Korean Job Discussion Forums

[phaedrus]

I have a question. No, I didn't check to see if the Vatican has an FAQ site.

I was baptized when I was a baby. I went to Catholic church maybe five times in my life, and was never confirmed or anything. Am I Catholic?

[Hank Scorpio]

[kangnamdragon]

As a former seminarian, I am sure I can answer this question.

If you are baptised Catholic, then you are Catholic forever.

[katydid]

Ah. Well. That explains a lot on my part. I suffer from way too much guilt at times. Goes perfectly with being Catholic.

[J.B. Clamence]

[kangnamdragon]

[jaebea]

Wow, that's interesting.

Can you renounce it? I know someone who was probably baptised and so forth as a Catholic, but he converted to a Protestant when he hit uni.

He views himself as a Protestant, and so does his family and his church, but what's the story there?

Thanks in advance.

jae.

[kangnamdragon]

It is not possible to renounce it. He may think he is a Protestant, but in the eyes of God and the Catholic Church, he is Catholic. That does not mean he is considered to be a "good Catholic" or "practicing Catholic." He is considered to be a Catholic who is not in communion with the Church.

But, technically one is not baptised Catholic. He is baptised as a Christian in the Catholic Church. All Christians, Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox are baptised in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Ghost). So, it does not matter because he was baptised as a Christian, and probably his Protestant minister would say he would not have to be baptised at the Protestant church. Likewise, if a baptised Protestant converts to Catholicism, he or she would not have to be baptised again. He or she would only have to be confirmed. He is considered Catholic because he was baptised by a priest, but technicaly was baptised Christian.

[eamo]

[weatherman]

[J.B. Clamence]

[Derrek]

I am with you on that one, JB.

[Tiger Beer]

Catholicism is one of those funny things. I'm a born Catholic and I almost never attend Mass.. (except when visiting family). But, its true, once born a Catholic, you are always considered Catholic.

I have no idea how you'd go about renouncing it. Being Catholic is not like being 'Christian Protestant'. Its nearly impossible to offend someone or do anything worthy of being lost or whatever else. Basically at anytime you can just go to Confession and everything is good again.

In addition, I'm kind of what is considered Irish-American Catholic.. which means my Dad has tons of literature about the Irish Priests who have all these vices and comic book strips of them and their vices - usually involved around sports games, smoking, and drinking, etc.

All of this being said, my Mother isn't Catholic but has attended Catholic Masses for 35+ years with my Dad.. BUT.. I know she's still not totally recognized as a Catholic - and I'm not sure if thats by choice or just difficult to become one if not born into it. I do know my Mom has a lot of problems with Catholicism's devotion to the Mother Mary and the Saints and these types of things.

[Hank Scorpio]

[kangnamdragon]