Posted on 05/01/2007 9:13:13 AM PDT by Rocky Mountain Wild Turkey
Hello Brothers & Sisters --
We want to join a Catholic Church here in Michigan. I was raised Catholic, my wife was raised Lutheran - MS.
We were not married at a Catholic or Lutheran church.
She (as do I) have some questions. We would appreciate any answers or comments:
-- Why is the RCIA program so long (September to Easter Vigil) for someone who is not a 'non-Christian' and with so much Christian schooling already (Lutheran MS School - K-8)?
-- Why is she considered a 'convert'? She is still Christian, willing to accept a fuller understanding way of the church and way of practicing the Christian faith.
-- The Catholic Church does say we are married, but we have to apply for a "dispensation" and have another marriage ceremony. If the RCC accepts her baptism, why not our marriage (two baptized Christians who exchanged rings "In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit")? This makes her feel like our wedding in 1998 "didn't happen."
-- She didn't really know this one: Why do Lutherans only have 3 sacraments (baptism, holy communion and reconciliation), as opposed to 7 in the RCC?
Thank you for any and all your thoughts.
This is harder for me than I imagined.
Peace.
Catholic ping!
I’m no expert but I think I can offer some input on a couple of your questions.
In many parishes you can have a much abbreviated RCIA program if converting from another Christian faith.
I do not think you actually have to have another wedding, you simply have to have the marriage blessed by the Church. This simply means that the Church needs to confirm that your marriage meets the typical requirements. For example you were not married under duress or that you are not ineligible to be married because you are close relatives or some such thing.
Talk about making it complicated?
You need an official certificate saying "I have converted" because?
I was born a Catholic, so I can't from experience relate how I would "join"; but I know I would not question every official requirement after I make a special effort to ask for them. That is suspicious.
I would read CS Lewis' Mere Christianity, and A Grief Observed (where he calls God the Cosmic Sadist) to get a notion of what conversion involves.
I know that every religion has the extremist militants. Those of Christian sects are no more desireable to me than militant islamics.
-- Why is the RCIA program so long (September to Easter Vigil) for someone who is not a 'non-Christian' and with so much Christian schooling already (Lutheran MS School - K-8)?
The RCIA program stretches out so long because there are lots of new materials to be learned. This person will realize that many in the class are not as "churched" as he and his wife are, and so need much more catechesis.
-- Why is she considered a 'convert'? She is still Christian, willing to accept a fuller understanding way of the church and way of practicing the Christian faith.
I don't believe that his wife is considered a convert. She will not received all the Sacraments that he does at the Easter Vigil. Many couples tend/want to update themselves on the Catholic Church along with their spouse who is becoming Catholic.
-- The Catholic Church does say we are married, but we have to apply for a "dispensation" and have another marriage ceremony. If the RCC accepts her baptism, why not our marriage (two baptized Christians who exchanged rings "In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit")? This makes her feel like our wedding in 1998 "didn't happen."
Your wedding in 1998 did happen! Through this ceremony you receive the additional blessing of the Sacrament of Matrimony along with other blessings for your family.
-- She didn't really know this one: Why do Lutherans only have 3 sacraments (baptism, holy communion and reconciliation), as opposed to 7 in the RCC?
Christ did institute seven Sacraments. Luther only recognized three of them however. Think of all the added knowledge you will receive (and blessings) received when you DO receive these additional Sacraments. (Although I doubt that you will be receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders -- LOL!)
BTW, Catholic instruction continues formally through high school, and informally for adults as long as we live! Learn and grow!
All three of us children are Republicans. My brother remains a Catholic, while my sister and I are Protestants.
Lutheran Wife has questions before joining Catholic Church
Belleville Bishop Braxton in Brouhaha with his priests (title mine)
A Ramble through My "New Catholic" Wish List {RCIA referenced]
Catholic Liturgy - Funeral Masses for a Suicide And More on Confession for RCIA Candidates
Confession for RCIA Candidates And More on the Prayer of the Faithful
So I guess where you go to church they about as fond of Christian charity as they are on canon law, eh?
Well I don’t know, my Husband just became Catholic last year and feels much closer to Our Lord.
Maybe some have a problem with the “rules and regulations” but to some of us, that makes us feel much closer to Jesus’ suffering on the cross.
An almost perfect statement of ignorance. You rival Gore in being almost completely wrong. What do you have against Christ?
We’re fond of Truth.
Sounds like you have a nice well rounded family!
God Bless you!
Nothing. He’s my saviour.
So are Catholics, that’s why we live it.
Why are you bashing Catholic beliefs?
If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a tinkling symbol. And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. —1 Corinthians 13
I believe you will find answers to some (if not all) of your questions at Marcus Grodi's excellent web site:
I am also pinging the Catholic List for their feedback. God bless you both!
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