“Ask a Priest: Could a Convicted Felon Become a Catholic?”

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest
Q: Could you explain the steps I would need to take to become a Catholic? And would the Catholic Church allow me to become a member if I am a convicted felon? -G.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: It is good to hear that you are interested in entering the Church. Being a convicted felon is no bar to your becoming Catholic. We are all sinners, so we all need Christ’s mercy. He extends that mercy in a particular through the Church and through the sacraments.

To join the Church you would need to be introduced to its teachings and practices.

A good first step would be to contact a Catholic parish and ask about entering an RCIA program. The RCIA is a program that will teach you about the beliefs and practices of the Church.

It would be helpful to find a sponsor, a Catholic who could accompany you on your spiritual journey.

In the meantime you might try reading the Compendium of the Catechism or the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults.

Try to make time for prayer each day. Read the Gospels and get to know the person of Jesus Christ; he is the head of the Catholic Church and the reason why any of us is here. I wish you well on your journey.

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!