RCIA
On the whole, I think RCIA has been a good experience for me. It has given me a chance to speak regularly about faith and God, and it has been the first time in my life I’ve ever been able to regularly be with other Christians (other than going to church services). I feel like it has gotten easier for me to talk about and share my faith, and that is definitely a good thing.
My RCIA classes are somewhat frustrating though, because I sometimes feel like I am going to the church of Jiminy Cricket rather than the Catholic Church. They are always very careful to say that you should follow your “well-formed” conscience, but that can be a very nebulous concept. I understand the importance of a well-formed conscience, I just think that more (much more!) weight should be given to the teachings of the Bible and the Church. I feel like the teachings are seen and presented as general guidelines or pointers rather than starting points for proper moral formation. I feel like there is a sense that if you are not dissenting on something, then you must not be spending enough time thinking about the issues - sort of a paraphrase of the old bumpersticker - “if you aren’t dissenting, you aren’t paying attention!” I also feel like they don’t give the church’s teachings much of a fair shake when presenting things they disagree with - I think they are trying to be fair, but sometimes I feel like they haven’t really considered the fullness of the Church’s teachings. I had my second discernment meeting with my RCIA director yesterday, and I felt like I had to apologize for agreeing with Church teachings and for not having any major disagreements!
But all this being said, I do think they are trying to love God, and be that image of God to each other and the world. They really are trying to follow God, and follow God’s path for them. Even though they dissent sometimes from the Church, they have not been made bitter by this, and they are not angry dissenters. They love the Church, and for the most part don’t wish to see it change - they just want to preserve their ability to see things differently. I have learned some helpful things through this class, and the experience of discussing faith and getting to know some fellow Christians has been invaluable for me. Even with all this, I am glad I am going through RCIA at this parish, and I am thankful for all the time and effort the people in this church put into this program.
Jessica on 13 Feb 2007 at 9:39 am #
I have to say that I agree with you - if I ever became a Catholic, it’d be in large part because of love for the Catholic Catechism. There are reasons I can’t, in good conscience, convert, but almost every time I read a part of your catechism, I wish I could! The great strength of the RC church is that it has teachings on everything, that it has a wealth of wisdom because it has the writings of holy men over twenty centuries coming to a consensus about what the Bible teaches. As a wistful Protestant, I don’t really understand Roman Catholics who don’t bow the knee to Mother Church. From the outside looking in, the joy of being a Catholic would be the utter assurance that you could lean on the teachings of the Church, and not ever be let down. (’Course, I know things always look different from the outside!)
Anyway, maybe your friends in the RCIA should try being Protestant for awhile, to learn to be grateful for what they have!
peace of Christ to you,
Jessica
amber on 13 Feb 2007 at 3:04 pm #
Thanks for your comments, Jessica! I agree with you, I have much the same perspective. And BTW, I never thought I would be converting to the Catholic Church either. *grin*
This reminds me of something I read on Happy Catholic’s blog this morning that is somewhat related to the subject at hand -
Are you a Catholic or a Cafeteria Catholic?
Choose one - no picking and choosing allowed!
A) after reading the CCC and Church documents you say “Amen”!
B) afer reading the CCC and Church documents you say “Amend”!
Need help with the answer?
Then you are in really big trouble.
Jennifer F. on 14 Feb 2007 at 11:29 am #
Hmm, that sounds like a concern. What does your priest think of that? It doesn’t seem like RCIA is the time or the place to be planting seeds of dissention. One wonders why the class leaders are teaching RCIA if they have so many concerns about the Catholic faith. What are their motives there?
Dy on 15 Feb 2007 at 7:04 am #
I wonder how much of this is a reaction/response to the Church’s history? There was a time when no dissenting thoughts were permitted, at all. And you couldn’t just leave the church for another denomination, either. Sometimes, in an effort to correct, it’s easy to swing too far the other direction. I’m not saying that *is* what’s going on, but it would be interesting to do a little research into when the “well-formed conscience” aspect came into the teachings, and what brought it there.
It’s hard to maintain the body of Christ on earth. But then, that’s why Christ came, because we cannot maintain perfection outside of God.
It does sound, to me, like they are trying to encourage a sensitivity toward the urgings of the Holy Spirit. Which is good, although if we don’t have the teaching, we aren’t sure what the Holy Spirit is urging. Only that *something* is amiss. God’s law has been written in the hearts of all men, and so, I would imagine that is what they’re attempting to tap into with the tone of the courses. But even the most humble supplicant will not find what he seeks if he does not have access to the teachings God has given us specifically to guide us and help us grow. I’d be interested to hear more on the subject.
Dy
graham on 15 Apr 2007 at 10:24 am #
I had the same problem at rcia it seemed that they only had faith in there self they tought against some canon law they even said that when Jesus walked on water and healed the blind man these where just stories writen hundreds of years after christ and when i disagreed i was maid to feel a fool.Ibelieve that some not all RCIA is following this new age type of church teachings.sometimes something deep down just didnt feel right the fathers of are church would have called them heretics for some of there teachings.But this doesnt mean there not nice poeple it just seems to me they have fallen into this new age teaching like the lord is all love and mercy which is true and beautiful but they leave out the part of him being just and that there is gonna be a judgement. Which i believe without a healthy love and fear of the lord you wont ever fully strive to be rightious or holy.I never expected to write this i just threw my thoughts together quick i hope you no where i coming from and i hope you reply may the peace of Christ be with you your brother in Christ Graham.
amber on 16 Apr 2007 at 8:11 am #
Hi Graham,
Thanks for your comment on my post. I agree, there are some people who are involved with RCIA who would have been labeled heretics in ages past! I know there are good, orthodox people involved in RCIA in some places, but it is unfortunate that it isn’t a given everywhere. It isn’t our place to judge them - they are answerable to God, after all - but I do feel for all those that they end up leading astray.
Thanks again for your comment.
Amber
P.S. I tried to email this to you but it bounced - I hope you see this!