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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Re: RCIA but living in sin	Mahina	Monday, February 16, 2009
Question: Brother Mary Ignatius, I am in the RCIA program at my parish and will be baptized and confirmed at Easter vigil. However, there is another woman in the class whom I have become friends with who has confided in me that she doesn't accept the authority of the Pope. She says that she likes the power found in the Catholic church and in the Eucharist and that is why she wants to become Catholic. But she will not be held in a Catholic box because she has already been baptized as a Christian (Methodist, I believe) and is therefore saved in Christ. Although she has not yet come into full commune with the Catholic Church she takes Holy Communion every Sunday. She is aware that is wrong, not only because I have told her but because the priest of the RCIA class has told her (so she won't take it in front of him - she goes to someone else to get it). Additionally, she says she will not participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation because she doesn't believe that she should have to tell her sins to sinful men, she will tell them directly to God. She says she will never accept the Catholic doctrine that has been set up by man. If it isn't supported by the Bible then she will not follow it. Yet, when I ask her why she wants to become Catholic if she doesn't believe in the faith, she says, "For the Eucharist" - which she is already taking without being Catholic. My question is should a person with these beliefs be entering the Catholic Church at this time or should they perhaps wait and spend more time learning and considering the choice they are making. Also, should I, out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament, say something to the priest about her invalidly partaking of the Eucharist. I don't really know what to do in such a situation - since I've never been in it. And I feel conflicted. On one hand, I don't want to "rat out" my friend, but on the other this is a very serious situation. Thank you.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Mahina: This person should NOT be confirmed into the Catholic Church. She needs to be told that she is a hypocrite by receiving the Eucharist when she doesn't believe what the Church teaches. Receiving the Eucharist is a gesture of unity of belief. She thinks there is power in the Eucharist and in the Church. Given her arrogance and gross sin and sacrilege, she may indeed feel the power -- of illness and even her death for abusing the Eucharist. St. Paul said that some become sick and die when they do this. Her soul is in danger -- whether she believes that or not. If she cannot be convinced to withdraw from RCIA, then her sponsor should not recommend her for confirmation and the reasons why. In any event, the pastor should be told of this person's lack of Catholic belief and her real intent for wanting to become Catholic. If this person is recommended for confirmation and the pastor does nothing, then, frankly, the Bishop should be notified of the situation. Once that is done, there is nothing more you can do, except to pray for her. The unmitigated arrogance, pride, rebellion, and evil affront to God like this person is doing seems to be on the increase these days. They will stand before God for their sin, and so will the people who were in position to do something about this and didn't. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Re: RCIA but living in sin

Mahina

Monday, February 16, 2009

Question:

Brother Mary Ignatius,

I am in the RCIA program at my parish and will be baptized and confirmed at Easter vigil. However, there is another woman in the class whom I have become friends with who has confided in me that she doesn't accept the authority of the Pope. She says that she likes the power found in the Catholic church and in the Eucharist and that is why she wants to become Catholic. But she will not be held in a Catholic box because she has already been baptized as a Christian (Methodist, I believe) and is therefore saved in Christ.

Although she has not yet come into full commune with the Catholic Church she takes Holy Communion every Sunday. She is aware that is wrong, not only because I have told her but because the priest of the RCIA class has told her (so she won't take it in front of him - she goes to someone else to get it). Additionally, she says she will not participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation because she doesn't believe that she should have to tell her sins to sinful men, she will tell them directly to God. She says she will never accept the Catholic doctrine that has been set up by man. If it isn't supported by the Bible then she will not follow it. Yet, when I ask her why she wants to become Catholic if she doesn't believe in the faith, she says, "For the Eucharist" - which she is already taking without being Catholic.

My question is should a person with these beliefs be entering the Catholic Church at this time or should they perhaps wait and spend more time learning and considering the choice they are making. Also, should I, out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament, say something to the priest about her invalidly partaking of the Eucharist. I don't really know what to do in such a situation - since I've never been in it. And I feel conflicted. On one hand, I don't want to "rat out" my friend, but on the other this is a very serious situation.

Thank you.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Mahina:

This person should NOT be confirmed into the Catholic Church. She needs to be told that she is a hypocrite by receiving the Eucharist when she doesn't believe what the Church teaches. Receiving the Eucharist is a gesture of unity of belief.

She thinks there is power in the Eucharist and in the Church. Given her arrogance and gross sin and sacrilege, she may indeed feel the power -- of illness and even her death for abusing the Eucharist. St. Paul said that some become sick and die when they do this. Her soul is in danger -- whether she believes that or not.

If she cannot be convinced to withdraw from RCIA, then her sponsor should not recommend her for confirmation and the reasons why. In any event, the pastor should be told of this person's lack of Catholic belief and her real intent for wanting to become Catholic.

If this person is recommended for confirmation and the pastor does nothing, then, frankly, the Bishop should be notified of the situation. Once that is done, there is nothing more you can do, except to pray for her.

The unmitigated arrogance, pride, rebellion, and evil affront to God like this person is doing seems to be on the increase these days. They will stand before God for their sin, and so will the people who were in position to do something about this and didn't.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum