Can a Priest hear the confession of a non-Catholic?

[SAVINGRACE]

Just wondering. I suppose they could but would the absolution and/or penance be valid?

 

[UpUpAndAway]

As far as I know, no.

The Husband is not Catholic but has a Catholic priest as a spiritual director. While he can discuss anything he wants with the priest, Confession is not on the table.

 

[TimothyH]

Anyone can hear anybody’s confession. My pharmacist could hear my confession.

Only a Catholic priest can give absolution and only to baptized Catholics.

-Tim-

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Anyone can hear anybody’s confession. My pharmacist could hear my confession.

Only a Catholic priest can give absolution and only to baptized Catholics.

-Tim-

That’s what I meant, but your answer is more precise and therefore more clear. Thank you

 

[KD8TZC]

I know one of the deacons at my church always says that people want to tell him their confessions even though they know he can’t absolve them.

 

[Micosil]

That is actually not correct. In some rare circumstances, a Catholic priest can licitly grant absolution to a non-Catholic Christian. For example:

1. Likewise Catholic ministers licitly administer the Sacraments of Penance, the Eucharist and Anointing of the Sick to Christian faithful of Eastern Churches, who do not have full communion with the Catholic Church, if they ask for them on their own and are properly disposed.

(Emphasis mine).

Taken from here.

Further details can be found here. This gives the exact requirements for the Sacrament to be administered licitly.

 

[Mark86]

That is actually not correct. In some rare circumstances, a Catholic priest can licitly grant absolution to a non-Catholic Christian. For example:

Usually in extraordinary circumstances like danger of death. Priests can do almost anything to anyone who requests freely and is in danger of death. I think even lay people can “baptize” willing souls who are in danger of death, so long as they have the same requisite intention as the Church when she baptizes.

But yes, a priest can hear a confession from a non-Catholic and offer spiritual advice, but they just can’t grant absolution for sins under ordinary circumstances. It’s something to definitely mention to the priest if one goes to Confession and isn’t baptized and/or confirmed.

 

[Micosil]

Usually in extraordinary circumstances like danger of death. Priests can do almost anything to anyone who requests freely and is in danger of death. I think even lay people can “baptize” willing souls who are in danger of death, so long as they have the same requisite intention as the Church when she baptizes.

But yes, a priest can hear a confession from a non-Catholic and offer spiritual advice, but they just can’t grant absolution for sins under ordinary circumstances. It’s something to definitely mention to the priest if one goes to Confession and isn’t baptized and/or confirmed.

Baptism is not the same as the Sacrament of Penance/confession, which is what the OP asked about. As far as danger of death is concerned, I am assuming the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is more relevant, as it is usually administed to someone who is ill and/or old, or actually on the verge of death.

 

[Gorgias]

As far as danger of death is concerned, I am assuming the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is more relevant, as it is usually administed to someone who is ill and/or old, or actually on the verge of death.

Actually, it’s not just the anointing of the sick, but reconcilation and Eucharist, too!

You’ve essentially cited the provisions of canon 844 §3 – which allow for those from Eastern Churches to receive, but you’re ignoring the provisions of c. 844 §4, which address other non-Catholic Christians:

§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.

So, yes – “in danger of death” (which does not necessarily imply “on one’s deathbed”!) or by the prudential judgment of a bishop (in an extraordinary case), a Catholic priest may absolve a non-Catholic Christian of his sins, subject to certain provisions. Ordinarily, though, a non-Catholic Christian would be expected to become a member of the Catholic Church before he might approach these sacraments.

 

[Micosil]

Actually, it’s not just the anointing of the sick, but reconcilation and Eucharist, too!

You’ve essentially cited the provisions of canon 844 §3 – which allow for those from Eastern Churches to receive, but you’re ignoring the provisions of c. 844 §4, which address other non-Catholic Christians:

So, yes – “in danger of death” (which does not necessarily imply “on one’s deathbed”!) or by the prudential judgment of a bishop (in an extraordinary case), a Catholic priest may absolve a non-Catholic Christian of his sins, subject to certain provisions. Ordinarily, though, a non-Catholic Christian would be expected to become a member of the Catholic Church before he might approach these sacraments.

Yes, indeed, that is correct. The example before of specifically Eastern non-Catholic Christians was just an example, yet not the whole story, of a situation to answer the OP’s question.

 

[Gorgias]

Yes, indeed, that is correct. The example before of specifically Eastern non-Catholic Christians was just an example, yet not the whole story, of a situation to answer the OP’s question.

Right. I’m not responding to your original comment – which spoke to reconciliation of Eastern (i.e., Orthodox) Christians – but to your reply to Mark86, in which you asserted that the ‘danger of death’ provision applied primarily to the anointing of the sick… which, of course, it doesn’t.

 

[benjohnson]

Here in American, the answer (ad I understand it) is no - a priest may hear the confession, but can’t absolve without a dire need such. Given that there are so many Anglican and Lutheran churches here, the need is pretty remote.

Based on experience, It get’s a bit more muddled in places on the globe where there is a need based on lack of churches of ones own communion.

There’s parts of Europe (like western France) where there basically are no Anglican and Lutheran churches for hundreds of miles - graciously, some Catholic churches will extend eucharistic and confessional hospitality upon discerning a proper disposition and need. Typically, from what I’ve seen, this hospitality is very well guarded - the individual is basically interviewed for a proper understanding of the Eucharist and must go to private confession.

In the same way, Lutherans in Ethiopia are cordial to Catholics who can be hundreds of miles away from a Catholic parish - even though typically Lutherans won’t even commune other Lutherans if they’re not from the same synod without dire need. Again, the process is rigorous and a true disposition must the fathomed.

 

[AKDee]

If a priest cannot grant absolution to a non-Catholic, why is it that when I went through RCIA all those who had been validly baptized into another Christian denomination had to go to confession prior to confirmation and first communion? So I think that a priest can indeed hear a confession from a non-Catholic and grant absolution, otherwise what would be the point?

 

[Jon_S_1]

Anyone can hear anybody’s confession. My pharmacist could hear my confession.

Only a Catholic priest can give absolution and only to baptized Catholics.

-Tim-

Actually he can give absolution to anyone who is baptized and believes in the sacrament…we believe in one baptism.

When baptized Christians from other churches come into the church, they go to confession for their first sacrament.

jimmyakin.com/can-protestants-go-to-confession

 

[Richard_White]

No, a non-Catholic CANNOT receive the sacrament of Reconciliation from a Catholic priest because he or she is not incorporated into the Church. They can, however, go to the priest as a spiritual director or for advice and comfort.

On another note, most non-Catholics unfortunately do not yet believe in the power of the Church to forgive sins by the authority given priests by Jesus Himself. So, if they do not believe this (although sometimes they may in grave circumstances, as alluded to in some of the previous posts), then they are not going to be able to receive any graces from the Sacrament and will probably not be going to it anyway.

May God bless you abundantly this Easter season and always!

 

[Gorgias]

If a priest cannot grant absolution to a non-Catholic, why is it that when I went through RCIA all those who had been validly baptized into another Christian denomination had to go to confession prior to confirmation and first communion?

Because at that point in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, they were no longer ‘non-Catholic’, but rather, were the ‘elect’.

 

[Gorgias]

No, a non-Catholic CANNOT receive the sacrament of Reconciliation from a Catholic priest because he or she is not incorporated into the Church.

Richard,

You seem to have missed reading the citations from canon law, which state that this is possible. Not normative, and quite rare – but nevertheless, still possible.

 

[Richard_White]

Richard,

You seem to have missed reading the citations from canon law, which state that this is possible. Not normative, and quite rare – but nevertheless, still possible.

Yeah haha I only saw those after I wrote most of my post and tried to just allude to them a little bit towards the end of it.

Normally, the answer is no, but in rare and grave circumstances (like near death) and true trust in the graces and efficacy of the sacrament, canon law obviously says that it IS actually possible.

Thanks!

 

[Gorgias]

Normally, the answer is no, but in rare and grave circumstances (like near death)

Just one note: “in danger of death” doesn’t mean “near death”. A soldier who’s been deployed to the front is “in danger of death”, even though he’s neither mortally wounded or ‘near death’. Just wanted to point that out…

 

[Jon_S_1]

Because at that point in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, they were no longer ‘non-Catholic’, but rather, were the ‘elect’.

Actually elect only refers to non baptized.

The only ritual that baptized go through prior to confession is a “rite of acceptance” and even that May be is optional.