Best way to go about becoming Catholic...

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Hi all,

I am married to a wonderful woman that is Catholic. I was rasied in an Assembly of God church and was later baptized in a Baptist church. When we married, June 2000, I didn't have a home church so I began going with her. I have found her church to be very loving and a wonderful place to worship. What should I do at this point? Some places I have read mention going to the RCIA classes. While others say that since I am Christian it is a shorter process. I appreciate all responses. Thanks a lot!

-- Dwayne Campbell (extreme_469@yahoo.com), April 14, 2002

Answers

All Catholic Churches will ask you to complete Adult Initiation courses for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Some parishes offer shortened instructional sessions for the already baptized Christians.

Personally speaking, and as a catechist (teacher, if you are not familiar with the term), I feel that all that seek entrance into the Catholic faith would benefit from the full blown standard, that of at least nine months to a year of instruction. The shortened version for those already baptized is about four or five months. It is my belief, that even though a person seeking reception into the Catholic Church is a Christian through Protestant baptismal waters, there is SO much to understand about the Catholic Church, and the more time you are given to approach it is a true benefit. We simply want to make sure you understand that what you are professing at your confirmation is fully, and without doubt, absolute.

Dwayne, I am so happy to hear of your desire to become Catholic. You have my prayers.

-- Melissa (holy_rhodes@earthlink.net), April 14, 2002.


Hello, Dwayne.

I will be praying for you as well! I am very happy to read, that you are interested in the Catholic faith. Welcome to the Catholic forum, Dwayne. God bless you.

-- David (asdzxc8176@aol.com), April 14, 2002.


RCIA is definitely the way to go. There is SO MUCH to learn and the experience itself is well worth the time and effort to attend the classes. I was confirmed into the Church at Easter Vigil and am now considered a neophyte, a Catholic, but one that still has a lot more to learn. The decision to join the Church was one that wound up being very easy for me. I had been involved with many Protestant groups and never felt at home in any of them. There was always something missing.

When Fred and I met we discussed religion (at length!) and I found that the things that were missing from my previous experiences were right there in the Catholic faith. They had been there all along and I didn't know it. All I had known about the Church was what the other religions taught about it and I found through my studies that most of it was wrong.

I remember my first Mass with Fred in New Hampshire. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!! I felt so at peace and so AT HOME.

Go to the RCIA classes in your parish. Learn all you can about this wonderful faith. The more you learn, the more you will want to know.

The down side is that once the classes are over, you will still have a thirst for knowledge. Get involved with the Church. Be an active part of the community.

In Love and Peace, Carolyn

-- Carolyn Bishop (fcbishop@globaleyes.net), April 14, 2002.


Dear Dwayne:
You are given good pointers here by my friends of this forum. We all welcome you to the Catholic faith; God's grace is revealed in your life.

You ought to keep in mind, Dwayne, God is active in your life. It isn't an accident, or just good luck you are headed in this holy direction. What you might just consider ''her (your good wife's) Church as a very loving and a wonderful place to worship'', is hardly the best part. It's not just that. We want to welcome you to the Church of Jesus Christ Himself! --Well, it ought to be a loving, wonderful place; God is with her! --As time goes by, and you become much closer to the Church, you'll look back and wonder at the great love God showed you, having provided you the way back to the Church of your blessed ancestors. It's His grace which is doing all this for you. We all thank God today, for your happiness and good fortune!

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), April 14, 2002.


There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

Start by reading the Bible to find what God requires of you to be one of his disciples. Are the teachings of this church compatible with the Bible? Does it add or take away from Scripture? What "extra" teachings are part of this church? Are they necessary for salvation, according to God's Word?

Your active faith surpasses any formal "church structure," whether it is Catholic or Protestant. Beware of false teachings that may destroy your faith. When you need answers, find them in God's unchanging Word--the Holy Bible:

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. (2 Peter 2:1,2)

Know that you are a sinner who needs Jesus as his Savior. See how the Holy Spirit has called you to faith and continually works in you to reveal that faith -- study Galatians 5. Live your faith by loving God above everything else and loving one another. Witness for Christ in the way he instructed his followers to do at his Ascension:

The Great Commission

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:16-20)

God's blessings to you as you seek to live according to his Holy Word!

-- Perry Conrad (perryconrad@yahoo.com), April 27, 2002.



Peter

What is it you are trying to prove? If you are not espousing Catholic Truths then I suggest that you go and start your own forum elsewhere. You do not need to HOG this forum in it's entirety. We really do not need your half baked theories for they will not hold water well.

-- Fred Bishop (fcbishop@globaleyes.net), April 27, 2002.


Perry,

Please take a look at this link. It was written by a gentleman who used to post on this forum.

In Christ,

Mateo

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), April 27, 2002.


Mateo,

I read through this link, including all biblical references, which should be clarified with other verses. God's Word further illustrates that our authority comes from Jesus--not the church! He tells us to teach everything *He* has commanded us--He alone is the truth, the *Living Word * The Apostles verified this in their own teachings; they never claimed God's Word as their own wisdom:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:1,2;14;17)

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31,32)

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:5,6)

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16)

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20,21)

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (1 Corinthians 1:17)

Next, we need to look at "good works"--again, they come from faith alone in Christ. Sinful people cannot do "good works" on their own. It is the Holy Spirit that works in them through faith. If I say I am a basketball player, then people should be able to see me play basketball--it is the proof or sign that I am who I say I am! If I say that I have faith in Christ, then the fruit--"good works"--of my spirit should also be visible. They are the results of a saving faith; apart from Christ, they are nothing:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:1-8)

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. (Romans 7:18,19)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8,9)

In conclusion, all honor and glory should be given to God and his Living Word--Jesus Christ. When we do this, our good works shine for him--not Mary, the church, the pope, tradition, etc. Grace Alone (God's undeserved love for us in Christ--we cannot earn his love), Scripture Alone (no authority but God revealed in Christ, as taught by the Apostles), Faith Alone (seen in action)!

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. (James 1:16-18)

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:11)



-- Perry Conrad (perryconrad@yahoo.com), April 29, 2002.


Dear Perry--
You scoured the Holy Bible well. But I see in the words of Jesus Christ a number of points you overlook. REPEAT: In the words of Jesus Christ.

''If he will not listen to the Church, let him be to you as the heathen and the publican.''

''I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.''

''I am with you all days, even to the end of the world.''

''Do not be afraid; henceforth thou shalt catch men.'' (All spoken in Person to the Church-- His apostles and disciples.

He never said, ''Read the Bible and be saved.''

He never said, Blessed are the readers of the Word, for they will replace my Church on earth.''

He never said, ''All of you are to wait for the coming of Martin Luther and Henry VIII, and John Knox, and John Calvin, and the King James Version of a Bible from outside MY CHURCH.''

He gave you no laying on of hands, as He did the Holy Apostles. They were in the forefront of His Holy Church, and gave you the New Testament by the Spirit and their labors in the world. The first saints and martyrs all were in the Catholic Church The Catholic Church is still making saints oof many souls in the present day. Mother Theresa and Father Damien of Molokkai, Padre Pio, and many more.

The first Pope was Peter. The first Mass was the Last Supper of Our Lord's life, and the breaking of the bread thereafter celebrated in the pages of Scripture. --ALL CATHOLIC, all surviving to the present day in complete and undying FAITH in Jesus Christ!

You, on the other hand, have LOST that faith in Jesus Christ, because you don't believe His words. We Catholics are praying for you! That's right, Perry-- FOR YOU!

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), April 29, 2002.


Perry

You have forgotten too much already. You gorget that the Bible you hold in your hand is the words that Catholic tradition has preseved through many earthly times of revolts, abuse and powers of goverments who tried to eradicate it entirely.

You have forgotten the many Monastic priests and monks who defended the writings with their very lives to keep it from disappearing altogether. You forget the many priests and bishops and their parishioners who died at the hands of pagans for centuries and also the purges by the Romans.

You forget the many Councils of the Church to prevent the heretics from altering the Bible and the truth of the deity of Christ. Also they established the canons of the Church and the books to be in the Bible shortly after the death of Christ. (107 AD).

This is just a sampling of what the Church has had to endure to keep the word of God alive and his many messages contained therein over a 2000 year history. What you have is only a tidbit of what Catholic Tradition has. And that is certainly very little on your hands. A book and NO Traditions and History. Without the Traditions handed down by the Holy Spirit the bible you have is useless. A book of words to be interpreted at will by you without guidance. Sounds rather empty if you ask me.

-- Fred Bishop (fcbishop@globaleyes.net), April 29, 2002.



Perry,

1) Neither faith nor works save us. God's grace saves us. Correct?

2) Notice that the faith alone argument never uses Jesus' own words. It relies on verses in the epistles, taken out of context.

3) Grace saves us. But our actions or inaction can damn us. Read Matthew 25:31-46.

4) John 14:15 - "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Here, Jesus ties our love to action. Jesus expects us to act on our love. Even if we think we love Jesus, our actions may indicate that we love ourselves more. It doesn't matter if we convince others that we truly love Jesus and it doesn't even matter if we convince ourselves that we love Jesus--we've got to convince Jesus that we love Jesus. And Jesus tells us how.

In Christ,

Mateo

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), April 29, 2002.


PS:

The faith alone argument would only work if you changed the words of John to say something like, "If you love me, you might keep my commandments." Of course Jesus really said "you will keep my commandments."

In Christ,

Mateo

-- (MattElFeo@netscape.net), April 29, 2002.


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