How To Become A Catholic?

Question

I'm 18 and I've never been Christianed, neither has my parents, so I guess I am protestant? I don't believe in God but I want to become a Catholic because when I get married I want to be Catholic and not Christian. Could anyone tell me what I do to become a Catholic? What do they believe in? I know they are very strict in such things like contraception and abortion, (they wouldn't like me much).

Do you think I should be greatful that I am nothing? I like the Catholic churches you see :) So I'd literally be doing it to get married in a Catholic church.

Oh! I forgot to say, my fiance is a Catholic. Can I get married in his Church?

Answer 1

As long as one of you is catholic and neither of you have been married previously if you speak to the priest at the local catholic church he may allow you to marry there - will probably want your children to be baptised catholic.

Answer 2

It is not possible to be Catholic but not Christian, as Catholicism is a branch of Christianity. If you want to become a Catholic, go to the nearest Catholic church and talk to a priest; you'll learn all you need to know. But the better plan is to study the religion first, and a priest can give you guidance in doing so. Be certain, before you make a final decision to become a Catholic, that is is really something that you can believe in. Also, be sure that you are comfortable with the particular form of community into which you would be entering.

My own view is that no religion offers useful theories: since no theory of God can ever be refuted, it is provable that no such theory can impart any information. So I happily remain an agnostic.

Answer 3

Catholicsm is a subset of Christianity. You have to be a Christian first, and that means believing in Christ as God and Son of God the same based on the concept of the Holy Trinty. Read the Bible. However, to become a Catholic, you'll have to do a little bit more. Belief-wise, you have to believe in the doctrines of the Catholic Church, the main one being the Sanctity of the Holy Eucharist (i.e. mass). And then, you'll have to be baptised Catholic. It doesnt matter wether your parents are Catholic or not. I think you just need a Catholic witness to your baptism. Later on, you need to be confirmed. But Baptism is first and most important. It cleans you of the Original Sin. YOu need to apply to any Parish of the Catholic Church. You'll have to go through some preliminary seminars. Then after baptism, just go to Church and basically live a life based on the Catholic Doctrines. (Warning though: the last statement is soooo much easier said than done.)

Answer 4

i think if you haven't been Christened/Baptized you are called un-churched, but i could be wrong.


To become Catholic, you call a Catholic Church and ask how to take Instructions to become Catholic. In the US, hat typically means that you take a class taught by a priest , about 1 hour a week, for 6 to 12 weeks. since you haven't been Baptized, they will do that for you ( to you) if you wish. You confess your sins, and then you can participate in taking Holy Communion at Mass.

Domini, Domini, Domini, then you will be Catholic.


2 points - you can take the class to learn about Catholicism and then decide not to join.

there are a LOT of Catholics out there ( especially in the US) who don't believe that contraception or abortion are wrong. It falls under the rule of "a matter of conscience," i think.


Catholics are Christians, you know.
Catholicism is just one specific Christian denominations.


there is a list of something like 27 or 35 or 40 or 83 things that all Catholics are supposed to believe. they are called 'the Articles of Faith."

i am getting too many Google hits to find that for you, but i believe it includes the Nicene Creed.

Answer 5

Catholics and Protestants are both Christians. If you don't believe in God it would be hypocritical to get married in church wouldn't it and I'm sure the priest will see right through you.

I would advise you don't become Catholic just because you like the look of the church as a wedding venue, do it because thats what you believe in.

Answer 6

being a Catholic is being a Christian. All Christians believe in Jesus as the Son of God. There are differences though in the many sects and you must carefully pick one that you can live with. Catholicism isn't easy to follow religiously. It is a tough religion that is handed down by Rome and rarely changes during the years. You should also checking into tithing. Being a Catholic can be expensive. Strict, expensive and you must follow the rules. Think about this carefully. There are numerous Christian religions that you can turn to and obtain great satisfaction. Investigate them. Furthermore, if you are going to be a good Christian you must believe in God. It is mandatory. God is the focus point of all religions.

Answer 7

My Dear Catholics are Christians too. I am not really sure what the term Catholic means. But I am a Catholic and I Believe in God and I a Christian. For you to be a Catholic, you need to go through lessons called Baptism lessons Iam not sure with the length of lessons nowadays.

But for you to know more on how to become a Catholic go to any Catholic Church in your area and ask the local priest to explain to you what it means. All your questions will be answered.

Answer 8

First of all, if you're not a catholic, that doesn't make you a protestant but an agnostic.
To become a catholic, just go and see a catholic priest in your parish and discuss it with him, he'll be more than happy to find a lost sheep in his church and put it back on the "right" path... he'll tell you what being a catholic entails and then he'll probably suggest you get baptised. It's as simple as that...

Answer 9

Normally, to join the Catholic Church you have to have a sponsor, another Catholic to walk you through the process. Find a Catholic and go to church with them. If you don't choose your own the church assigns somebody to you when you enter the RCIA - Right of Christian Initiation for Adults. You call the church to inquire about RCIA or if you have a sponsor they can do this for you. You should go to a church and find one you like before making the call. This program is a series of classes that lasts about 8 months and takes you through each sacrament and steps to be Catholic. During this time you go to mass weekly but leave before communion is given to do the class. During Easter time you become Catholic, you get Baptized and all that. Don't worry too much about contraception. Many Catholics use it and just keep it to themselves. Abortion is another issue. You have to be pro-life or they won't accept you. You have to tell them you believe in everything they teach or they won't let you become Catholic. You can't say I don't believe in this I just like it. It won't go over too well.

Once you become Catholic in order to be married in the Catholic church you and your fiance have to take ANOTHER 6 months of classes. These are not during mass but usually some horribly inconvenient time like every tuesday evening. The priest won't marry you until you do it.

If your fiance is Catholic you don't have to become Catholic to get married in the church. Just take the 6 mo of marriage classes and you're good to go. If your fiance is not Catholic you should become Catholic together to make it fair and also the Catholics will suspect something if you don't.

Just saw your 2nd additional info. Good grief silly, your Catholic boyfriend doesn't know this stuff? Whatever, look, in the interest of time DO NOT become Catholic. Take the 6 mo of classes, tell them you want to get married in the church, will raise the children Catholic are willing to learn but do not want to become Catholic because you don't believe in God. They will not want to Babtize you as an adult if you don't believe. This will save time and you can get married faster this way (just 6 mo instead of over a year) and no lying.

Answer 10

If your fiance is Catholic, you do not have to be Catholic to be married in the Catholic Church.

However if you are interested in joining or just learning more about the Catholic Church, contact your local parish and ask about information about their RCIA Inquiry group.

You can go and ask any questions you want.

This is the first step in RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) but you can stop at any time.

There is no obligation to become a Catholic.

With love and prayers in Christ.

Answer 11

you need allot of learning about religion before you consider changing your religion because of marriage---first of all catholic are christians, but if you don't believe in god you are neither a candidate for catholic or any christian belief---catholics(i was born catholic) are in a religion stuck so far back in history that they are failing to keep their religion strong or even respected anymore--as i'm sure you know about the problems with child abuse here and abroad they also have too many unnatural beliefs and requirement to be able to keep any openminded or thinking people in the fold---they have a very dirty history of trying to spread their version of christianity throughout the world by using force and slavery as well as commiting crimes against humanity all the way through that history---now that doesn't mean catholics are bad, its not my feeling that the average catholic either agreed to or even knew what their church was doing hundreds of years ago or even yesterday in the name of christianity--but they just have such a bad history behind them that i feel it would be wrong for someone unattached to catholacism to move into it for any reason as it will only strengthen a religion that i feel should be disbanded or at least made to come into the realities of where humanity has come to --remember-as i said earlier i was born catholic and my family still are practicing catholics, though they have been very dissapointed in hearing all the terrible things their religion has done throughout history, and most of all recent abuses to children, they still choose to stay catholic in the hopes the mascerade party over there in rome will eventually wake up and make the needed changes to become a decent religion-----so i say to you i would give yourself a little time here to think about why you want to do this--if you don't believe in god then be honest with yourself and others by expressing the real you, and not what some foolish religion tells you is right--i do believe in god myself--however certainly not the way i was taught through the catholic church---work on this a little before you do something just because it will please someone else----god as well as anyone else would surely want you to be YOU and not someone elses idea of you, you don't need an organized (government) religion to be close to god, god needs neither their money nor their ancient beliefs to be close to someone--and for you there is no need for any of this as for you there is no god , so why play the game with this subject at all--------------------------------------------------------------------------------blanco