Can a non-Catholic go to Confession?

[Devotedtoyou12]

I have a close friend who is a non-Catholic. She is truly considering becoming Catholic (which is amazingly awesome ) but she is wondering if she could go to confession even though she isn’t Catholic. I couldn’t tell her the answer because I didn’t know. Can someone tell me what the Church says about this?

Thank you!

 

[Karin]

I have a close friend who is a non-Catholic. She is truly considering becoming Catholic (which is amazingly awesome ) but she is wondering if she could go to confession even though she isn’t Catholic. I couldn’t tell her the answer because I didn’t know. Can someone tell me what the Church says about this?

Thank you!

WEll she could go but she would not recieve absolution as she is not Catholic (so kinda a waste of time for the Priest) …tell her to join RCIA and join the Church than she can have access to ALL of the Sacraments

 

[Magicsilence]

I am afraid she must be a Catholic to receive absolution, although if she is intending to become a Catholic she can still go to a priest and ask him to talk with her about spiritual guidance.

Basically, no, she can’t, although there are grey areas regarding danger of death situations I believe.

Perhaps another more knowledgable in ‘Canon Law & whatnot’ could direct?

 

[Karin]

Canon 844, sec. 3 says: “Catholic ministers may licitly administer
the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick to
members of the oriental churches which do not have full communion
with the Catholic Church, if they ask on their own for the sacraments
and are properly disposed. This holds also for members of other
churches, which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same
condition as the oriental churches as far as these sacraments are
concerned.”

Canon 844, sec. 4 says: “If the danger of death is present or other
grave necessity, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or the
conference of bishops, Catholic ministers may licitly administer
these sacraments to other Christians who do not have full communion
with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own
community and on their own ask for it, provided they manifest
Catholic faith in these sacraments and are properly disposed.”

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I have a close friend who is a non-Catholic. She is truly considering becoming Catholic (which is amazingly awesome ) but she is wondering if she could go to confession even though she isn’t Catholic. I couldn’t tell her the answer because I didn’t know. Can someone tell me what the Church says about this?

Thank you!

No, only Catholics can receive the Sacraments except in very strict circumstances.

 

[The_Iambic_Pen]

So, does someone coming into the Church through RCIA have to officially enter the Church before making their first confession, or does that happen right before?

 

[Andruschak]

So, does someone coming into the Church through RCIA have to officially enter the Church before making their first confession, or does that happen right before?

As an RCIA Candidate myself, I look forward to replies to your question, as it is also my question. I think it is somewhere in that Easter Vigil. My RCIA instructor also stated that we Candidates needed confession, but that Catechumins did not, since their first baptism takes care of all sins up to that point.

I’m age 62, which means I have about 55 years of sin to recite. PLEASE PLEASE tell me that those kneeling benches in the confessional are well padded. I do not want to get a case of housemaid’s knee

 

[Damascus]

As an RCIA Candidate myself, I look forward to replies to your question, as it is also my question. I think it is somewhere in that Easter Vigil. My RCIA instructor also stated that we Candidates needed confession, but that Catechumins did not, since their first baptism takes care of all sins up to that point.

I’m age 62, which means I have about 55 years of sin to recite. PLEASE PLEASE tell me that those kneeling benches in the confessional are well padded. I do not want to get a case of housemaid’s knee

You will be fine. Oh my - I am so happy you are here!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

So, does someone coming into the Church through RCIA have to officially enter the Church before making their first confession, or does that happen right before?

A person in RCIA as a Catechumen would need be Baptized and therefore whould not need to receive the Sacrament of Confession prior to their Baptism. A Candidate seeking full union with the Church throught Confirmation and Holy Communion would make a “First Confession” after adequate preparation and catechesis.

 

[JDHallKY]

Candidates for full communion normally receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation shortly before they are received. So, it will actually be the first sacrament they experience. It’s a little bit of a grey area because absolution is given technically before the person is in full communion, but it is a grave sin to receive the other sacraments (such as Confirmation and the Eucharist) while in a state of mortal sin, so it’s pretty much a necessity.

When I was received into the Church along with another fellow, we both made appointments with our pastor for the Saturday just before the Sunday when we were to be confirmed and received.

That first, general confession can be tough, but the joy you feel afterwards is wonderful!

 

[The_Iambic_Pen]

Thanks for the replies! I was baptized as a Protestant, so I guess that means I need to confess twenty-six years worth of sins…I’m sure I’ll feel great when it’s over, but I’m a little nervous about the process, I must admit…

 

[MyPhilomena]

I’m age 62, which means I have about 55 years of sin to recite. PLEASE PLEASE tell me that those kneeling benches in the confessional are well padded. I do not want to get a case of housemaid’s knee

welcome to the faith!

when i went to confession last year, i came out feeling free, and light hearted after so many years away from the church, and i actually had tears of joy in my eyes. it feels very very good to go to confession let me tell you! it is a wonderful feeling!

 

[MyPhilomena]

Thanks for the replies! I was baptized as a Protestant, so I guess that means I need to confess twenty-six years worth of sins…I’m sure I’ll feel great when it’s over, but I’m a little nervous about the process, I must admit…

you know what? you might be nervous at first, but believe me, you will feel free and wonderful! the first time is not so bad. once you go to confession, you wont want to miss it after that because it is wonderful!

 

[didymus]

As an RCIA Candidate myself, I look forward to replies to your question, as it is also my question. I think it is somewhere in that Easter Vigil. My RCIA instructor also stated that we Candidates needed confession, but that Catechumins did not, since their first baptism takes care of all sins up to that point.

I’m age 62, which means I have about 55 years of sin to recite. PLEASE PLEASE tell me that those kneeling benches in the confessional are well padded. I do not want to get a case of housemaid’s knee

Welcome to the family!

The good news is that we now have “reconciliation rooms” where you have the choice of kneeling behind a screen old-style or sitting in a chair facing your confessor. I can’t guarantee the chair will be padded.

 

[LilyM]

A person in RCIA as a Catechumen would need be Baptized and therefore whould not need to receive the Sacrament of Confession prior to their Baptism. A Candidate seeking full union with the Church throught Confirmation and Holy Communion would make a “First Confession” after adequate preparation and catechesis.

A lot of confessionals now ALSO offer a chair in the area behind the screen as well, if you wish for privacy as well as comfort.

 

[Andruschak]

Welcome to the family!

The good news is that we now have “reconciliation rooms” where you have the choice of kneeling behind a screen old-style or sitting in a chair facing your confessor. I can’t guarantee the chair will be padded.

Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll bring a cushion

 

[Joannes]

I’m age 62, which means I have about 55 years of sin to recite. PLEASE PLEASE tell me that those kneeling benches in the confessional are well padded. I do not want to get a case of housemaid’s knee

Hello Andruschak:

You were smiling when you said this, but I think it’s worth saying again that our “auricular confession of sins” (as some Protestants like to put it) is not a burden but a wonderful thing, the sacrament where we Catholics most encounter the mercy of our God who is “rich in mercy”.

In fact as far as I can see it is especially here that we Catholics have a psychological analogue to the Protestants’ being “born again” through accepting Christ as their “personal Savior”, except that it is our experience, not theirs, that is the fully biblical one.

Thanks for providing me the occasion to say this. Welcome!

Regards,
Joannes

 

[valient_Lucy]

Thanks for the replies! I was baptized as a Protestant, so I guess that means I need to confess twenty-six years worth of sins…I’m sure I’ll feel great when it’s over, but I’m a little nervous about the process, I must admit…

I know how you feel. I had to confess 22 years of sins, since I was baptized as a Protestant as well. But it was WELL WORTH it. PM me if you have any questions, and God bless you on your journey!