Paying for RCIA?

[AMDG]

Remember, the charge is NOT for Sacraments (that cannot be charge--see the CCC if don't believe--the New Testament too. This is a DONATION for EXTRA services, above and beyond the "bare-bones" lessons that only begin in Mass.

 

[Michie]

Michie, I agree that if it's just a "bare-bones" program, this does seem questionable. But think again, if the program serves coffee (or soft drinks) and donuts (or other snacks)--who pays for it all?

RCIA people bring it in along with others. That is no big deal. Usually the people teaching the class did it. It was a freewill thing. And it really is not necessary. People can bring in their own drink.

And if the program gives out special folders (the one my husband and I went to did) and Bibles and special inspirational books (as well as the materials for RCIA) SOMEONE has to pay for it.

Everyone was given everything free of charge. The things that we needed were copied off a master copy & distributed.

And if the program has a trip planned to a shrine or to the Cathedral (like the one we had) someone must pay to rent the bus.

We had an opportunity to do that but again, it was just an option not an obligation. It was the next state over & it was 30.00. Nobody was obligated to go. It was simply offered. Same with the Catechism. There were Catechisms that belonged to the Church that were in a RCIA library of sorts & could be used during the class. These extras are not a must. It is about learning the Faith & discerning if you will enter into it.

Now my granddaughter recently received a gift from her parish for her completing her First Communion and I noticed that those gifts were donated by The Lady's Group, or RosaryMakers, or the Altar Society. Well nowadays membership in those organizations is REALLY down due to the fact that women are holding down outside jobs rather than donating their time and treasure. And the program my husband and I went through also included a "graduation" celebratory get-together meal afterwards. That free also? Don't know of too many restaurants that would be willing to donate an evening where they could normally be charging folks. Maybe all those "extras" DO cost. I don't know.

We received Bibles, crucifixes & it was all free. A gift for those pursuing the faith to help them on their journey. It may cost but the cost should not go to converts. Every supper we have had or gift we were given was due to supportive laity & the support of the Church. If the Church does not have the resources for these extras then they should not make those inquirers & people on their way to conversion pay for these extras. They should simply not offer them if it is that much of a burden. Just teach the Faith. That is what everyone is there for anyway. Nothing else.

I'm beginning to think that we were lucky in that we went through the programs years back when there WERE better donations--and I also think that my own conversion process OUTSIDE of RCIA was at times even better since I wasn't tied to a time-table like those IN RCIA are.

The Gospel is free. Coming into the fullness of faith should be free. RCIA does not hold any obligations for those that go into it. Everyone is welcome with no expectations or pressure. This, I am sure, would be a huge stumbling block to people & make most not want to learn about the RCC at all. We can make all sorts of excuses for charging for RCIA. But the fact is it really is inexcusable.

 

[Tigg]

RCIA people bring it in along with others. That is no big deal. Usually the people teaching the class did it. It was a freewill thing. And it really is not necessary. People can bring in their own drink.


Everyone was given everything free of charge. The things that we needed were copied off a master copy & distributed.


We had an opportunity to do that but again, it was just an option not an obligation. It was the next state over & it was 30.00. Nobody was obligated to go. It was simply offered. Same with the Catechism. There were Catechisms that belonged to the Church that were in a RCIA library of sorts & could be used during the class. These extras are not a must. It is about learning the Faith & discerning if you will enter into it.


We received Bibles, crucifixes & it was all free. A gift for those pursuing the faith to help them on their journey. It may cost but the cost should not go to converts. Every supper we have had or gift we were given was due to supportive laity & the support of the Church. If the Church does not have the resources for these extras then they should not make those inquirers & people on their way to conversion pay for these extras. They should simply not offer them if it is that much of a burden. Just teach the Faith. That is what everyone is there for anyway. Nothing else.


The Gospel is free. Coming into the fullness of faith should be free. RCIA does not hold any obligations for those that go into it. Everyone is welcome with no expectations or pressure. This, I am sure, would be a huge stumbling block to people & make most not want to learn about the RCC at all. We can make all sorts of excuses for charging for RCIA. But the fact is it really is inexcusable.

 

[Michie]

Paying for RCIA seems to assume that everyone who attends will become Catholic. And that is definitely not the case. It is just wrong to do this & that does not even cover all the concerns that comes from how wrong it is.

 

[ebia]

Paying for RCIA seems to assume that everyone who attends will become Catholic. And that is definitely not the case. It is just wrong to do this & that does not even cover all the concerns that comes from how wrong it is.

Even if everybody did go on t join, or of those who do, it would be better to given them time to settle in and when they have gentle suggest that they might like to sponsor the costs for someone the next year,...

 

[Michie]

Even if everybody did go on t join, or of those who do, it would be better to given them time to settle in and when they have gentle suggest that they might like to sponsor the costs for someone the next year,...

Yes but I strongly believe that it is a duty of the Church to evangelize...it is the Great Commission. To charge for simply teaching the faith is inexcusable. All the extras mentioned are not expected & not needed. It's about the Faith. That's it.

 

[Tigg]

Paying for RCIA seems to assume that everyone who attends will become Catholic. And that is definitely not the case. It is just wrong to do this & that does not even cover all the concerns that comes from how wrong it is.

Agree. If I had been required to pay, I would not have and would not be a Catholic today. Cost of can be one thing preventing someone but to me it is just wrong. I am sooo thankful I was taught by a Priest. Bless his heart. We had more serious discussions and just plain ole discussions. That is certainly ot but I was not asked to pay for anything.

To the original poster, my advice is to go elsewhere. I hope this is not a trend in the church now. Our numbers of converts will surely drop if it is. God bless.

 

[Michie]

Agree. If I had been required to pay, I would not have and would not be a Catholic today. Cost of can be one thing preventing someone but to me it is just wrong. I am sooo thankful I was taught by a Priest. Bless his heart. We had more serious discussions and just plain ole discussions. That is certainly ot but I was not asked to pay for anything.

To the original poster, my advice is to go elsewhere. I hope this is not a trend in the church now. Our numbers of converts will surely drop if it is. God bless.

Well for me paying 150.00 could had been done with no issue as far as finances but I can certainly say I would not had paid it. It would had completely steered me right back to the protestant church. And if this parish is doing this... I bet there are a lot of folks that have reacted just as I would have. Shame on them.

 

[WisdomTree]

I didn't even go to RCIA, I wonder if they would've charged me if I did end up having to do it...

 

[ebia]

Yes but I strongly believe that it is a duty of the Church to evangelize...it is the Great Commission. To charge for simply teaching the faith is inexcusable. All the extras mentioned are not expected & not needed. It's about the Faith. That's it.

I'm not disagreeing with you.

 

[ebia]

I didn't even go to RCIA, I wonder if they would've charged me if I did end up having to do it...

The invoice for joining is in the post.

 

[Michie]

I didn't even go to RCIA, I wonder if they would've charged me if I did end up having to do it...

I doubt it. This is he first time I have heard of anyone charging for RCIA.

 

[AMDG]

Honestly Michie, some things in the RCIA class my husband took (I was invited too) added up to some money. It wasn't just cold class work that begins in Mass and ends a year or two later. It DID encompass extra devotional books, Bibles, rentals of buses to go to shrines or the state cathedral and of course coffee, tea, and snacks each meeting and of course there's the special robes that are made for the baptisms of the adults and given to the participants. I used to wonder who could donate the money, but AT THAT TIME there WERE women's groups and men's groups, altar societies, and even the Knights of Columbus who could be counted on to "step up". Now? I've noticed a decline in membership of some of these organizations and the increasing expense. I figure that nowadays either the programs cut back on the things they do and have folks contribute something each week (at least for the coffee and donuts). Looks like this RCIA figured how much the program will cost in the "extras" and is "upfront" about it since they can no longer count on the donations.

CCDs do it all the time whether I like it or whether I think it looks bad. (Frankly, I think it's unfortunate in CCDs too because without CCD the children will be unable to make their Communion. Seems to me that money is keeping children from God. However, I have noted parishes that DO waive the fees if a family can't afford (Some even keep Communion clothes for those less fortunate.

 

[Michie]

Honestly Michie, some things in the RCIA class my husband took (I was invited too) added up to some money. It wasn't just cold class work that begins in Mass and ends a year or two later. It DID encompass extra devotional books, Bibles, rentals of buses to go to shrines or the state cathedral and of course coffee, tea, and snacks each meeting and of course there's the special robes that are made for the baptisms of the adults and given to the participants. I used to wonder who could donate the money, but AT THAT TIME there WERE women's groups and men's groups, altar societies, and even the Knights of Columbus who could be counted on to "step up". Now? I've noticed a decline in membership of some of these organizations and the increasing expense. I figure that nowadays either the programs cut back on the things they do and have folks contribute something each week (at least for the coffee and donuts). Looks like this RCIA figured how much the program will cost in the "extras" and is "upfront" about it since they can no longer count on the donations.

CCDs do it all the time whether I like it or whether I think it looks bad. (Frankly, I think it's unfortunate in CCDs too because without CCD the children will be unable to make their Communion. Seems to me that money is keeping children from God. However, I have noted parishes that DO waive the fees if a family can't afford (Some even keep Communion clothes for those less fortunate.

I have never heard of such things & I guess it is a good thing. It really upsets me. I already explained how my parish does it & see no reason why this parish cannot do the same. All those things you mentioned are just frills. I cannot come up with a single explanation that would excuse charging for RCIA. I think Pope Francis would flip his lid on this one.

 

[G19shooter]

I am very happy to say that I have found a new parish. I was welcomed with open arms. The service was amazing tonight! The parishioners where all so kind and right away I felt like I was at home. I spoke with the father after service and we talked as if we had known each other for years. Now I'm starting to think this whole paying for RCIA thing was a blessing in disguise as I am SO HAPPY I found this parish! I called and left a message about about RCIA classes. I pray this place is reasonable and wants to teach the Catholic faith, because I so badly want to be a part of the Catholic faith.

 

[Michie]

I am very happy to say that I have found a new parish. I was welcomed with open arms. The service was amazing tonight! The parishioners where all so kind and right away I felt like I was at home. I spoke with the father after service and we talked as if we had known each other for years. Now I'm starting to think this whole paying for RCIA thing was a blessing in disguise as I am SO HAPPY I found this parish! I called and left a message about about RCIA classes. I pray this place is reasonable and wants to teach the Catholic faith, because I so badly want to be a part of the Catholic faith.

I'm glad you found another parish but I do not think the previous parish that wanted 150.00 from you to teach you the faith so you could become Catholic should not get away with this practice.

 

[G19shooter]

I'm glad you found another parish but I do not think the previous parish that wanted 150.00 from you to teach you the faith so you could become Catholic should get away with this practice.

I agree, but really have no idea what can be done.

 

[AMDG]

I have never heard of such things & I guess it is a good thing. It really upsets me. I already explained how my parish does it & see no reason why this parish cannot do the same. All those things you mentioned are just frills. I cannot come up with a single explanation that would excuse charging for RCIA. I think Pope Francis would flip his lid on this one.

That's IT. The payment is NOT for Faith (or what is learned at RCIA). It's for the frills--and you know that for some folks, it's the frills that mean a lot. (Took me a LONG time and several DREs to explain it to me so that I could finally understand--it seemed to me, like I think it seems to you, that it appears as if the Sacraments that are being sold.) IF there MUST be RCIA (instead of the priest just instructing a person for Baptism and Communion--and then the person joining another class for Confirmation a year later) I think I like things better the old way when there were many parish organizations that could donate to provide the frills as well as the actual RCIA program.)

 

[Michie]

That's IT. The payment is NOT for Faith (or what is learned at RCIA). It's for the frills--and you know that for some folks, it's the frills that mean a lot. (Took me a LONG time and several DREs to explain it to me so that I could finally understand--it seemed to me, like I think it seems to you, that it appears as if the Sacraments that are being sold.) IF there MUST be RCIA (instead of the priest just instructing a person for Baptism and Communion--and then the person joining another class for Confirmation a year later) I think I like things better the old way when there were many parish organizations that could donate to provide the frills as well as the actual RCIA program.)

It was drilled into all of us in RCIA that the program is free & there is no obligation or pressure involved when learning about the Faith. I have not met one single convert that was in it for the frills.

 

[AMDG]

It was drilled into all of us in RCIA that the program is free & there is no obligation or pressure involved when learning about the Faith. I have not met one single convert that was in it for the frills.

I have. I've been in parishes that have had very involved RCIAs AND RCICs. (I guess when RCIA came on the scene we could expect the different programs.) I've met folks that LOVED the specially made baptismal robes that seemed to the people to show that their sins WERE ACTUALLY "leaving them through the Baptismal waters" (the purple would bleed a bit in the waters but I've even spoken to some of those who loved the effect) and the white robes that were worn at Mass even a week later or the ones to the meeting of the different parishes in RCIA that year and the professional photographers on the Holy Saturday celebration (parents of the RCIC children particularly liked those.) I have met folks who were glad that a bus was available for the trip to the Bishop's seat (Cathedral) for the Rite of Election and later on too. Some of the different parishes (I taught CCD in one) would hand out free Bibles and inspirational books like Surprised By Truth and I never heard complaints about receiving the books. And I have never been to ANY Church meeting, CCD training, parish finance, parish social services, RCIA, Bible Study, etc. that DIDN'T incorporate a "fellowship coffee and donuts".

Said I liked the old way better and this way had to be explained to me by several parish DREs.