Can I go to confession?

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LampsAndLights

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I was baptised in the Church of England but I’m currently in the RCIA process and receiving first holy communion and confirmation at Easter vigil. Am I allowed to go to confession? I’ve heard conflicting opinions on this. If I tell the priest first off that I’m not yet catholic will he let me?
 
LampsAndLights said:
I was baptised in the Church of England but I’m currently in the RCIA process and receiving first holy communion and confirmation at Easter vigil. Am I allowed to go to confession? I’ve heard conflicting opinions on this. If I tell the priest first off that I’m not yet catholic will he let me?
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Short answer is probably not, unless you’re in danger of death, or it’s necessary for some other serious reason and you can’t approach an C of E minister (which, given you’re in RCIA would admittedly be a bit awkward). Why the rush though - Easter comes early next year?
 
LampsAndLights said:
I was baptised in the Church of England but I’m currently in the RCIA process and receiving first holy communion and confirmation at Easter vigil. Am I allowed to go to confession? I’ve heard conflicting opinions on this. If I tell the priest first off that I’m not yet catholic will he let me?
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If you are baptized, and are ready to begin confession, talk to your pastor about it, get an appointment to talk to him… Don’t simply go to the confessional.
 
All those who are validly Baptized will go to confession before the Easter Vigil. If you
would like to do it sooner, speak with the priest.
 
pianistclare said:
All those who are validly Baptized will go to confession before the Easter Vigil. If you would like to do it sooner, speak with the priest.
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1ke said:
If you are baptized, and are ready to begin confession, talk to your pastor about it, get an appointment to talk to him… Don’t simply go to the confessional.
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I’d agree here. When I was in RCIA 9 years ago, I setup 30 minutes with the pastor to do my first confession in December. I made my second confession 2 months later in February, about 45 minutes before I was confirmed and received first Eucharist. Both times I spoke with the pastor beforehand since I hadn’t yet been received.
 
LampsAndLights said:
I was baptised in the Church of England but I’m currently in the RCIA process and receiving first holy communion and confirmation at Easter vigil. Am I allowed to go to confession? I’ve heard conflicting opinions on this. If I tell the priest first off that I’m not yet catholic will he let me?
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Even if the priest would hear your Confession he will not grant absolution so it would be better just to have a talk with the priest outside Confession.
 
1ke said:
If you are baptized, and are ready to begin confession, talk to your pastor about it, get an appointment to talk to him… Don’t simply go to the confessional.
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Since you are already baptized, you will have to go to confession before you can receive your first communion, but you need to be properly catechize about the sacrament first (unless in danger of death). You should talk to your Rcia person and/or priest.
 
LampsAndLights said:
I was baptised in the Church of England but I’m currently in the RCIA process and receiving first holy communion and confirmation at Easter vigil. Am I allowed to go to confession? I’ve heard conflicting opinions on this. If I tell the priest first off that I’m not yet catholic will he let me?
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The short answer is “no.”

When one is absolved, that person is reconciled to God and to the Church. Someone who is not yet a member of the Church cannot be reconciled back to the Church. Since you’re not yet Catholic, you’re not yet eligible for Confession (c. 844.1).

One who is already baptized and about to be received into the Church will go to Confession shortly before receiving First Communion and Confirmation.

In your case, you should not approach a priest for Confession until the time when your pastor schedules Confessions for you.
 
Yes, Easter is pretty early this year, however I would think it would be too early to go to confession since you have not been received into the Church yet, nor do you say you are in imminent danger of death.

When I was received into the Church I had been going to a series of Lenten retreats and reflections at a local Passionist monastery. About two weeks before Holy Saturday and Easter I approached one of the priests and told him my situation. We set up an appointment and he heard my first confession. The priest at my home parish told us and other RCIA classes that the candidates should go at some point during Lent, preferably closer to Easter.

Don’t take my advice though, talk to your priest and see what he says.

ChadS
 
FrDavid96 said:
The short answer is “no.”

When one is absolved, that person is reconciled to God and to the Church. Someone who is not yet a member of the Church cannot be reconciled back to the Church. Since you’re not yet Catholic, you’re not yet eligible for Confession (c. 844.1).

One who is already baptized and about to be received into the Church will go to Confession shortly before receiving First Communion and Confirmation.

In your case, you should not approach a priest for Confession until the time when your pastor schedules Confessions for you.
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I do not think you need to be a full fledged card carrying member, although that does not hurt.

If he is baptized, has intentions of receiving the sacraments and attending mass, and accepts the Church’s apostolic authority, then going to confession seems like the first thing he would do even if he hasn’t completed RCIA. He is clearly intending to become a member.

Kids go to first confession before any other sacrament including first communion and confirmation.
 
Kids in Sunday School go to their first confession before receiving the other sacraments.

I agree with speaking to the priest first.

If you have been baptized, are in RCIA, accept the Church’s apostolic authority, believe the Profession of Faith, plan to receive the other sacraments, and attend mass regularly (even if you have yet to receive Eucharist), I would think confession would be among the first things to do.
 
mattp0625 said:
If you have been baptized, are in RCIA, accept the Church’s apostolic authority, believe the Profession of Faith, plan to receive the other sacraments, and attend mass regularly (even if you have yet to receive Eucharist), I would think confession would be among the first things to do.
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I would tend to agree, though I seem to be in the minority. In an era where so few Catholics value reconciliation it seems to be short sighted to restrict those with both desire and understanding of the sacrament because an arbitrary date has not been reached yet. Then again I dislike candidates being received on a set Easter schedule rather than received as their personal situation warrants and recommended in the rites. I figure if you meet the criterion you mention then they should be admitted to reconciliation and received into full communion at the soonest possible time, not told to wait 3, 4, 5+ months. But I’m not a pastor so my feelings count for zilch.
 
mattp0625 said:
Kids in Sunday School go to their first confession before receiving the other sacraments.
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That is because they are already Catholic.
I agree with speaking to the priest first.
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If you have been baptized, are in RCIA, accept the Church’s apostolic authority, believe the Profession of Faith, plan to receive the other sacraments, and attend mass regularly (even if you have yet to receive Eucharist), I would think confession would be among the first things to do.
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No, it is not among the first things to do. It is the very last thing that is done before actually receiving First Communion and Confirmation.
 
Usige said:
I would tend to agree, though I seem to be in the minority. In an era where so few Catholics value reconciliation it seems to be short sighted to restrict those with both desire and understanding of the sacrament because an arbitrary date has not been reached yet. Then again I dislike candidates being received on a set Easter schedule rather than received as their personal situation warrants and recommended in the rites. I figure if you meet the criterion you mention then they should be admitted to reconciliation and received into full communion at the soonest possible time, not told to wait 3, 4, 5+ months. But I’m not a pastor so my feelings count for zilch.
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Yes, the already-baptized should not have to wait any longer than truly necessary to be received into the Church.

The whole RCIA program is still new. There are many issues that still need to be worked-out (and even corrected).

Rome (and even the USCCB) is constantly reminding bishops and priests not to confuse the baptised with the unbaptised, and not to unduly delay the reception of the baptised. It’s just taking time to have the needed effect. The “school year” mentality is just too ingrained in some people, and it’s just too easy to adhere to it. It’s a difficult mindset to break.
 
FrDavid96 said:
That is because they are already Catholic.

No, it is not among the first things to do. It is the very last thing that is done before actually receiving First Communion and Confirmation.
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Assuming he believes all of the above, what does the child in Sunday school have that this gentleman does not?
 
mattp0625 said:
What does the child in Sunday school have that this gentleman does not?
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Full membership in the Catholic Church.

Yes, that really is the answer.

Absolution reconciles us to God and to the Church. In order to be reconciled to the Church, we must first be members of the Church.

One way I often explain this is that it is like being a member of a club (the Raccoon Lodge). If I let my membership status lapse, I can have it re-instated. However, if I’m not a member I cannot have a non-existing membership re-instated. First, I have to be a member.

Another way: if my barber license is suspended, I can have it reinstated. But if I don’t have any license in the first place, I cannot have it reinstated. First, it has to exist, then if I let it lapse, I can have it restored again.

There is a pastoral adaptation to RCIA that allows the previously Baptised to make their first Confession shortly before receiving First Communion and being Confirmed. It can be an exception only because that person is about to become Catholic.
 
mattp0625 said:
Assuming he believes all of the above, what does the child in Sunday school have that this gentleman does not?
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I understand what you’re asking and why.

It ties-in with the post by Usige earlier.

A person who is ready to go to Confession is actually ready to be received into the Church. We should not make people in that situation wait just because of some need to keep a school year schedule.

Someone who is truly ready for Confession is likewise ready for Communion and Confirmation. That’s how the RCIA program is designed and how it is supposed to work. The school year model is what is actually in conflict with the RCIA as it was designed and intended.

It is not so much that we are wrong in making people wait for Confession. In reality, we shouldn’t be making them wait unduly for Confession and Communion and Confirmation.
 
mattp0625 said:
Ok but based on birth to Catholic parents? Baptism in the Catholic Church? Catholic Sunday school?

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur104.htm
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Baptism into the Catholic Church. That is what confers membership. That is the start.

First, the child must be baptised Catholic (or received into the Church after baptism, which is possible for infants). Then, the child must be of the age of reason (7) and properly prepared, either by formal education or by the parents.

I’m saying the same thing that Fr. McN---- is saying.

The difference is only that he’s addressing several related questions at one time. in a lengthy article, while I’m dealing with them individually.

You asked what is the difference between a Catholic child (age 7) and a not-yet-Catholic (but soon-to-be-one) adult. I explained the difference: the child is already Catholic.

Given the length of Fr McN—'s article, and that he answers several followup questions that have nothing to do with the topic here, I need to ask: what is it about his article that caused you to make reference to it? What is the question, or the point?
 
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