

A question for you - what do you see in the RCIA programme that was 'modernist ' i.e. what is your understanding of the term 'modernist'

I'm working on, drawing up all the errors that were presented in my RCIA class. I'm hoping to send the list of errors and complaints to my priest really soon. Here's what I can up with so far:
-Flip-flops on absolutism vs relativism
-Pantheism and Panentheism
-Flip-flops on divorce and remarriage
-An acceptance on Contraceptio
-Encouragements to not "tow the party line" and implications that such people who do, should be looked down on
-Acceptance of the gay movement
-Discouragements of taking the faith rationally and encouragements of believing the faith the way you want it to be
Finally constant scorning and sneering at the Traditional Catholic form, and just vilifying Traditional Catholics, with constant lies and myths. It was just remarkable the scoffing and scorn of it all! And how they just looked down on all of us!

Gnarwhal · May 28, 2017

Stabat Mater said:
One should be careful not to be to much of a besserwisser as a catholic neophyte btw.
There are cradle Catholics that find two-year olds quite irritating.

It sometimes come of as "knowing more than the professor the first semester at the university"...

Besserwisser, good word.

And I agree. I know that I'm much more informed theologically than the average cradle Catholic because of how long and in-depth I studied theology, PLUS the 18 months of formation I did in RCIA, BUT I have to understand that I'm not the Pope. I'm not even a deacon, I know my place and I need to mind it. Through that mindset, I've found that I still learn a lot about it what it means to be a Catholic.

JesusLovesOurLady said:
I'm working on, drawing up all the errors that were presented in my RCIA class. I'm hoping to send the list of errors and complaints to my priest really soon. Here's what I can up with so far:
-Flip-flops on absolutism vs relativism
-Pantheism and Panentheism
-Flip-flops on divorce and remarriage
-An acceptance on Contraceptio
-Encouragements to not "tow the party line" and implications that such people who do, should be looked down on
-Acceptance of the gay movement
-Discouragements of taking the faith rationally and encouragements of believing the faith the way you want it to be
Finally constant scorning and sneering at the Traditional Catholic form, and just vilifying Traditional Catholics, with constant lies and myths. It was just remarkable the scoffing and scorn of it all! And how they just looked down on all of us!

So is this literally the only accessible parish for you? Can you drive? Even if it's not a FSSP or ICRSS parish, there are still orthodox parishes out there that have very effective and educational formation programs. Speaking from experience.

If you can transfer to a better parish with it's own RCIA program, then it seems like it would be a whole lot easier to go that route and just send a letter to the priest at the modernist parish (or your bishop) expressing your concerns about your RCIA.

JesusLovesOurLady · May 28, 2017

I'm working on my case, can someone please give me tips on how to make my case strong, and help ensure that it gets the Priest's attention?

Also can I please send this:

JesusLovesOurLady said:
"Can I ask you a series of questions? Please just answer them! Don't say anything not in relation to the answers, just answer them:

Is there absolute truth? Yes or no?
If there is absolute truth, can humanity know it? If not, why? And what does that mean?
If humanity can know absolute truth, is it okay, for those who know the truth, to say that they know it? If yes, why? If no, why? And is there any harm in doing one or the other?
Finally, if one can, and does know have the truth, would it be right for one to act contrary to the truth, one way or the other? If yes, why? If know, why?

Glory to God
And
Hail Mary!

[real name here]"

To my classmate, along with FORMED? I really want to repair the damage I've done from my shameful, cowardly silence!

I'm going on my prayer break, I'll be back later this evening.

JesusLovesOurLady · May 28, 2017

Manwë said:
So is this literally the only accessible parish for you? Can you drive? Even if it's not a FSSP or ICRSS parish, there are still orthodox parishes out there that have very effective and educational formation programs. Speaking from experience.

If you can transfer to a better parish with it's own RCIA program, then it seems like it would be a whole lot easier to go that route and just send a letter to the priest at the modernist parish (or your bishop) expressing your concerns about your RCIA.

Like I said earlier, there is a much more reverent parish that I'm trying to move to. I really need prayers, in order to make the move. My parents are really reluctant about having me move, they want me to stay in their town. But I need to get out of this parish, it's really having a negative affect on me. Please pray!

archer75 · May 28, 2017

JesusLovesOurLady said:
Like I said earlier, there is a much more reverent parish that I'm trying to move to. I really need prayers, in order to make the move. My parents are really reluctant about having me move, they want me to stay in their town. But I need to get out of this parish, it's really having a negative affect on me. Please pray!

Could you attend Mass in the other parish without moving?

JesusLovesOurLady · May 28, 2017

hengesthorsa said:
Could you attend Mass in the other parish without moving?

I'm trying. I attend Adoration every Thursday, but I can't go there on Sundays and/or Saturdays, to fulfill my Sunday Obligation. It's best that I move there.

PeaceB · May 28, 2017

JesusLovesOurLady said:
Like I said earlier, there is a much more reverent parish that I'm trying to move to. I really need prayers, in order to make the move. My parents are really reluctant about having me move, they want me to stay in their town. But I need to get out of this parish, it's really having a negative affect on me. Please pray!

With all due respect, have you ever considered the possibility that the problem is with you, and not with the parish?

JesusLovesOurLady · May 28, 2017

PeaceB said:
With all due respect, have you ever considered the possibility that the problem is with you, and not with the parish?

What do you mean? Surely you're not saying that this:

JesusLovesOurLady said:
I'm working on, drawing up all the errors that were presented in my RCIA class. I'm hoping to send the list of errors and complaints to my priest really soon. Here's what I can up with so far:
-Flip-flops on absolutism vs relativism
-Pantheism and Panentheism
-Flip-flops on divorce and remarriage
-An acceptance on Contraceptio
-Encouragements to not "tow the party line" and implications that such people who do, should be looked down on
-Acceptance of the gay movement
-Discouragements of taking the faith rationally and encouragements of believing the faith the way you want it to be
Finally constant scorning and sneering at the Traditional Catholic form, and just vilifying Traditional Catholics, with constant lies and myths. It was just remarkable the scoffing and scorn of it all! And how they just looked down on all of us!

is okay!?!

I assure you, I'm doing all I can to move to the reverent parish, I've already found two apartments that can be potential candidates for a new home.

I'm also working on my letter to the priest, as you all suggested.

Also, this morning, at mass, I was really good at ignoring all of the liturgical abuses, and focussing purely on God.

PeaceB · May 28, 2017

JesusLovesOurLady said:
What do you mean? Surely you're not saying that this:

is okay!?!

I assure you, I'm doing all I can to move to the reverent parish, I've already found two apartments that can be potential candidates for a new home.

I'm also working on my letter to the priest, as you all suggested.

Also, this morning, at mass, I was really good at ignoring all of the liturgical abuses, and focussing purely on God.

I am not about to start judging a parish that I have never been to.

To be honest, friend, you do not seem well. There certainly is a place for correction in the spirit of charity, but this is not the vibe I am getting from what you have written here. It seems that you have become a bit obsessed with pointing out the errors and perceived flaws of others, and that this has caused you to totally lose your sense of inner peace.

There are plenty of saints who have suffered far greater than what is causing you to abandon your parish.

JesusLovesOurLady · May 28, 2017

PeaceB said:
I am not about to start judging a parish that I have never been to.

To be honest, friend, you do not seem well. There certainly is a place for correction in the spirit of charity, but this is not the vibe I am getting from what you have written here. It seems that you have become a bit obsessed with pointing out the errors and perceived flaws of others, and that this has caused you to totally lose your sense of inner peace.

There are plenty of saints who have suffered far greater than what is causing you to abandon your parish.

I assure you, you will not find peace in that parish!

PeaceB · May 28, 2017

JesusLovesOurLady said:
I assure you, you will not find peace in that parish!

Is Christ present in the tabernacle?

My letter to my modernist RCIA class

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