Can a Catholic Candidate go to confession

[mlz]

To whoever might know: my husband is a baptized Christian who ( I feel ) is not far from being Catholic ) and comes to Mass with me not only on Sun(or Sat evening Mas) but also weekly Mass. He continually asks me if he could go to confession with our priest. Can he?

mlz

 

[Phemie]

Forum Master: Thank you for that clarification. I thought the Bishops of each Diocese gave the facility to the Priests of their Diocese.

As to the matter of Confession by a non-Catholic, the Canons I have seen quoted on this thread seem to indicate that ANY Christian could go to Confession, if they so wish. Is this correct? Also, can a non-Baptized person go to Confession if they accept the validity of that Sacrament, whether Christian, Baptized, or not?

The bishop has to grant faculties to the priest if the priest wants to confirm a Catholic (those adults who are returning to the Church or who have simply never been confirmed for one reason or another) but not for him to confirm an adult he is baptizing or receiving into full communion.

The Deacon has explained that ‘Christian’ in the context of the canons referring to Confession means Catholic, otherwise all other Christians would be under obligation to confess grave sins to a Catholic priest once a year per canon 988.

Also canon 844 says

Can. 844 §1. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone, without prejudice to the prescripts of §§2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and ⇒ can. 861, §2.
§2. Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

§3. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they seek such on their own accord and are properly disposed. This is also valid for members of other Churches which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition in regard to the sacraments as these Eastern Churches.
§4.** If the danger of death is present or if, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops, some other grave necessity urges it, Catholic ministers administer these same sacraments licitly also to other Christians not having full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who seek such on their own accord, provided that they manifest Catholic faith in respect to these sacraments and are properly disposed.**
§5. For the cases mentioned in §§2, 3, and 4, the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops is not to issue general norms except after consultation at least with the local competent authority of the interested non-Catholic Church or community.

 

[Jon_S_1]

The bishop has to grant faculties to the priest if the priest wants to confirm a Catholic (those adults who are returning to the Church or who have simply never been confirmed for one reason or another) but not for him to confirm an adult he is baptizing or receiving into full communion.

The Deacon has explained that ‘Christian’ in the context of the canons referring to Confession means Catholic, otherwise all other Christians would be under obligation to confess grave sins to a Catholic priest once a year per canon 988.

Also canon 844 says

So at what point do the candidates like me who are baptized and desiring full communion, is there some sort of presenting ceremony or welcoming rite before our first confession which is scheduled for a couple weeks before our confirmation/first Eucharist.

I went through the rite of welcome. It was my understanding I could now have a Catholic funeral, and it seems I could also go to confession. Right?

The right of acceptance and election and scrutinies are for catechumens only right?

They have something on our schedule called “penitential Rite” for candidates only about one month before Easter. Is that the point we can go to confession?

 

[judynurse]

Thank you, Forum Master. I had been under the impression that anyone, whether Catholic or not, who accepts the Sacrament of Penance as being true and correct, and who approaches it with the understanding of the meaning of the Sacrament, could go to Confession.

I have had several Protestants tell me they went to Confession to a Catholic Priest, partly for consultation (as opposed to Absolution) because of the complete privacy of the Confessional. I don’t think that is very common, and I don’t know if they told the Priests involved that they were not in communion with the Catholic Church. Perhaps it was only for advice and direction, which they felt would be held as private and never revealed, as they did state that they did not trust their own ministers to be so private. A couple of them were not in any Church or community of Christians, but felt a Priest could help them. If I am understanding these Canons correctly, they could speak to the Priest in the Confessional, but not receive Absolution, since they were not taught the norms and beliefs of the Catholic Church.

 

[Phemie]

Thank you, Forum Master. I had been under the impression that anyone, whether Catholic or not, who accepts the Sacrament of Penance as being true and correct, and who approaches it with the understanding of the meaning of the Sacrament, could go to Confession.

I have had several Protestants tell me they went to Confession to a Catholic Priest, partly for consultation (as opposed to Absolution) because of the complete privacy of the Confessional. I don’t think that is very common, and I don’t know if they told the Priests involved that they were not in communion with the Catholic Church. Perhaps it was only for advice and direction, which they felt would be held as private and never revealed, as they did state that they did not trust their own ministers to be so private. A couple of them were not in any Church or community of Christians, but felt a Priest could help them. If I am understanding these Canons correctly, they could speak to the Priest in the Confessional, but not receive Absolution, since they were not taught the norms and beliefs of the Catholic Church.

I don’t think the priest would give them absolution if he knew they weren’t Catholic, but we’ll never know because of the seal of confession.

Please also understand that ‘forum master’ below my name only refers to the number of posts I’ve made, not to any qualifications I might have.

 

[dans0622]

…my husband is a baptized Christian who ( I feel ) is not far from being Catholic ) and comes to Mass with me not only on Sun(or Sat evening Mas) but also weekly Mass. He continually asks me if he could go to confession with our priest. Can he? …

Hello,

Your husband should try to talk to your bishop. He is the one who can determine if all the necessary conditions are present.

Dan

 

[Stella_Matutina]

Before I became Catholic or really knew much of anything, I was Presbyterian. I went to Confession to “try it out” but told the priest that I was not Catholic (yet.) He told me he would not be able to hear my confession and give me absolution but was willing to listen to my concerns and provide some spiritual guidance.

Later, I joined RCIA, and got special permission from the Bishop to have my confession heard early (like a month) before the rest of my RCIA class while I was on a retreat.

Hope this information helps others.