Can an uncatecized but baptized Catholic receive absolution from a priest?

I'm a baptized Catholic but I have not been confirmed. I've gone to mass on and off for a couple of years but I have not compled RCIA or any instruction. I fall under the category of baptized uncatecized. I went to confession and the priest said that he cannot grant me absolution because I've not done RCIA. I thought that this was odd because baptized persons are allowed to do the sacraments. I did the confession anyways and at the end he gave me a penance. 5 hail Mary's was all. Does this mean that the confession did not count? Why give a penance if it didn't count? I'm really confused. When I do RCIA will I have to basically repeat the confession?