Can a priest deny the absolution for a sin that never happened?

[Gregory_Olson]

Someone asked me to answer this question online here quora.com/unanswered/Can-a-priest-deny-the-absolution-for-a-sin-that-never-happened?snids=1610804815&nsrc=1&filter=all; I’m just reposting it.

Can a priest deny the absolution for a sin that never happened?
A couple (roman catholics) about to get married, went to the confession and were denied the absolution. The reason was that they’ve been sharing a houshold for a few months. They are both virgins, but the priest claims they are putting themselves in a constant risk of a sin. Was he right to do so?

I don’t know if we’re missing critical details, or what. Maybe they asked forgiveness for living together but planned on continuing to do so?

I’d like to give him an answer, anyway. I know denying absolution is pretty serious; I’m not sure if the priest is in the right in this scenario. Should I just answer by asking for more information?

 

[jmjZelie]

Wow, that is serious. I am assuming that in denying absolution, they would also be unable to receive the sacrament of holy matrimony, because one must be in a state of grace to receive it without committing sacrilege. I think the priest was denying absolution for the alleged sin of cohabitation, correct?

I don’t know the answer to your question, and I hope that one of the priests or deacons here at CAF can respond. I feel awful for the couple, though, even if the priest did happen to be right, because now what can they do to rectify the situation? They had been chaste, but cohabiting, and now they cannot even get married, until they are granted absolution.

 

[Gregory_Olson]

Thanks; I think this is best answer he could get. May I repost this on the website he asked on and link to here?

 

[TARRAT]

I thought the seal of confession bound the penitent as well. If that is so how do we know that absolution was denied, of course unless they broke the seal.

 

[Memaw]

Someone asked me to answer this question online here quora.com/unanswered/Can-a-priest-deny-the-absolution-for-a-sin-that-never-happened?snids=1610804815&nsrc=1&filter=all; I’m just reposting it.

I don’t know if we’re missing critical details, or what. Maybe they asked forgiveness for living together but planned on continuing to do so?

I’d like to give him an answer, anyway. I know denying absolution is pretty serious; I’m not sure if the priest is in the right in this scenario. Should I just answer by asking for more information?

How would anyone know what went on during Confession ?? If the couple told you, you’ve only got one side of it. The only side you’ll ever have. Did they go to Confession together or separately? Can’t be together I know, so maybe their stories didn’t match. I would trust the priest. Living together can be a scandal. The trouble with so many today they think they can go against the teachings of the Church as expect others, including the Priest, to condone it. God Bless, Memaw

 

[MaryHelp777]

I thought a priest had to grant absolution, under pain of mortal sin on his own soul, except that he could refuse absolution if the person was going to persist in a mortal sin, such as a homosexual relationship, or cohabiting with fornication, or remain as a doctor aborting babies, etc…

Am I correct that if a person is sorry and is leaving the sin behind, that the priest would be in mortal sin to refuse absolution?

 

[TARRAT]

Thanks. We were told, a long time ago, we weren’t supposed to discuss what the Priest told us in confession. Might have been appropriate in this case.

 

[Vico]

Someone asked me to answer this question online here quora.com/unanswered/Can-a-priest-deny-the-absolution-for-a-sin-that-never-happened?snids=1610804815&nsrc=1&filter=all; I’m just reposting it.

I don’t know if we’re missing critical details, or what. Maybe they asked forgiveness for living together but planned on continuing to do so?

I’d like to give him an answer, anyway. I know denying absolution is pretty serious; I’m not sure if the priest is in the right in this scenario. Should I just answer by asking for more information?

The priest can do that if he is not convinced of true repentance. For a man and woman that intend to get married, to live together beforehand, gives scandal to those that are weak and that learn of it, and also may be giving scandal to each other.

Modern Catholic Dictionary

SCANDAL. Any action or its omission, not necessarily sinful in itself, that is likely to induce another to do something morally wrong. Direct scandal, also called diabolical, has the deliberate intention to induce another to sin. In indirect scandal a person does something that he or she foresees will at least likely lead another to commit sin, but this is rather tolerated than positively desired. (Etym. Latin scandalum, stumbling block.)

 

[Gorgias]

Can a priest deny the absolution for a sin that never happened?

The way you’ve phrased the question, it sounds like you’re asking, “if a tree doesn’t fall in the forest and no one is around to see it not fall, does it make a sound?”

 

[DAML72]

The priest can do that if he is not convinced of true repentance. For a man and woman that intend to get married, to live together beforehand, gives scandal to those that are weak and that learn of it, and also may be giving scandal to each other.

Modern Catholic Dictionary

SCANDAL. Any action or its omission, not necessarily sinful in itself, that is likely to induce another to do something morally wrong. Direct scandal, also called diabolical, has the deliberate intention to induce another to sin. In indirect scandal a person does something that he or she foresees will at least likely lead another to commit sin, but this is rather tolerated than positively desired. (Etym. Latin scandalum, stumbling block.)

Right. OP seems to assume that the only sin at issue is fornication. There are aspects of cohabitation that are also sinful and concerning to the church. If the couple is not repentant of the cohabitation, then they were rightly denied absolution. (And maybe this will get them thinking about what they are doing.)