Can a priest refuse absolution?

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Yes he can, and under certain circumstances he must. This is really getting into moral theology and can be complicated to explain.

If a penitent isn’t properly disposed, the confessor must refuse absolution, but the confessor can usually dispose such a penitent in the confessional and then absolve him.

It is very doubtfully that he is properly disposed if, who without making any resistance, always falls into his old sins, does not avoid the proximate occasion of sin, or uses no means of improvement. This doubt may be outweighed by the fact that the penitent now confesses with much greater contrition.
 
DarkLight said:
And if he can, under what circumstances is it allowed?
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For example, if a person confesses they have been having an affair with a married person but that they are not willing to cease the affair, the priest of course will refuse absolution.
 
thistle said:
For example, if a person confesses they have been having an affair with a married person but that they are not willing to cease the affair, the priest of course will refuse absolution.
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Interesting. I was wondering about it since people mentioned abuse cases and the seal of confession, whether the priest could refuse absolution to someone who said they would not go to law enforcement.
 
As far as I am aware a priest can refuse absolution if the penitent has no contrition.
 
Yep they can. It would be a sin for them to absolve someone when they very well know that the person is just going to leave the confessional and keep committing the same sin. I know this from personal experience.
 
DarkLight said:
Interesting. I was wondering about it since people mentioned abuse cases and the seal of confession, whether the priest could refuse absolution to someone who said they would not go to law enforcement.
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The Priest cannot require the person tell their sins to someone else. They can suggest they go to the police, or see a therapist, but they cannot make it a part of their penance, or a prerequisite before absolution.
 
thistle said:
For example, if a person confesses they have been having an affair with a married person but that they are not willing to cease the affair, the priest of course will refuse absolution.
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Food for thought: When the sinner comes one step forward God can pull Him another 1000 or more steps forward, i.e. greatly multiply the sinner’s positive moves. But if the sinner makes no such move or moves backward, what should God multiply?

In the above example, the confession could be a positive first step if it was sincere. God will certainly provide the Grace necessary for the confessor to progress further and break-free from his slavery. I have seen it happen for an identical case.

To put it more precisely, every repentant sinner has a willing spirit and unwilling flesh; but God’s power is made perfect in all our weaknesses provided our spirits are willing.
 
DarkLight said:
Interesting. I was wondering about it since people mentioned abuse cases and the seal of confession, whether the priest could refuse absolution to someone who said they would not go to law enforcement.
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Even if there is no absolution it’s still a confession and the priest is bound not to reveal any of it.
 
DarkLight said:
And if he can, under what circumstances is it allowed?
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Yes, if he feels that the person confessing lacks contrition. When you go in to confession, the point is to reconcile yourself with God, to say you’re sorry, and plan never to commit that sin again. Whether you eventually do is a matter of human weakness and concupiscence. But if you go in, ask for absolution, yet still plan to commit the sin, then the confessor can refuse absolution. For instance, if you are cohabiting with your girlfriend and you confess this, but don’t have any plans to correct the situation, then the confessor can refuse.

Remember, Jesus said to the apostles, “whoever’s sin you forgive are forgiven, and whoever’s sin you retain are retained.”
 
Once, I didn’t have contrition for an illegal computer game download. I told the priest I knew I should be sorry, but I didn’t really understand why it was so bad I did it. I said I was doing the best I could do, that I was trying to repent. So the priest absolved me but said as penance I had to pray for the wisdom to repent for my sin and go home and delete the game to show my contrition. So, honestly… that near killed me emotionally… gaming addict that I am…I was broke and couldn’t afford to buy the thing till much later…

From what I understand, the absolution was valid, even if I hadn’t done the penance… but not doing the penance would have been a pretty serious sin. And, deep down, I knew the priest was right. I just didn’t want to admit it and give it up. So, all this helped me to face that I do have a gaming addiction and needed to get a grip for once. Very helpful.

May sound weird… but I think if someone has incomplete contrition, instead of just avoiding confession, they should at least go and tell the priest they need help. The priest may help, even if it sucks.
 
I believe we would usually refer to it more correctly as witholding absolution, rather than refusing absolution .

From : Confession of Sin to a Priest, EWTN
The text even makes clear how Confession is to be conducted. Christ’s representative, the priest, must decide whether to forgive or retain. Therefore, the penitent must confess each and every serious sin, that is anything which separates him from Christ. If the priest judges he is truly sorry, He must absolve since Christ’s Passion merited forgiveness for every repentant sinner. Only if the person shows no willingness to give up sin does the priest retain, that is withhold absolution, as we “do not give what is holy to dogs” (Mt 7:6).
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. . . a couple of comments posted on a similar topic at the link below

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=697357
 
Has anyone heard of “with-holding” absolution when the penitent has been excommunicated?
I once heard a priest explain in his homily that persons who have commited the sin of abortion cannot gain absolution if they come to the priest of a parish, and that they had to go to the Bishop. he said that they had to do so because by commiting that act they were automatically excommunicated.
Anyone who can clarify please?
 
Bonjovie said:
Has anyone heard of “with-holding” absolution when the penitent has been excommunicated?
I once heard a priest explain in his homily that persons who have commited the sin of abortion cannot gain absolution if they come to the priest of a parish, and that they had to go to the Bishop. he said that they had to do so because by commiting that act they were automatically excommunicated.
Anyone who can clarify please?
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First sentence yes I’ve seen this. The second sentence I have seen otherwise. What a specific situation is in detail I do not know, so clarity is difficult.
 
Bonjovie said:
Has anyone heard of “with-holding” absolution when the penitent has been excommunicated?
I once heard a priest explain in his homily that persons who have commited the sin of abortion cannot gain absolution if they come to the priest of a parish, and that they had to go to the Bishop. he said that they had to do so because by commiting that act they were automatically excommunicated.
Anyone who can clarify please?
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That used to be the case throughout the world. However, in this very sinful age, since abortion is rampant, all priests are now permitted to remit the excommunication. Unfortunately, so many people have been automatically excommunicated for abortion that bishops could be overloaded with confessions if those people all had to approach their bishop for absolution!

There are still sins that require either the bishop, or even the pope, to remit the excommunication. However, as far as I know, the penitents do not have to approach the bishop or the pope personally. What they must do is go to confession. The priest will then tell the person that he cannot give absolution at that time, as he has to inform the bishop. He will tell the penitent to return at a particular time. Then he will tell the bishop of the situation, without identifying the penitent in any way, and of his judgement that the penitent is, indeed, penitent. The bishop will give him the necessary permission to give absolution, and when the penitent returns to confession, will be absolved.
 
Joan_M said:
That used to be the case throughout the world. However, in this very sinful age, since abortion is rampant, all priests are now permitted to remit the excommunication. Unfortunately, so many people have been automatically excommunicated for abortion that bishops could be overloaded with confessions if those people all had to approach their bishop for absolution!
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The lifting of the excommunication is a faculty granted by the bishop to the priest. This is commonly granted in many jurisdictions, but might not be granted in others.
 
If you keep confessing the same sin the Priest can say after numerous visits he will no longer provide absolution.
 
Wiseowl said:
If you keep confessing the same sin the Priest can say after numerous visits he will no longer provide absolution.
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This isn’t always true. There are certain circumstances he can and must, and others he must absolve “without delay”. Like I said, withholding absolution gets complicated. Priests receive a lot of training on this, and must be examined on this and other laws pertaining to confession, and the bishop must be satisfied that they are competent enough to hear confessions before they can be granted faculties.
 
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