Another confession question

[thomasf]

I was asked this today and did not know how to respond.

What if a person goes to confession, does not show contrition, and a priest absolves him of the sin anyway? Is that absolution valid?

In particular, I was asked about mafia people or mobsters. And how so many maffia members are also catholic. If they go to confession, confess, and have no intention of changing their ways or have no remorse for their sins, and the priest absolves them, is that a valid absolution?

The person asking said it was convenient that the church ‘protected’ these people through confession and absolved them of sins even though they were still bad and sinful and made no attempt to change or was sorry they did whatever.

My answer was I’d have to ask, but I didn’t think it would be a valid confession.

What about a priest that absolved said person knowing it wasn’t a real confession with contrition, and that the person was a mobster, and was only doing the confession out of habit or to cover themselves?

Thanks.

 

[pray4peace]

I would think for it to be a valid confession one has to make sincere act of contrition, therefore it would not be a valid confession if one is not sorry.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Really, Mafia members are Catholic. What about the Russians? What about Africans? What about Chinese? Korean? No, it’s always the Italians in general, and Sicilians in particular, who are therefore Catholic and in the Outfit. Some of the people you encounter, Thomas. Anyway-

“Showing contrition” infers that some sort of display is necessary. If a confessional is used, how would the priest know? Hook up a lie detector?

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is only as good as the pentitent’s true contrition for his sins. Priests do not have the ability to see who is truly sorry and who is not. He has to take the penitent at his word.

Rest assured, God knows. And if the penitent in question is not really sorry, and dies, then God knows he made a bad confession. Trust God to be the God of mercy, but also justice.

 

[Al_Masetti]

It can be inferred that if the penitent makes the effort to go to church at the hour scheduled for confession or seeks out a priest and asks the priest to hear his confession, that effort might constitute true contrition.

It’s very embarrassing to confess one’s sins and failures.

Just the act of confessing is a confession of contrition.

 

[puzzleannie]

If one priest or one penitent abuses any sacrament that is not the same is 'THE CHURCH absolves sinners who are not repentent. Since no one, ever, at any time, has a clue what went on in the confessional of those purported mafia figures, pro-abortion politicians, businessmen later convicted of crimes, or any one else on the planet, it is simply not possible to make any judgment whatever about their contrition or lack of it, and the sincerity of the priest or lack of it. Might be far more productive to reflect on our own sins and proper contrition for them.

 

[thomasf]

Might be far more productive to reflect on our own sins and proper contrition for them.

That’s fine advice, but I still need to know how to respond to the question I was asked. It was asked as a bigger part of a discussion about confession in the catholic church by a non-catholic.

OutinChgoburbs I didn’t mention Italians in particular. This is the way the question was asked of me. You don’t think there are Russian maffia that are catholics as well? What about Polish maffia members?

Back to the question. Part of being contrite is making a firm ammendment to try to stop the sin. Confessing on Saturday and going back to work doing illegal maffia things on Monday doesn’t really fall into that ‘firm ammendment’ description, imo. what if the priest deliberately gives absolution knowing the person was not truly sorry and doesn’t resolve to change or stop the sin. Does that invalidate the sacrament?