Can non-Catholics go to Confession?

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Colorado_Mike

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If not, why not?? I can understand why communion is a sign of unity and why all are not invited to the table. But what about Reconciliation?
 
the sacraments of the Catholic Church are given to those who are members of the Catholic Church. Since non-Catholics do not even recognize these rites as sacraments, it seems puzzling on the surface that they would seek them out. If they do recognize them as sacraments, given by Christ to mediate His grace on Earth, then obviously they should be thinking seriously about joining the Church through whom these sacraments are ordained, preserved and celebrated. you may certainly approach any Catholic priest, in the confessional or with a regular business appointment, and discuss your concerns with him in prayer as you would your own pastor, and follow his counsel.
 
Well, suppose they would like to join the Church, but it will take a year or two, due to annullment issues or just the length of RCIA. Could they go to confession right away? Perhaps it is a pastoral issue, not doctrinal - I am now thinking back that I received sacramental confession BEFORE I “became a Catholic” at Easter 2001.
 
Colorado_Mike said:
Well, suppose they would like to join the Church, but it will take a year or two, due to annullment issues or just the length of RCIA. Could they go to confession right away? Perhaps it is a pastoral issue, not doctrinal - I am now thinking back that I received sacramental confession BEFORE I “became a Catholic” at Easter 2001.
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You “became a Catholic” when you received First Reconciliation. (If your RCIA process was like mine, you made a Profession of Faith with the Apostles’ Creed with your RCIA group just before you went into the Confessional.) Even if not, the assumption was that you wanted to start living the Catholic life at that moment. Most likely this was on the same day or just a few days before you received Confirmation and First Holy Communion, and you had already passed your final RCIA decision point of being able to drop out of the RCIA process.

If someone is still needing a Declaration of Nullity, they can’t participate in any of the Sacraments, including Reconciliation, until it comes through.

If they are still in the beginning stages of RCIA, give them a chance to make a final decision to become Catholic, or at least to be instructed on how to go to Confession, before they go for First Reconciliation - there is no rush.
 
My pastor has given me permission to receive the sacrament of reconciliation as a candidate in the Catholic Church, since it’s required before I receive communion at the Easter Vigil anyway, but I’ve gone through the rite of welcoming, so I’m “in” so to speak.
 
BennyBoy89 said:
My pastor has given me permission to receive the sacrament of reconciliation as a candidate in the Catholic Church, since it’s required before I receive communion at the Easter Vigil anyway, but I’ve gone through the rite of welcoming, so I’m “in” so to speak.
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Yay, benny, and welcome!
 
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