Can a priest absolve a returned anti-Pope?

  • Thread starter Thread starter PathDiagnosis
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

PathDiagnosis

Guest
Just curious.

I know there are a few anti-Popes (Conclavists?) that believe they are the current Pope and established there own churches they think is the real Catholic Church. This includes the Palmarian Catholic Church ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ttr_YaadyNI&feature=related) and some guy named David Bawden in Kansas, US (Pope Michael I)

If they were to repent and return to the Catholic Church headed by Pope Benedict XVI, could they be absolved by a normal priest or would they have to seek a bishop or even the Benedict XVI himself?
 
If my understanding of the relevant canon law is correct (no guarantees), a person such as this commits the ecclesiastical delict of schism, which carries an automatic latae sententiae excommunication whose remission is reserved to the ordinary of the diocese. Until that happens, as an excommunicate the subject is not entitled to receive any of the sacraments, including absolution.
 
MarkThompson said:
If my understanding of the relevant canon law is correct (no guarantees), a person such as this commits the ecclesiastical delict of schism, which carries an automatic latae sententiae excommunication whose remission is reserved to the ordinary of the diocese. Until that happens, as an excommunicate the subject is not entitled to receive any of the sacraments, including absolution.
Click to expand...
Only a Pope can lift an excommunication, right?
 
PathDiagnosis said:
Only a Pope can lift an excommunication, right?
Click to expand...
Wait, I committed the sin of heresy, which carries automatic excommunication. I then confessed it to a regular priest and I was absolved.

Was it not absolved? Do I need to go to the Bishop or to the Pope?
 
PathDiagnosis said:
Only a Pope can lift an excommunication, right?
Click to expand...
That depends on what the excommunication is for. Bishops can excommunicate and lift excommunications. Also, the ability to absolve certain sins normally reserved to the Pope or to bishops can be and at times has been devolved down to lower levels of clergy.
 
somebody needs to cite the canon law for that specific offense, the penalty, and the remedy for the penalty. everything else on this thread is pure speculation so far.
 
If the Pope comes in contact with an anti-pope, don’t they both explode? 😃
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top