Can a Lutheran go to a Roman Catholic Priest for confession?

[Nominefili]

Would a RC priest hear a Lutheran’s confession, one who was genuinely penitent but who had no intention of converting to the RCC?

 

[Joe_Brown]

1213 Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua),4 and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."5

You would have to be baptized in the Catholic Church I believe.

God Bless:thumbsup:

 

[Nominefili]

You would have to be baptized in the Catholic Church I believe.

God Bless:thumbsup:

Thanks for the response! But doesn’t the RCC consider Lutheran baptisms in the Trinitarian Formula valid, i.e. a baptized Lutheran convert to RCC wouldn’t get rebaptized would they?

 

[ThurifAcolyte]

Thanks for the response! But doesn’t the RCC consider Lutheran baptisms in the Trinitarian Formula valid, i.e. a baptized Lutheran convert to RCC wouldn’t get rebaptized would they?

Hi Nominefili,

Yes, the Catholic Church does recognize Lutheran baptisms, and if you decided to convert, you would not need to be “re” baptized.

Unfortunately, under normal circumstances, you cannot receive any of the sacraments of the Catholic Church. The only non-Catholics that are allowed to participate in certain sacraments are the Orthodox, and a few other churches. This may help (found it on another thread), from the Code of Canon Law:

§3 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist, and anointing of the sick to members of the Eastern churches not in full communion with the catholic Church, if they spontaneously ask for them and are properly disposed. The same applies to members of other churches which the Apostolic See judges to be in the same position as the aforesaid Eastern churches so far as the sacraments are concerned (canon 844).

§4 If there is a danger of death or if, in the judgement of the diocesan bishop or of the episcopal conference, there is some other grave and pressing need, Catholic ministers may lawfully administer these same sacraments to other Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who spontaneously ask for them, provided that they demonstrate the Catholic faith in respect of these sacraments and are properly disposed (canon 844).

So, it seems that you would have to be in danger of death, or need the permission of the bishop of your area, or the USCCB, and not be able to take sacraments in your own church, to receive Catholic sacraments (unless of course you are in the conversion process).

Hope that helps!

 

[Joe_Brown]

Hi Nominefili,

Yes, the Catholic Church does recognize Lutheran baptisms, and if you decided to convert, you would not need to be “re” baptized.

Unfortunately, under normal circumstances, you cannot receive any of the sacraments of the Catholic Church. The only non-Catholics that are allowed to participate in certain sacraments are the Orthodox, and a few other churches. This may help (found it on another thread), from the Code of Canon Law:

So, it seems that you would have to be in danger of death, or need the permission of the bishop of your area, or the USCCB, and not be able to take sacraments in your own church, to receive Catholic sacraments (unless of course you are in the conversion process).

Hope that helps!

Thanks for the help, I was stuck trying to find a response in the catechism or cannon law

God Bless:thumbsup:

 

[Joe_Brown]

My question is when are they considered to be able to recieve the sacraments. Would they just have to say “I am Catholic now”? or would they have to go through RCIA and that?

 

[ThurifAcolyte]

My question is when are they considered to be able to recieve the sacraments. Would they just have to say “I am Catholic now”? or would they have to go through RCIA and that?

Who do you mean by “they”? Can you clarify?

 

[Nominefili]

Thank you for the great responses everyone. That’s all I needed to know.

 

[Joe_Brown]

Sorry. Ok Lutherans cant receive the sacraments. Say a Lutheran wanted to become Catholic. What would he have to do to be able to receive the sacraments. Would he just have to say “I am Catholic and in full communion with Rome” or would he have to have studied in RCIA

 

[ThurifAcolyte]

Thank you for the great responses everyone. That’s all I needed to know.

No problem!

 

[ThurifAcolyte]

Sorry. Ok Lutherans cant receive the sacraments. Say a Lutheran wanted to become Catholic. What would he have to do to be able to receive the sacraments. Would he just have to say “I am Catholic and in full communion with Rome” or would he have to have studied in RCIA

Ah, okay. All people that are converting to the Catholic Church would have to go through some form of catechesis. However not all have to go through the full RCIA, especially Orthodox, Anglicans, and Lutherans that are properly catechized in their own communities. They would then go through a program that would provide the necessary Catholic foundations, however they would not need to be catechumens in the RCIA. They can if they want to, but it’s not necessary (though some places may say that everyone has to go through RCIA).

They would not be able to simply say “I am Catholic now and in full communion with Rome”. They would have to approach the parish priest, and formulate some sort of catechesis. They would then have to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation, and then Confirmation, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and being brought into full communion with the Catholic Church.

 

[Joe_Brown]

Ah, okay. All people that are converting to the Catholic Church would have to go through some form of catechesis. However not all have to go through the full RCIA, especially Orthodox, Anglicans, and Lutherans that are properly catechized in their own communities. They would then go through a program that would provide the necessary Catholic foundations, however they would not need to be catechumens in the RCIA. They can if they want to, but it’s not necessary (though some places may say that everyone has to go through RCIA).

They would not be able to simply say “I am Catholic now and in full communion with Rome”. They would have to approach the parish priest, and formulate some sort of catechesis. They would then have to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation, and then Confirmation, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and being brought into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Ok thank you:thumbsup:

 

[JonNC]

Hi Nominefili,

Yes, the Catholic Church does recognize Lutheran baptisms, and if you decided to convert, you would not need to be “re” baptized.

Unfortunately, under normal circumstances, you cannot receive any of the sacraments of the Catholic Church. The only non-Catholics that are allowed to participate in certain sacraments are the Orthodox, and a few other churches. This may help (found it on another thread), from the Code of Canon Law:

So, it seems that you would have to be in danger of death, or need the permission of the bishop of your area, or the USCCB, and not be able to take sacraments in your own church, to receive Catholic sacraments (unless of course you are in the conversion process).

Hope that helps!

Not to hijack my fellow Lutheran’s thread, but could my Lutheran daughter marry a Catholic man in a Catholic Church without converting?

Jon

 

[Angels_Unaware]

Not to hijack my fellow Lutheran’s thread, but could my Lutheran daughter marry a Catholic man in a Catholic Church without converting?

Jon

Yes, she may, as long as her fiance receives a dispensation from the Bishop, and she cooperates with the preparation for the sacrament that her fiance will be required to undertake prior to marriage.

She must understand what the sacrament of marriage means in the Catholic Church before she can marry a Catholic. She must participate in marriage preparation counseling. Most parishes also require NFP classes, so she would have to understand that to separate the procreative aspect from the unitive apect of the marital act is a sin for her husband, and agree not to lead him into sin. The marriage preparation process usually takes at least six months.

She also must agree not to interfere with her husband’s instruction of her children in the Catholic faith. So, really, she can stay Lutheran, but I don’t understand why a Lutheran would want to marry a Catholic who takes his faith seriously and agree to be cut off from the worship experience of her entire family, and agree to take her children to Mass every week, and enroll the children in Catholic school or CCD and participate in sacrament preparation, and not be Catholic herself. It seems it would be a difficult thing to agree to do if you truly did not believe the Catholic faith was the one true faith.

 

[ThurifAcolyte]

Not to hijack my fellow Lutheran’s thread, but could my Lutheran daughter marry a Catholic man in a Catholic Church without converting?

Jon

Yes, she can. However, as Angels mentioned, there is the stipulation that they must raise their children in the Catholic faith. Of course, it’s up to them if they actually do this, however that’s the Church’s stance on the matter.

 

[JonNC]

Yes, she may, as long as her fiance receives a dispensation from the Bishop, and she cooperates with the preparation for the sacrament that her fiance will be required to undertake prior to marriage.

She must understand what the sacrament of marriage means in the Catholic Church before she can marry a Catholic. She must participate in marriage preparation counseling. Most parishes also require NFP classes, so she would have to understand that to separate the procreative aspect from the unitive apect of the marital act is a sin for her husband, and agree not to lead him into sin. The marriage preparation process usually takes at least six months.

Thanks, Angels. So, would she herself be receiving the sacrament of marriage?

She also must agree not to interfere with her husband’s instruction of her children in the Catholic faith. So, really, she can stay Lutheran, but I don’t understand why a Lutheran would want to marry a Catholic who takes his faith seriously and agree to be cut off from the worship experience of her entire family, and agree to take her children to Mass every week, and enroll the children in Catholic school or CCD and participate in sacrament preparation, and not be Catholic herself. It seems it would be a difficult thing to agree to do if you truly did not believe the Catholic faith was the one true faith

That is the issue anytime one marries outside of ones faith tradition; making compromises or sacrifices for the sake of family.

Seems to me the bolded part is a bit of an overstatement, as Lutherans are, of course, allowed to attend Catholic mass (but not receive the Eucharist). Otherwise, what do you mean by this?

Jon

 

[ThurifAcolyte]

Thanks, Angels. So, would she herself be receiving the sacrament of marriage?

That is the issue anytime one marries outside of ones faith tradition; making compromises or sacrifices for the sake of family.

Seems to me the bolded part is a bit of an overstatement, as Lutherans are, of course, allowed to attend Catholic mass (but not receive the Eucharist). Otherwise, what do you mean by this?

Jon

Jon, I just found this article, and it should explain the Catholic views of what happens in a marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic (or a non-Christian).

catholicexchange.com/2009/02/19/115965/

Hope it helps!

 

[Angels_Unaware]

Thanks, Angels. So, would she herself be receiving the sacrament of marriage?

If she and her husband achieve union, (this is meant in more than a physical sense) she will be in an indissolvable, sacramental union until she or her husband dies. As a non-Catholic, if she is baptized, and if she agrees to contract a valid marriage in the Catholic Church, she will participate in the sacrament of marriage with her husband. In the sacrament of marriage, she is not receiving the sacrament from a priest. She is herself a minister who is confering the sacrament of marriage to her husband, and vice versa.

This means that the marital bond itself confers supernatural grace. This is the only sacrament she can receive in the Catholic Church without either being in danger of death or formally entering the Church. During the nuptial mass, she will not receive communion, and neither will any other non-Catholic.

jon:

That is the issue anytime one marries outside of ones faith tradition; making compromises or sacrifices for the sake of family.

Seems to me the bolded part is a bit of an overstatement, as Lutherans are, of course, allowed to attend Catholic mass (but not receive the Eucharist). Otherwise, what do you mean by this?

Jon

Since I’m a convert from a Protestant tradition, I understand why you think it’s an over-statement. If I were still Protestant, I’d be inclined to think of a mixed marriage as a something like, say, the difference between attending a Baptist versus Lutheran church. The sacraments are such an important part of being Catholic, it is hard to convey what it means to try to teach their importance to your children while simultaneously being cut off from them yourself.

How do you really and truly instruct your children on the importance of receiving the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist when you have chosen not to be a part of it?

Your wife, I’m certain, will not want to refrain from receiving communion, as it is an important part of Lutheran worship, too. She will have to attend a Lutheran church to do this, and when she attends, her husband and children will not be able to receive, even if the Lutheran church she attends believes in the real presence. This is canon law.

I would just be surprised if it doesn’t cause difficulty and confusion for the children. In the marriage, it is unlikely to be a major issue if both spouses fully accept the others’ interpretation of Christianity.

 

[JonNC]

If she and her husband achieve union, (this is meant in more than a physical sense) she will be in an indissolvable, sacramental union until she or her husband dies. As a non-Catholic, if she is baptized, and if she agrees to contract a valid marriage in the Catholic Church, she will participate in the sacrament of marriage with her husband. In the sacrament of marriage, she is not receiving the sacrament from a priest. She is herself a minister who is confering the sacrament of marriage to her husband, and vice versa.

This means that the marital bond itself confers supernatural grace. This is the only sacrament she can receive in the Catholic Church without either being in danger of death or formally entering the Church. During the nuptial mass, she will not receive communion, and neither will any other non-Catholic.

Since I’m a convert from a Protestant tradition, I understand why you think it’s an over-statement. If I were still Protestant, I’d be inclined to think of a mixed marriage as a something like, say, the difference between attending a Baptist versus Lutheran church. The sacraments are such an important part of being Catholic, it is hard to convey what it means to try to teach their importance to your children while simultaneously being cut off from them yourself.

How do you really and truly instruct your children on the importance of receiving the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist when you have chosen not to be a part of it?

Your wife, I’m certain, will not want to refrain from receiving communion, as it is an important part of Lutheran worship, too. She will have to attend a Lutheran church to do this, and when she attends, her husband and children will not be able to receive, even if the Lutheran church she attends believes in the real presence. This is canon law.

I would just be surprised if it doesn’t cause difficulty and confusion for the children. In the marriage, it is unlikely to be a major issue if both spouses fully accept the others’ interpretation of Christianity.

Thanks again, for the info, and the link. I agree that there without doubt is some difficulty in these areas. I pray for the day when these gaps no longer exist between our communions.

JOn

EDIT; Oops. the link came from ThurifAcolyte. Thanks to you, ThurifAcolyte.

 

[JonNC]

Would a RC priest hear a Lutheran’s confession, one who was genuinely penitent but who had no intention of converting to the RCC?

Nom,
Just curious, what prompted your question? Is your pastor offering private confession?

Jon