BaptismThe door to the Church is actual reception of the Sacrament of Baptism by water. True, those who are baptized by blood or desire can certainly be saved, but they are not members of the visible Church with any say in the Church. Catechumens are not considered members of the Catholic Church, although if they die prior to their Baptism, they may be buried in consecrated ground along-side Catholics. Every organization has some rite of initiation, and in the Catholic Church Jesus Christ has determined that Baptism is the door through which we all must enter. Therefore anyone who is not baptized is not a member of the Catholic Church, including catechumens. As such, they can have no say in matters Catholic. Now in history catechumens have been promoted into offices in the Church as in the cases of the Bishops Ambrose and Nectarius. Both were elected from the catechumenate. It is our opinion that they did not receive the authority as Bishop until after their Baptism, since this is a pre-requisite for receiving ecclesiastical authority. However, their election did give them a right to receive Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders. Duties of the Baptized
Church Law provides that a person becomes a subject of the Church by valid Baptism with all that entails. This applies not only to those baptized inside of the Church, but also baptized non-Catholics. Valid Baptism makes a person subject to the Laws of the Church. Let us apply this momentarily. It is forbidden for a Catholic to feed a baptized non-Catholic meat on Friday, for instance. True, moralists hold that a baptized non-Catholic does not sin by eating meat, but objectively speaking he is bound by the law of the Church, since it contains no exception. In fact, the major exception granted to baptized non-Catholics is that they are not bound by the canonical form of marriage, unless they marry a Catholic. Since they are often outside of the Church in good faith it would be improper to hold them to something that they do not even know of that would invalidate a marriage they wish to enter properly. Rights of the Baptized
Church law is clear that once we are baptized, we have certain obligations that we must fulfill. However, our rights are capable of being impaired. For instance, if we commit a crime, our rights can be removed by the Church. In some cases, this happens by the actual commission of a crime to which an automatic excommunication has been attached. Also apostates, heretics and schismatics lose all rights in the Church by their apostasy, heresy or schism. The only right they retain is the right to return to the Church upon sincere repentance, for all should be admitted to salvation who sincerely seek it. They may be required to perform additional penance to the renunciation of their apostasy, heresy and schism. For this reason, any priest can validly absolve from an excommunication anyone who is in danger of death. If they die, they can obtain heaven. However, if they live, then they are required to have recourse to the Church for formal reconciliation. Heaven is open to all who sincerely seek it and the Church will not place obstacles to salvation. Canon 87: By baptism a person becomes a subject of the Church of Christ with all the rights and duties of a Christian, unless, in so far as rights are concerned, there is some obstacle impeding the bond of communion with the Church, or a censure inflicted by the Church. 
