I have a friend who was baptized catholic, and then because of familial complications was rasied and confirmed Lutheran. As an adult he has decided to become a Catholic, partly because of his Fiance, but I think that was only the catalyst.

He bagan attanding a Local RCIA program and after aqttending for several months he was told that because he was confirmed Lutheran at the "ripe" age of 13 (really able to appreciate the life long impact) that confirmation leaves an indelable mark upon the soul and that because of this he cannot be confirmed catholioc. He is very disappointed, and my husband and I both born raised and married catholic are dismayed at the churches response. Is this true? and if so then how can anyone as a knowlegeable mature adult convert when they are bound buy the wishes of their parents at for an act an age where a good child does as they are told? This does not make any sense to us. Any helpful insite would be appreciated.

-- Jennifer (Mazzara@netzero.net), February 12, 2005

Answers

I'm not going to pull any punches. Whoever told your friend that is an imbecil. A seething ball of putrid puss that is doing Satan's work. I'm disgusted. Of course your friend can rejoin the Catholic Church! And whoever told him he can't is going to have some hot days in the afterlife.

-- Michael Healy, Jr. (temuchinkhakhan@yahoo.com), February 12, 2005.

Now that I got THAT out of my system. Did they really mean he couldn't join the Catholic Church? Or that the Lutheran ceremony was just as good as the Catholic ceremony? Perhaps all that is being asserted here is that his Lutheran confirmation can be accepted by the Church. Please provide some additional information. But if they really meant that your friend cannot come back to the Catholic fold, I'll stand by everything I said in the previous post. And I think Jesus would agree with me.

-- Michael Healy, Jr. (temuchinkhakhan@yahoo.com), February 12, 2005.

Perhaps there is a way to satisfy everyone involved, though. Why couldn't he be given a conditional confirmation? If it can be done with baptisms, then surely it can be done with confirmations. All the bishop or priest would have to do is find an appropriate place to say "If you have not already been confirmed, then...." But this is assuming that they are willing to receive your friend into the Church.

-- Michael Healy, Jr. (temuchinkhakhan@yahoo.com), February 12, 2005.

bump

-- Lesley (martchas@hotmail.com), February 12, 2005.

I gave this a "bump" when I didn't see any replies..we must have been posting at the same time.

As far as I know, Confirmation in the Lutheran Church is a "rite" a "ceremony" not a sacrament..so your friend has not received the sacrament of Confirmation..I cannot imagine why anyone would tell him that he cannot be confirmed in the Catholic Church. Makes zero sense to me. Did he speak with the priest about this????

-- Lesley (martchas@hotmail.com), February 12, 2005.

Jennifer,

While my descriptor of that individual who misinformed your friend of this may not be as colorful as Mr. Healy's although accurate. Your friend IS Allowed to join the Catholic Church in fact WE Encourage it for EVERYONE.

And to strengthen this point The Catholic Church WILL even allow Priest of some Protestant denominations to Convert and Become Priest in the Catholic Church even if they are married. So surely we will allow an individual member to convert.

However I am glad to see that he has friends like you and your husband who DO care.

Thank You

-- Michael G. (NoEmail@Nowhere.no), February 12, 2005.

I believe Jennifer is reporting this without full understanding of exactly WHAT was told the young convert.

Maybe she would do us the favor of going back and double-checking the exact circumstances, and WHO gave him such information. We shouldn't blame somebody for doing wrong until it's well-established what that wrong is.

If jennifer gave us a genuine report of what's happened, we could still form a better judgment with full details. I won't accuse her of mis-informing on purpose, naturally. but we all make mistakes. How about it, Jennifer?

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), February 12, 2005.

you are so right Eugene.

the non-Agression Pact means that we must send them back.

tell them that the grass is always greener.

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), February 12, 2005.

Hi Michael G.

glad that you're in this thread.

a cal to read Trent - as most thnings are in these parts.

what, though, are the odds that anyone actually will?

can't figure you out dude; but always read your posts with admiration.

God Bless.

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), February 12, 2005.

Really, such a degree of colorful language is out of character for me! But when I heard that a Catholic might have been counseling someone not to join the Church, my first reaction was anger. I certainly hope, however, that it's all a misunderstanding.

-- Michael Healy, Jr. (temuchinkhakhan@yahoo.com), February 12, 2005.

Sorry Ian the Non-Complete clause has expired., If they would like to join us because some of their branches have really gotten off track we shall accept these lost sheep. We just can't stand outside the Churches and pass out info. (we just tell them to look for the pointy roof with a "t" on it). Beside that we can use some more people who are actually...

Survey of Persons Who Were Received Through the RCIA

"Former Church--As we said, type 2 was composed of persons baptized earlier in another denomination. Which denomination? Most came from the largest Protestant denominations in America—Methodists, Baptists, and Lutherans. Only about 5 to 7 percent came from evangelical or pentecostal churches. (Q5, p. A-5) "

http://www.usccb.org/evangelization/appendixa.shtml

"can't figure you out dude"

Whatever do you mean sir? lol

-- Michael G. (NoEmail@Nowhere.no), February 12, 2005.

"a call to read Trent - as most thnings are in these parts. what, though, are the odds that anyone actually will? "

Ian- I'll be happy to go through points with you on Trent if you want to start a thread, I wouldn't bank on any open discussion in this forum without the interuption from the usual girls. Otherwise we would simply need to post Trent and say we agree with everything the Church agrees with and we disagree with everything the Church disagrees with. I am sure you get my drift.

Shall we Play?

-- Michael G. (NoEmail@Nowhere.no), February 14, 2005.