Expert: Tom Schott - 7/1/2005

Question
I was told kids entering Cathooicism 7 or older would be comfirmed as well by someone from another diocese according to Cannon Law. In fact EAstern Rite Catholics recieve Comfirmation at infancy and Eucharist as soon as they can digest it. This sounds unusual.

WHen a child converts to Catholicism at say age 6 or 9 or 11 do they only recieve Baptism and Eucharist or Baptism, Eucharist, and Comfirmation. Our Diocese only comfirms kids over 16. The reason is because most 9 year olds or even 14 year olds are not mature enough to understand what Comfirmation even means. I sure as heck did not at 13 or even 16...but recieved at 16 anyway. And that was with a Catholic School education.

The problem with Comfirming a 10 year old as a new Catholic is if he is comfirmed then he would have no reason to attend CCD or Religion class in Catholic School. Also what does this kid do when his Catholic School or CCD Classmates get comfirmed? So it sounds wrong to just comfirm a kid and then no longer bind him to CCD or Catholic School. In fact our diocese moved Comfirmation to high school age and also specified all high schoolers are to be comfirmed by their own parishes NOT at Catholic High Schools. Plus there is a Mass attendance requirement. A 9 year old kid getting comfirmed could fall back by the time he is 12. Plus he has no maturity to put himself under such an obligation.


thanks


Answer
Mark,

 There is no problem confirming a 10-year-old or younger person. Despite what church practice is as you know it and as it is practiced in several parts of the US, there is nothing in any rules that sets a minimum age for Confirmation. Sacraments are not valid because someone "understands" them. In fact, Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation. It makes complete theological sense that they all be received at the time of initiation. The Eastern rite churchs have it correct. And that's why the Church baptises, confirms, and gives eucharist to children not born Catholikc who come into the Church.

  Where did you get the idea that CCD class is useless to someone already confirmed? That is not the case. It's about education in the faith, and certainly Confirmation prep is just that kind of education.