Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the question.

You said:
I joined the area RCIA and am bored. I was in there with students who are new to the faith and had not been baptized.

• How do I handle this situation?

This is the third website that I have read where I need not go through a full process, but it seems like I am being treated as a new Christian.

• Do I just ride it out, or somehow tactfully bring this to their attention?

Situations, where new candidates attending RCIA are not going through the full process, are the exception, not the rule.

• Why is this?

Because when the Church receives new members who wish to become Catholic Christians, they have no idea:

• what previous religious Christian instruction and education they have had, and, moreover,
• which misperceptions or misunderstandings they have received about the Church and what She teaches.
  
  It's important to know the beliefs of the Faith you are joining.

I can see where the RCIA program may seem a little boring to you, in lieu of your personal study and reading habits from such solid sources as the CCC and Dr. Scott Hahn. You probably have a lot more knowledge than the average Catholic in the pew does. Good for you! but use your knowledge to serve the Church and those new to the faith in your RCIA classes. Share with them what you have learned. This will do two things:

1. It will help them learn and appreciate the faith more, and
2. re-enforce the faith in you; that is what teaching does.
   

Part of joining the Church also entails:

• finding your calling within the Church. Where you would like to serve the Lord in His Church, and
• meeting new friends along the way.

You said:
It seems like I am being treated as a new Christian.

Depending on the spiritual journey of each (student/catechumen), their Baptism may or may not be valid.

My priest-friends can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe, after reviewing each of the converts spiritual background and journey, the priest will either:

• Baptize the new catechumens, or
• not baptize them, because they are already baptized. (One can only be baptized once.)
  If the pastor is unsure of whether the catechumen has been baptized he can administer a "conditional" Baptism. See below:
  
  

Because of the tragic effects of the Reformation, and especially of King Henry VIII changing the (form and words) of Holy Orders, the sacramental graces of the one true Church are lacking in all the churches that broke at the Reformation. Their Holy Orders are invalid!

When one converts from a Protestant faith to the Catholic Faith, although one may already be a Christian by Baptism, (he/she) has not participated more fully in the Body of Christ in a real manner.

• Why?

Because as Catholic Christians, we partake in Divine Nature Himself: the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus in the Eucharist. This is not to deny the grace that our separated brethren receive who regularly attend their Sunday services, nor is it to deny the great achievements, personal prayers, etc., they have accomplished for Christendom via the graces they have received, but that grace is not sacramental grace. Sacramental grace is a grace where God Himself swears to help the Catholic Christian fulfill the calling to which the Lord has called him, as long has (he/she) serious in trying to hold up (his/her) end. As Scott has stated, the Greek word for oath is sacramentum. We swear our oath to God, and if we uphold our oath, God will uphold His oath to us, and we will receive His blessings.

When we attend Sunday Mass each week, whether we know it or not, we are swearing an oath to God that we will strive to be a faithful Catholic Christian. What we are being faithful to is summed up in the Nicene Creed that we recite every Sunday. When we receive the Eucharist, in a state of grace, of course, we are implicitly saying,

"I believe all that the Catholic Church believes."

If we hold up our end and are faithful, we receive blessings. If we don't, we can expect to have crosses come our way: crosses we bring on ourselves.

A great book I've finished reading by Dr. Hahn on this subject is:

Swear to God, the Promise and Power of the Sacraments

I highly recommend it. I'm sure my niece nor nephews were never taught in Catholic school what Scott talks about in this book, but if they had been, they would at least understand the importance of going to Sunday Mass, even if they find it boring.

In case you missed several articles the "My favorites" portion of the website, here it is:

• My Favorites 1

P.S. Thank you for the kind words about my ministry. What many personally say is my ministry is really our ministry. I've been blessed to have lay Catholics loyal to the teachings of the Church assist me in this unique ministry, along with my priest-friends. I personally could never have answered all the questions we have. :)

We are trying to get the word out about our site. If you know someone who would be willing to post a graphic or a link, I would appreciate it. You can get what is needed here.

Hope this helps,

If I've missed anything just reply.

Mike

Dear Jeff,

I am being only a tiny bit facetious when I say that enduring RCIA is your training for enduring lots of things in the Church.

As Irish mothers used to say, "Offer it up."  : )

Hope this helps,

Mary Ann