Can a believing non-Catholic go to confession?

[Big_Dave]

Hi, I am a believing evangelical christian. I havre been reading these forums and listening to EWTN. Especially Sunday Night Live with Father Grosheal and Catchism with Father John Caropi. (sp?) I feel that I cound beniit by going to confession to a priest. I just think it may help me with the sins that I can’t seem to evercome.

God Bless

 

[Pug]

One must already be baptized to receive the sacrament of confession. Otherwise, best to go be baptized. I’m assuming you are baptized according to the standard trinitarian words with water already. Other than that, the requirement is to be alive, as I can see that you are.

Confession helped me with one of those difficult sins, so it is very profitable. Did you know that before joining the Church, folks like yourself are invited to go to confession? So it is quite possible to not be Catholic yet and still go. However, you might want to consider why you think the Church has the gift to help with confession/sins, but you are not joining up? Your answer to that matters, I think. Do you know what is asked of you when you go?

 

[K-McD]

First, I think you should ask this question in the “Ask an Apologist” forum. forums.catholic-questions.org/forumdisplay.php?f=4

Second, yes a non-Catholic can go to confession as long as they are baptized. You won’t be able to receive absolution, but you will be able to confess your sins to a priest.

Again, for a better answer contact an Apologist at the site above.

God Bless
Kevin

 

[YinYangMom]

Big_Dave:

Hi, I am a believing evangelical christian. I havre been reading these forums and listening to EWTN. Especially Sunday Night Live with Father Grosheal and Catchism with Father John Caropi. (sp?) I feel that I cound beniit by going to confession to a priest. I just think it may help me with the sins that I can’t seem to evercome.

God Bless

Pug is right…baptism into the Catholic faith would be where to start.

Through baptism our souls are wiped clean of original sin, all past sins, as well as their temporal effects.

Because we are human, we are prone to make bad choices amidst all this temptation, so Christ gave us the sacrament of reconciliation which would clean our souls of sins committed after our baptism, but before our death, so that we may always have the opportunity to be in a state of grace when receiving His Body and Blood through the Eucharist (another sacrament He gave us).

Through the sacrament of reconciliation our sins are forgiven but the temporal affects are not. Those can be removed through indulgences or time in purgatory.

In any case, I hope you can see that Jesus gave us several wonderful gifts through His Catholic Church to show us how much he loves us and wants us to be with Him in heaven. I will pray that someday you may share in these gifts through His grace and guidance.

Reading the previous posts, however, I could be wrong in a few of the details. It is best you check with an apologist or a priest in your area.