Bishop's Absolution Required?

[Brendan]

thistle:

Let me understand this correctly what you are saying.

1. The priest will already have the authority to absolve a sin which had caused ex-communication

or

1. The priest will immediately request such authority

or

1. The priest will satisfy himself that there was no ex-communication in the first place.

Whichever is the case, the person confessing must assume that if the priest gives absolution then that absolution is valid. The person confessing will not ask if the priest has the authority to absolve.

Is my understanding correct?

That is pretty much correct. It is up to the penitent to honestly confess their sin. If the priest recognizes that he does not, or might not have the authority, he will tell you so and outline what he would be doing to further the situation.

If you recieve absolution from the priest, you ARE absolved and forgiven.

 

[Timidity]

thistle:

… I would venture to say that almost no Catholic who had an abortion would have any idea that it could mean ex-communication, although they would likely know it was a mortal sin.

Exactly–Which is one of the conditions of the ex-communication. You can not incur a latae sententiae excommunication without knowing that the action in question carries that penalty.

 

[cameron_lansing]

Timidity:

thistle:
… I would venture to say that almost no Catholic who had an abortion would have any idea that it could mean ex-communication, although they would likely know it was a mortal sin.

Exactly–Which is one of the conditions of the ex-communication. You can not incur a latae sententiae excommunication without knowing that the action in question carries that penalty.

Not to mention that by virtue of canon 11 , the imposition of penalties such as excommunication do not apply to non Catholics. The Church only asserts “the innate and proper right to coerce offending members of the Christian faithful * with penal sanctions” (canon 1311).

*Canon 11 in part, “Merely ecclesiastical laws bind those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it. . .”