Are there any sins that are required to be confessed to a Bishop to be absolved?

[PMV]

Are there any serious sins that can only be absolved by going to a bishop? I recall that I might of read somewhere that for particular sins (perhaps the Four Sins Crying to Heaven for Vengeance, and/or the Six sins against the Holy Spirit), confession is not enough, and must be absolved by going to a bishop. If there are, then which sins are these?

 

[Brain]

I think remitting Latae Scentencae (sp) excommunication is reserved to the bishop, but im not sure.

 

[puzzleannie]

procuring, performing or assisting someone to have an abortion incurs automatic excommunication and requires confession to the bishop to lift the penalty, but the offense has become so common that at least in this country the bishops have delegated this faculty to priests.

 

[Nina_Paul]

It is a grievious sin for a priest to give absolution to one with whom he is having sexual relations. If he did this, he would then have to confess to a bishop.

 

[cameron_lansing]

It is a grievious sin for a priest to give absolution to one with whom he is having sexual relations. If he did this, he would then have to confess to a bishop.

An old thread resurrected,and as to grievous, absolutely yes.

Moreover, see canon 977: The absolution of an accomplice in a sin against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue is invalid, except in danger of death. As well, see 1378: §1. A priest who acts against the prescript of canon 977 incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See. So this is much broader than a question of sin in the internal forum but of censure in the external forum.

However, I am not aware that the law imposes the requirement which is asserted above regarding confession to a bishop.

 

[Leopard]

It is a grievious sin for a priest to give absolution to one with whom he is having sexual relations. If he did this, he would then have to confess to a bishop.

Interesting. Does this mean that a married priest’s wife may not choose her husband as her confessor?

 

[puzzleannie]

Interesting. Does this mean that a married priest’s wife may not choose her husband as her confessor?

canon law for Eastern rite is different
some offenses committed by a priest are reserved to the Pope
these are canon law issues and would ordinarily not concern the average Catholic so why fret?

 

[Chatter163]

I think remitting Latae Scentencae (sp) excommunication is reserved to the bishop, but im not sure.

Then why respond?

 

[Leopard]

canon law for Eastern rite is different
some offenses committed by a priest are reserved to the Pope
these are canon law issues and would ordinarily not concern the average Catholic so why fret?

I’m not fretting, just asking. What about married priests in the Latin Church (there are a few), for whom this would not be an offense?

 

[puzzleannie]

I’m not fretting, just asking. What about married priests in the Latin Church (there are a few), for whom this would not be an offense?

obviously the poster making this point was referring to the earlier cite about canon law and priests hearing confessions of those with whom they have engaged in sin against the 6th commandment, sinco poster did not quote the relevant canon law, you are justifiably confused. the canon laws does not say “anyone the priest is having sex with including his wife, if any” it is quite specific. again, if this does not apply to you, why are you worried or asking? if any of us does fall into some sin with a canonical penalty that cannot be lifted by the priest in confession, we will be informed that the priest cannot absolve us and be given appropriate direction.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

A person who assist or procures an abortion, is excommunicated

“latae sententiae.” That is, automatically excommunicated.

There are different levels of excommunication, I’ll only address the above here.

An excommunication can be lifted when the individual admits and makes appropriate efforts to atone for it. In many cases the excommunication can be lifted by a priest through sacramental Confession, although in some cases other conditions must be fulfilled. cwnews.com/news/biosgloss/definition.cfm?glossID=91

So in other words, a person who commits or assist in an abortion, should first go to confession to a priest. He will instruct you as to what or if you need to do futher.

It is my understanding, that for most cases concerning abortion, confession to a priest is all that is required.

Jim

 

[bpbasilphx]

Does this mean that a married priest’s wife may not choose her husband as her confessor?

According to a Ukrainian priest I know and respect highly, a priest does not hear the confessions of his parents or his wife, but may hear those of his children.

This is general practice among the Orthodox as well.

 

[Khoria_Anna]

Does this mean that a married priest’s wife may not choose her husband as her confessor?

According to a Ukrainian priest I know and respect highly, a priest does not hear the confessions of his parents or his wife, but may hear those of his children.

This is general practice among the Orthodox as well.

As convenient as it might be, a wife may not go to her own husband for absolution – I remember driving a couple of hundred miles just to find a confessor (we were in a parish WAY out in the stix).

 

[VociMike]

Then why respond?

Because it provides a possible path for further investigation and/or comment. The OP didn’t ask for only canon lawyers to respond.

 

[Leopard]

obviously the poster making this point was referring to the earlier cite about canon law and priests hearing confessions of those with whom they have engaged in sin against the 6th commandment, sinco poster did not quote the relevant canon law, you are justifiably confused. the canon laws does not say “anyone the priest is having sex with including his wife, if any” it is quite specific. again, if this does not apply to you, why are you worried or asking? if any of us does fall into some sin with a canonical penalty that cannot be lifted by the priest in confession, we will be informed that the priest cannot absolve us and be given appropriate direction.

No, I am not confused, I merely had never heard this law before and was curious as to how it might apply to a married priest and his wife. I am not worried about this and I would thank you not to make presumptions about me. I am asking because I want to know the answer, if there is one. I do hope you are not suggesting that only those to whom a particular situation might apply have any right to ask questions about it.