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Author Topic: How does an apostate come back?  (Read 1371 times)

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Offline Carissima

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How does an apostate come back?
« on: July 17, 2022, 01:42:19 PM »
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    • I have several family members that have formally left the Church. Meaning, they actually say they no longer believe. But there are also others who just quit going to Mass, say they are confused, and live their lives as if they never had any religion at all. Most are cradle Catholics, some are their spouses who had converted and then left with them (tragic, I know :facepalm: )

    If the Grace is ever won for them from other family member’s prayers and sacrifices (and of course by Gods Mercy) what steps would they need to take to re-enter The Church? I remember being told years ago that an apostate needs to see a Bishop? How does that work and does the Crisis in the Church change this at all?
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    Offline Nadir

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    Re: How does an apostate come back?
    « Reply #1 on: July 17, 2022, 07:22:25 PM »
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    • I am not a theologian but I think that if a person “merely” says he no longer believes, he is not excommunicated, i.e. has not formally left the Church. (I did hear that a person who had an abortion had to first go to a bishop to receive the sacraments, but I have no reference to back that up.) There is also the situation where a person may sign a docuмent where they reject the Baptismal vows (Raelians promote this), but sounds that your relatives have “gone the way of the world” and need some big shock to wake them up.

    I guess that is God’s work, and we must beg Him for that possibility.

    You probably have more chance to bring back those who say they are confused. Just find out their main points of confusion and have literature to help their confusion.

    I wish I could get so close to my family members!

    As for what steps one would need to take, they should approach a priest and ask for the Sacrament of Penance. The priest should take it from there.
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    Offline AGeorge

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    Re: How does an apostate come back?
    « Reply #2 on: July 17, 2022, 07:36:32 PM »
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    • Quote from: Carissima on July 17, 2022, 01:42:19 PM
    I have several family members that have formally left the Church. Meaning, they actually say they no longer believe. But there are also others who just quit going to Mass, say they are confused, and live their lives as if they never had any religion at all. Most are cradle Catholics, some are their spouses who had converted and then left with them (tragic, I know :facepalm: )

    If the Grace is ever won for them from other family member’s prayers and sacrifices (and of course by Gods Mercy) what steps would they need to take to re-enter The Church? I remember being told years ago that an apostate needs to see a Bishop? How does that work and does the Crisis in the Church change this at all?
    If he is already validly baptized, then he would simply need to make a good confession, likely a general confession. Depending on the severity of the circuмstance, I would imagine that the Confessor would determine if he needs to make a profession of faith if he formally left the church. Usually those who just simply stopped going to mass or Stop Believing do so because they have adopted some habit of life that they're not willing to part with. 
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    Offline Ladislaus

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    Re: How does an apostate come back?
    « Reply #3 on: July 17, 2022, 08:56:34 PM »
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    • I would think that a formal abjuration would be in order mostly if they had adhered to some non-Catholic sect.  Nevertheless, given the state of the Church, I should think that simply approaching a priest and confessing would suffice ... possibly, as someone has said, a public profession of faith.
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    Offline Stubborn

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    Re: How does an apostate come back?
    « Reply #4 on: July 18, 2022, 05:11:30 AM »
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    • Quote from: AGeorge on July 17, 2022, 07:36:32 PM
    If he is already validly baptized, then he would simply need to make a good confession, likely a general confession. Depending on the severity of the circuмstance, I would imagine that the Confessor would determine if he needs to make a profession of faith if he formally left the church. Usually those who just simply stopped going to mass or Stop Believing do so because they have adopted some habit of life that they're not willing to part with.
    This. Very well said.


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    Offline Stubborn

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    Re: How does an apostate come back?
    « Reply #5 on: July 18, 2022, 05:14:32 AM »
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    • Quote from: Ladislaus on July 17, 2022, 08:56:34 PM
    I would think that a formal abjuration would be in order mostly if they had adhered to some non-Catholic sect.  Nevertheless, given the state of the Church, I should think that simply approaching a priest and confessing would suffice ... possibly, as someone has said, a public profession of faith.
    Yes, this. I'm pretty sure a priest would get at least an informal abjuration out of them before absolving them, or at least he should. 
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    "But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God, rather than men." - Acts 5:29

    The Highest Principle in the Church: "We are first of all under obedience to God, and only then under obedience to man" - Fr. Hesse

    Offline epiphany

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    Re: How does an apostate come back?
    « Reply #6 on: July 18, 2022, 07:19:13 AM »
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    • Quote from: Carissima on July 17, 2022, 01:42:19 PM
    I have several family members that have formally left the Church. Meaning, they actually say they no longer believe. But there are also others who just quit going to Mass, say they are confused, and live their lives as if they never had any religion at all. Most are cradle Catholics, some are their spouses who had converted and then left with them (tragic, I know :facepalm: )

    If the Grace is ever won for them from other family member’s prayers and sacrifices (and of course by Gods Mercy) what steps would they need to take to re-enter The Church? I remember being told years ago that an apostate needs to see a Bishop? How does that work and does the Crisis in the Church change this at all?
    Talk to a good traditional priest.
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    Offline Stubborn

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    Re: How does an apostate come back?
    « Reply #7 on: July 18, 2022, 08:24:36 AM »
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    • Quote from: Carissima on July 17, 2022, 01:42:19 PM
    I have several family members that have formally left the Church. Meaning, they actually say they no longer believe. But there are also others who just quit going to Mass, say they are confused, and live their lives as if they never had any religion at all. Most are cradle Catholics, some are their spouses who had converted and then left with them (tragic, I know :facepalm: )

    If the Grace is ever won for them from other family member’s prayers and sacrifices (and of course by Gods Mercy) what steps would they need to take to re-enter The Church? I remember being told years ago that an apostate needs to see a Bishop? How does that work and does the Crisis in the Church change this at all?
    The first thing they will need to do is talk to a priest, most likely in the confessional - face to face is not really necessary but that depends on the priest as he may see a need to school them. Either way, even pre-V2, going to a priest is always the first step.

    Whatever else their Apostasy is, it, (as well as heresy and schism) is first and foremost, to whatever degree, a mortal sin - hence the need for confession. 
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    "But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God, rather than men." - Acts 5:29

    The Highest Principle in the Church: "We are first of all under obedience to God, and only then under obedience to man" - Fr. Hesse
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