Can a prospective Catholic convert skip the RCIA by self-teaching?

Upvote:2

From Code of Canon Law Can. 865 §1., for one to be baptized, one must have been instructed sufficiently about the truths of faith.

Can. 865 §1. For an adult to be baptized, the person must have manifested the intention to receive baptism, have been instructed sufficiently about the truths of the faith and Christian obligations, and have been tested in the Christian life through the catechumenate. The adult is also to be urged to have sorrow for personal sins.

This has a basis in Church Tradition and history.

In the early Church those who desired to be baptized and become followers of Jesus engaged in a lengthy period of preparation and instruction.

In the early Church those who desired to be baptized and become followers of Jesus engaged in a lengthy period of preparation and instruction. They were called “catechumens” and their process of initiation formed them in the ways of discipleship, incorporated them into the Christian community and culminated in the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist (Holy Communion). In recent years the Catholic Church has reclaimed this process now called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, often referred to as the RCIA process. Initiation is a journey of conversion that is gradual and suited to individual needs. It is a process rather than an educational program and this process takes place within the community of the faithful, the local Church. - Source: A Look at the Christian Initiation Process | Diocese of Manchester.

The Church through her dioceses establishes a norm called RCIA to achieve this.

A good program in fidelity to the Church and her teaching will by must include the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

I am not aware of a program within the Church where a prospective Catholic convert can skip the RCIA by self-teaching the entire corpus of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Since skipping RCIA is not an option, the Sub-questions have not been answered.

More post

Search Posts

Related post