At what point do you say ‘I’m a Catholic…’

[Rickandmortified100]

I’ve been completing the RCIA to convert to Catholicism for a while now. I’ve been a Christian since childhood (with varying levels of commitment but it’s been a very big part of my life for several years now), but have always felt called to the Catholic Church. I was baptised but not yet into the Catholic Church (did an emergency baptism for very outing reasons so keen to do it formally in the church after my RCIA).

The other day, I was chatting with the deacon of the church who referred to me as a Catholic and I found myself feeling really surprised - almost like I was unqualified for the title! I’ve still just been calling myself a Christian and thought I’d have to finish the RCIA and be more active in the Catholic Church before I could refer to myself as a Catholic. He said it several times during our conversation.

So… if you converted to Catholicism, at what point did you feel confident referring to yourself as a Catholic? I know this is a minor issue, I’m just curious. I suppose it’s because of how long I’ve been attracted to the Catholic Church - a part of me feels that I’d love to be able to call myself a Catholic ever since childhood! Wanted to see when others considered themselves Catholics as opposed to ‘converting’.

If you are already baptised into a Christian denomination then you won't get another one. Well depending on the words used.

As an adult I would have thought when you are confirmed.

My mother converted in her early 20s, she had the baptism, first communion and confirmation in the same ceremony.

Have discussed the baptism with the priest and deacon. Got an emergency baptism due to living in a country where it isn’t really safe to be Christian. Expressed to the priest my feelings about being so happy to be baptised but also tinged with a sad feel at not having been able to do it the traditional way. They have said that in the case of emergency baptisms it’s totally fine to do it again in the church - the words used will be to the effect of ‘IF you’re not already baptised…’ and then they do it again to confirm, basically. Apparently normal in this situation.

Interesting.

Well I suppose do you feel Catholic? Children are classed as Catholic before they have learned about it.

I suppose the baptism will be when you officially become RC but if you were in hospital and they asked for your faith what would you say.

Speaking as a Christian, I wonder why you think being a Catholic is better? Why is a label about a "brand" more important than the faith? Aren't we all Christian, and aren't we Christian first and foremost?

I don’t understand. Aren’t you a Christian first and Catholic second? So all Catholics are Christian but not all Christians Catholic (pentecostal, protestant etc)?
I realise I might be missing the point here…

I think you are already Catholic? You agree with the doctrine, you have the same values, you have a place in the Cath community, you partake in the sacraments and rituals of the religion, you are just learning more about it, which could be a lifelong thing!

It’s not at all that I feel being Catholic is ‘better’. But it’s different, isn’t it? And it’s important to me personally because to me, I’ve felt called to the Catholic Church since childhood and I suppose that now I’m finally on the path to joining the Catholic Church, I have a sense of … it’s hard to explain. Finally being in a place that I have been supposed to be?

And as a lifelong Christian I obviously respect all Christians. But there are many aspects of Catholicism that are not a part of my previous Christian life, but which are incredibly important to me and have led to me growing a huge amount in my faith. So to me the distinction is important.

I respect all religions and denominations. But because of my personal journey I’d be really happy to be able to finally call myself a Catholic and to fully immerse myself in the aspects of Catholicism that were not a part of my previous life.

Id not call Catholicism a ‘brand’. But there are obvious distinctions between Catholicism and other forms of Christianity.

Thank you @sashh and @ChiefPearlClutcher for your comments! Yes, I’m a Christian first and foremost, as all Catholics are. But when I ask people their religion, I find Catholics almost always answer with ‘Catholic’ specifically, whereas members of other denominations would just answer ‘Christian’. There are things involved in Catholicism that aren’t involved in other churches so perhaps that is the reason for the distinction? I have found so many differences between my experience of the Catholic Church as opposed to my experiences in other churches. So perhaps this is why people specify.

I suppose I also feel the need for distinction because a lot of my Christian friends are a little pessimistic about the Catholic Church in a way that they aren’t about other denominations. They definitely see something of a distinction.

I have a sense of being where I’m supposed to be since moving towards the Catholic Church, and everything I learn is helping me to grow in my faith in a way that I didn’t necessarily experience in my other churches, and perhaps this is why the distinction is important to me? I don’t know. But it would feel lovely to refer to myself as Catholic after feeling drawn to this church for so long - almost my whole life!

Anyway, again, thank you for your comments! Appreciate it! 😊

OP, I would say when who have actually been baptised and formally accepted into the Catholic Church, you can say "I'm a Catholic".

Best wishes on your Spiritual Journey 🙂

Also, it’s interesting to know that it can all be done in the same ceremony! Thank you!

Thank you 😊

I should think they'd be eager to bag anyone under 80 tbh!

Clearly you feel that the Catholic Church is where you belong, sounds like your heart is Catholic and has been for a while, so RCIA is just catching you up with some instruction and the formalities. Go ahead and call yourself Catholic if you’re comfortable doing so. RCIA is really not about qualifying for a label.

I would absolutely count and recognise your baptism. I'm in the strange situation of having been present at far more emergency baptisms than normal ones, on neonatal units. In a strange way I almost find emergency baptisms more beautiful and of deeper meaning: there is zero thought of getting into the best school, or having a nice party, or a pretty dress. An emergency baptism is about how in times of peril, and fear, at a darkest hour, faith truly matters. It is about desperate parents, or a community living in fear, giving a baby the greatest gift they can. You are baptised a Christian. You have knowingly and deliberately chosen to become a Catholic. As far as I'm concerned you are a Catholic. Further sacraments within the church only confirm the truth that already exists. Welcome.

I used to say I was a Catholic in waiting, until I was received.

Formally, I wouldn't refer to an individual adult as Catholic until they'd received the sacraments (baptism/ confirmation). I wouldn't wait until they'd completed the mystagogical part of RCIA. It's the sacraments which formally unite us to Christ and the Church, so it's quite clear officially when someone becomes Catholic. But I wouldn't bat an eyelid if someone in one of my RCIA classes called themselves Catholic before that, informally.

As an aside, if you're sure that your emergency baptism was valid (done with the words 'I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit' and with water) then you absolutely cannot receive conditional baptism, which is what you've described. It would be a very serious matter to attempt to re-baptise someone whose valid baptism is not doubted. What you should have is what's called 'supplying the rites', where you would receive all the additional rites that are usually part of a baptism ceremony which you wouldn't have had in an emergency - the exorcisms and anointing, presentation of the candle, white garment etc. And then a record of that, with the details of your original baptism, will be entered into the registers of the church. You really need to get clarification on this pretty soon and make sure you've understood correctly what will happen. If they are suggesting conditional baptism without good reason that needs to be stopped. You can PM for help with that if you want.

@Rickandmortified100 did you take part in the rite of election last Sunday. If you did, I hope you found it meaningful. I was pleased to find my signature in the book from 2005!

I'm surprised you've got this far into the RCIA and don't realise you'll be fully received into the church at the Easter vigil.
These last 3 weeks, you should have completed your 3 scrutinies at Mass.
Once you've done that, and been confirmed and receive the Eucharist for the first time at the Easter vigil, you are Catholic.