(Death, Heaven, Purgatory, Hell)
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
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“I believe and
profess all that the holy Catholic Church teaches, believes and proclaims to be
revealed by God.”
In particular:
I affirm and believe the Church’s teaching about the inviolability of human
life. In accord with that teaching I affirm that human life is sacred and must
be protected and respected from the moment of conception until natural death. I
affirm that I reject direct, intentional abortion and I do not recognize the
legitimacy of anyone’s claim to a moral right to form their own conscience in
this matter. I am not pro-choice. I further attest that I am not affiliated
with, nor supportive of, any organization which supports, encourages, provides
or otherwise endorses abortion or euthanasia. (cf. CCC 2270-2283)
I affirm and believe the Church’s teaching about the sinfulness of
contraception. I affirm, in accord with the teachings of the Church that “every
action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its
accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes,
whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible” is
intrinsically evil. (CCC 2370)
I affirm and believe that every person is called to chastity in accord with
their present state of life and that it is only in marriage between man and
woman that the intimacy of spouses becomes a sign and pledge of spiritual
communion. (CCC 2337—2365) I accept the Church’s teaching that any extra-marital
sexual relationships are gravely evil and that these include pre-marital
relations, masturbation, fornication, the viewing of pornography and homosexual
relations.
I affirm and believe the teaching of the Church about the evil of homosexual
acts. I accept the formulation in the Catechism which states: “Basing itself on
Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,
tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically
disordered.” They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to
the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual
complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.” (CCC 2357)
I affirm and believe all that the Church teaches about the Reality and Presence
of Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist. Specifically I believe that Jesus is
present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity under each of the forms of bread and wine
and that receiving either one is Communion with the whole Christ. I recognize
that worship and adoration are appropriate, not only during Mass but also
outside of Mass and that the Most Holy Eucharist must always be handled with the
utmost care and devotion. (CCC 1373-1381)
I affirm and believe the teachings of the Church regarding Mary, Mother of
Christ and Mother of the Church. I accept with the Church that it is fitting and
proper to honor the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. (CCC 963-975)
I affirm and believe that it is possible for a person to choose to remain
separated from God for all eternity and that “This state of definitive
self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called “hell.” ” (CCC
1033)
I affirm and believe that those who die in God’s grace and friendship but are
still imperfectly purified undergo additional purification so as to achieve the
holiness necessary to enter the joys of heaven. I affirm that the Church’s name
for this final purification is Purgatory. (CCC 1030-1032)
I affirm and believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, and I embrace
the teachings about the Church, as enunciated in the Catechism of the Catholic
Church. (cf. CCC 748-962)
I affirm and believe that the Church teaches with God-given authority and that
the promise of Christ to remain with His Church always, until the end of time,
is a reality. I further acknowledge that those teachings pronounced in a
definitive manner, even though not as an infallible definition, are binding on
the consciences of the faithful and are to be adhered to with religious assent.
(CCC 892)
To these and to all the teaching of the Catholic Church I give my assent. I
attest that I believe these things and, while I am aware of my own sinfulness
and shortcomings, I strive in my beliefs and life style to conform to this
Affirmation of Personal of Faith.
* The Church requires the making of a Profession of Faith by various persons
when they undertake specific duties related to Church administration and
teaching. (cf. Canon 833) In the Diocese of Baker this has been expanded to
include those who take on the ecclesial duties of Catechist, Liturgical Reader,
Cantor, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and other Church positions
which entail a presumption of orthodoxy.
[The Most Reverend Robert F. Vasa, Bishop of Baker, Oregon, requires this
affirmation of faith for all lay persons who hold positions of administration
and teaching in his diocese. The above text is quoted from the
dioceseofbaker.org web site.]
