Can a Protestant go to Confession

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I know, sadly, that a Protestant can’t take communion in a Catholic Church, but can he/she go to confession with a Catholic priest?

Besides communion, is there any other part of the Catholic service that a non-catholic Christian may not partake in?

Blessings,

Brian
 
No; the sacraments (apart from Baptism) are for Catholics.

A Protestant can participate in the Mass (or any liturgy) as much as he wants, to the exclusion of receiving Holy Communion, because he is not in Communion with the Church.
 
…note that in some diocese, there are priests who will try to absolve Protestants. We’ve had some minor Holy wars about it here.
 
I have heard Fr Groeschel say that he can give a blessing to Jews that ask him for one…I don’t know how it is spelled so I will do it phonetically it is called a barooka
 
OF COURSE Protestants can go to confession – but they cannot receive absolution. I would encourage any Protestant with an interest to go. Explain to the priest that you are a Protestant and what attracted you to confession. It should be a pleasant and fruitful experience for both…
 
There is one instance in which a Protestant goes to confession and receives absolution. That is before a Protestant is received into the Catholic Church. All Protestants who were validly baptized must received the Sacrament of Reconciliation before they receive Holy Communion. That’s the only time I’m aware of a Protestant being able to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
 
If validly baptised (even as an infant) then you have been a Catholic even if you have never before been inside a Catholic church. However if you were for instance then raised in a protestant sect and practised that faith you committed mortal sins and put yourself outside the Catholic church as a heretic.

So when acting on your own free will and desiring to convert to the Catholic faith (become a practising Catholic) you must confess your sins to a priest, making a general confession of you life’s sins and receiving his absolution. In the event you think you were baptised but don’t have any details or there is at least some doubt about the validity of your baptism then in traditional Catholic practice you should be conditionally baptised and then make a general confession before being received as a full member (once again) of the Catholic church. For an unbaptised protestant no confession is required when converting to the Catholic church because you immediately become a Catholic once baptised by a Catholic priest.
 
Robbinson said:
I know, sadly, that a Protestant can’t take communion in a Catholic Church, but can he/she go to confession with a Catholic priest?

Besides communion, is there any other part of the Catholic service that a non-catholic Christian may not partake in?

Blessings,

Brian
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Why would they want to ? For the confidentiality?

The person can go up to the altar and ask for a blessing from the priest, but not partake of the Eucharist.
 
dessert said:
Why would they want to ? For the confidentiality?

The person can go up to the altar and ask for a blessing from the priest, but not partake of the Eucharist.
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No - to be candid, the concept of confession makes sense to me (Protestant) from scripture, but is not practiced in the Protestant Church (other than in the High Anglican Epsicopalian Church). As someone interested in learning more about Catholicism, yet not within the Church and still struggling with some Catholic doctrines (but studying it out earnestly), I find it frustrating that I can’t participate in the Eucharist. I thought confession would be a significant and liberating experience - but would never do it if it violates Church doctrine (which apparently it does). I became a Christian only a few years ago, being baptized into the Protestant Church (as a Jew who came to believe in Christ) and have been studying and praying ever since. There is much that I find attractive about Catholicism, and some aspects I still struggle with. I’m praying about it and find forums like these helpful and informative. I hope my questions don’t offend - I’m seeking only the truth and a better understanding of my faith.

Blessings,

Brian
 
Brian check our Edith Stein, she could be your personal patron saint while you try to follow your path
 
Robbinson said:
I know, sadly, that a Protestant can’t take communion in a Catholic Church, but can he/she go to confession with a Catholic priest?

Besides communion, is there any other part of the Catholic service that a non-catholic Christian may not partake in?

Blessings,

Brian
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See the conditions of canon 844 regarding the reception of penance, anointing and Eucharist by baptized non Catholics. The code is widely available on the internet. It is at the Vatican website.

As to the other question, read through the Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism [1993].

It is available at
vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/general-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_19930325_directory_en.html.

Start around number 92 or so.
 
Brian;

Your desire for the Sacraments could possibly be a sign from the Holy Spirit, calling you to full membership in the Catholic Church.

I would recommend that you take some time to discern this calling from the Holy Spirit, perhaps by means of an Inquiry group (which is connected with the RCIA process) or perhaps privately with direction from a good and holy priest, to see whether, in fact, this is what the Holy Spirit wants you to do.

God bless you, where ever your journey may take you. 🙂
 
Brian I have listened to a Jewish Catholic man tell his story on EWTN. His name is Bob Fishman

I can give you a link to listen to his story if you would like…He first became a protestant, then went to a Rabbi to be instructed in Judaism. He went to the one that has the side curls because he wanted an orthodox Jew to teach hime…then he started to read Catholic books…He was captivated by what he was taught, and converted
 
jmcrae said:
Brian;

Your desire for the Sacraments could possibly be a sign from the Holy Spirit, calling you to full membership in the Catholic Church.

I would recommend that you take some time to discern this calling from the Holy Spirit, perhaps by means of an Inquiry group (which is connected with the RCIA process) or perhaps privately with direction from a good and holy priest, to see whether, in fact, this is what the Holy Spirit wants you to do.

God bless you, where ever your journey may take you. 🙂
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Thankyou. I’ll confess to a tear forming in my eyes when I read your reply. I will pray about it and continue to study with an open mind.

Blessings,

Brian
 
Robbinson said:
No - to be candid, the concept of confession makes sense to me (Protestant) from scripture, but is not practiced in the Protestant Church (other than in the High Anglican Epsicopalian Church). As someone interested in learning more about Catholicism, yet not within the Church and still struggling with some Catholic doctrines (but studying it out earnestly), I find it frustrating that I can’t participate in the Eucharist. I thought confession would be a significant and liberating experience - but would never do it if it violates Church doctrine (which apparently it does). I became a Christian only a few years ago, being baptized into the Protestant Church (as a Jew who came to believe in Christ) and have been studying and praying ever since. There is much that I find attractive about Catholicism, and some aspects I still struggle with. I’m praying about it and find forums like these helpful and informative. I hope my questions don’t offend - I’m seeking only the truth and a better understanding of my faith.

Blessings,

Brian
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You did not offend and I’m sorry if I did, I think a person should understand it before they do so, you are right to ask. Thank you for your testimony:)
 
It can be a struggle with some parts of doctrine when coming into the Catholic church from the protestant side of things. It may come down to deciding to trust the Church, like you would your parents, in guiding you in a particular way. If you get to the point where you believe in the authority of the Church/Magisterium/Pope, then you can say to yourself about certain issues: “You know, I don’t really understand this, and maybe I’m not sure I agree this way yet. But I trust the Church to guide me in this manner until I come to understanding on this issue.” As a former protestant who crossed the Tiber in 2006, once I trusted in the authority of the Church, the rest kinda fell in line. Scott Hahn’s book on his own journey along with the Suprised by Truth series sure helped me when I made my own journey into the Church.

Brad
 
valient_Lucy said:
There is one instance in which a Protestant goes to confession and receives absolution. That is before a Protestant is received into the Catholic Church. All Protestants who were validly baptized must received the Sacrament of Reconciliation before they receive Holy Communion. That’s the only time I’m aware of a Protestant being able to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
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Excellent point…
 
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