Becoming a Catholic?

[ilovemyhens]

Would ds2 and I be able to join the Catholic Church and would ds1 and dh have to join us? Would it be compulsory for us all to join?

I am baptised Catholic, but not confirmed Catholic and the dcs were baptised in the C/E Church, but they both attend Catholic schools.

[ilovemyhens]

I have asked ds1 if he wants to become a Catholic and he says "not really" and dh would never want to.

[acorntree]

You could join and it's not compulsory for the rest of your family to join.

I grew up in a family where my father and I were Catholic but my mother and sister not (although my sister later became one as an adult), and now I have a Catholic dd (although she is free to leave if she wants to) and a firmly non-catholic-determined-never-to-be-converted agnostic dh.

[ilovemyhens]

Okay, thanks for that

What happens because ds2 was baptised in a C/E church?

[Decorhate]

You would probably have to do a course - RCIA- Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults, which afaik is both for non-Catholics wishing to join the church and those who didn't make their confirmation as youngsters.

Think it is less formal for children esp if they have already been baptised elsewhere - there would probably just be some sort of welcoming ceremony as part of Sunday mass. Might depend on how old your ds2 is though -might be different if he is already of an age where most children would have made their First Communion.

[ilovemyhens]

He is 6 years old.

[Decorhate]

Ah his peers won't have done First Communion yet then so should be straightforward. I would phone up parish office and make contact with whoever organises these things in your parish (may be a parishioner rather than one of the priests)

[Decorhate]

He won't have to be baptised again if that is what you were wondering.

[ilovemyhens]

I feel a bit strange because it means that ds1 and dh will be going to one church and me and ds2 will be going to another . Will we still be able to go to C/E services to keep them company/encourage them? I don't expect them to attend Catholic services although dh has said that he doesn't mind attending the services they hold at ds2's primary school. He's not anti Cathoic or anything, just doesn't want to join the Church.

[ilovemyhens]

yes, I was wondering about his baptism.

Thank you so much for answering my questions.

[AMumInScotland]

You can still go to C of E services any time you want, but (last I heard anyway) RC teaches that CofE communion is not valid, so I think they don't like you to take communion in a C of E church, though they don't have any problem with you being there for a communion service and getting a blessing or just not going up to the altar. You can check the details with your parish priest though to see what their current thinking is.

[Decorhate]

I thought it was the other way around - that RCs can take communion in a CofE but non-RCs are not supposed to take communion in a RC church!

[AMumInScotland]

I think its both - RCs don't recognise CofE confirmations, or ordinations.

[IAmRubyLennox]

And would ilovemyhens need to be confirmed?
(ulterior motive for asking )

[Decorhate]

Think the RCIA is instead of confirmation

[Housemum]

Re communion it goes both ways - RC can't take in C of E and vice versa
RCIA leads to baptism/first communion/confirmation at the same time - if you have already been baptised in any Christian church (except Mormon or Jehovahs) you skip the baptism as all churches have made agreement on what baptism is/means

[MyrrhyBS]

RCs CAN receive in a C of E church, but the RCC does not permit it. (I should know, as am former RC, now C of E).

[MyrrhyBS]

Checked the wording on receiving communion in the C of E "If you are a communicant member in good standing of a church that subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity...".

This then creates a paradox, by which if a RC receives communion in the C of E, they, technically are no longer in good standing in their church :o

[ShoshanaBlue]

Catholics are not permitted to receive communion in a CE church because it is a sin against true unity.

I know that other churches have different rules on communion - for some, even non-Christians can receive communion.

We quite often attend Christian services of other denominations but we do not receive communion.

[Stillchuckingit]

Sorry Shoshana - but I don't think that is correct

Decorhate has it right

I am RC and recently became a godparent to a child who is CofE. At the CofE baptism ceremony (at a CofE cathedral as it happens), I specifically asked the vicar beforehand if I could take communion at the baptism mass and he said "of course" and when I expressed my pleasure about this he looked surprised and said "it's usually you lot who don't permit us CofEs to receive communion!"

[Stillchuckingit]

sorry ilovemyhens - that was a bit of a hijack

as others have said, you are very welcome to join RC church and your dh and dc are welcome to attend but would have to be baptised and to have received the sacraments of reconciliation (confession) and first holy communion before receiving communion with you.

[ilovemyhens]

Just a couple more questions:

I'm baptised Catholic, but wasn't brought up in the Catholic faith and was never confirmed.

dh and I were married in a C/E church and both children were baptised in the same church.

Would the Catholic church accept ds2 and I as Catholics even though I was married in a C/E church and ds2 is baptised C/E?

I'm quite confused regarding the rules

[Decorhate]

Unless you have a very old fashioned priest they are unlikely to care where or if you were married! CofE baptisms won't preclude you or your son from joining either.

[ilovemyhens]

Okay, thanks for that

[MyrrhyBS]

If you were baptized in a Catholic church, but married in the C of E, then according to the RCC you are not married, so the chances are you would need to address this as well - I guess it would be a form of marriage ceremony in a RC church

[dizzymac]

Hello, I'm Catholic and belong to a church where we get a fair few converts and people "coming back".

As far as I am aware you will have to go on the course and then at around Easter time ( usually at Easter vigil Mass) you will be welcomed into the church by being confirmed by the Priest on behalf of the Bishop and receive communion for the 1st time. Its usually a lovely Mass, very joyful but reflective.

If your son is in Y1 or 2 at a Catholic school then they will be thinking about confirmation and 1st Holy Communion. In some areas these are done together in Y3 in others Communion first in Y2 or Y3 and confirmation as a teenager. It is worth finding out how this works in your area. If you speak to the teacher they will be able to point you in the direction of the right person to ask about this. As far as I'm aware as he is baptised already, taking these sacraments will be the same for him as a Catholic child and will be his receipt into the Church but you will need to check with your Priest.