Can you confess while in civil marriage only?

[Hereiam]

You can go to Confession, but part of the expectation of recieving absolution is the intention to sin no more.

whoa…isn’t this implying that any marriage outside the church is a sinful union? There are too many variables that unfairly heap guilt on our brothers and sisters, including but not limited to being in full communion with the Church at the time of matrimony.

All that is needed for confession is baptism…and even those who are not baptized may be offered the sacrament in an hour of extreme need. Absolution, then, only requires contrition and fulfillment of any penance awarded by the confessor.

 

[Hereiam]

To the orginial poster. Make a call and set up a time to talk privately with your priest. He will help you get things set right.

I agree…the free advice you get here is worth every penny you pay for it! See a priest.

 

[Maximilian75]

Physical intimacy is an important aspect of living with your spouse.

More important than both your souls?

By denying marital relations, the church is endangering the relationship in a way.

The Church denies nothing to no one. She simply tells us of the consequences of our actions.

Its your choice. Either cease having relations, or place both you and your wife’s souls at risk of eternal damnation. It’s that simple.

 

[Maximilian75]

isn’t this implying that any marriage outside the church is a sinful union?

AFAIK, yes.

contrition

From the Act of Contrition
“I firmly intend, with thy help, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasion of sin”

 

[Hereiam]

From the Act of Contrition

“I firmly intend, with thy help, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasion of sin”

The act of civil marriage would not be the sin, the act of sexual union would be…cohabitation is not a sin, if living as brother or sister. So, the words in the canned Act of Contrition could still be said with a pure heart and not invalidate the sacrament. So if from the point of the confession until the convalidation, if living chastely is not an issue.

But even more, if the civil marriage took place by a man and woman before their coming into full communion with the church, that marriage would be considered valid.

 

[Maximilian75]

That’s true.

However, the scandal caused by the courthouse marriage and subsequent cohabitation are a whole 'nother thread.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

Well we don’t know your circumstances. Anyone commenting here is making huge assumptions.

If you are catholic, please take this to your Priest.

 

[Hereiam]

However, the scandal caused by the courthouse marriage and subsequent cohabitation are a whole 'nother thread.

If there is a scandal…under your rational every marriage by non Catholics is sinful…which is just not true.

 

[Maximilian75]

I am thinking of 2 Catholics who are cohabitating.

But, yes- my reasoning wasn’t the best

 

[YourNameHere]

I guess this is a simple solution, but why not just get married? No offense intended. Maybe there is something here that I do not get.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Non-Catholics enter perfectly valid marriages every day!!

 

[Gorgias]

It’s really harsh, because the church is interfering with very personal and intimate issues here.

Yeah. What in the world is the Church thinking??? I mean… actually requiring people to follow the moral law that Christ laid down for us??? What hubris!

Heck, for that matter, what’s Christ up to, interfering with very personal and intimate issues here? The nerve of that guy!!!

 

[Gorgias]

Hereiam:

isn’t this implying that any marriage outside the church is a sinful union?

AFAIK, yes.

If and only if a Catholic is one of the spouses, and even then, the requirement of the form of marriage binds only the Catholic.

If there is a scandal…under your rational every marriage by non Catholics is sinful…which is just not true.

No… because the requirements of the form of marriage apply only to Catholics. Marriages purely between non-Catholics (or the unbaptized) do not carry the requirements of form.

 

[Hereiam]

Non-Catholics enter perfectly valid marriages every day!!

exactly!!!

 

[Gorgias]

All that is needed for confession is baptism…and even those who are not baptized may be offered the sacrament in an hour of extreme need. Absolution, then, only requires contrition and fulfillment of any penance awarded by the confessor.

Umm… no.

I think you’re confusing the conditions in which non-Catholic but nevertheless baptized Christians may approach the sacrament. In an “hour of extreme need”, the unbaptized are offered baptism, not reconcilation.

Absolution requires contrition and the firm resolve to not sin again. (Penance is not a condition of absolution, per se.)

 

[Hereiam]

Absolution requires contrition and the firm resolve to not sin again.

not always…when anointed and the penitent cannot offer or acknowledge contrition and the resolution to not sin again, are still absolved.

 

[Constantin]

Hold on for a moment. HE never commented on civil marriage vs. marriage in the church. Back then, there was no such thing as a civil marriage in the meaning it carries today. You can argue that the church has authority to decide such matters as HE gave her that power, fair enough. But it is a wide stretch to claim that there can be found direct evidence in scripture on this subject.
The whole concept of a formal marriage ceremony did not come up until the middle ages and historically, it was understood as receiving communion together.

 

[Gorgias]

Gorgias:

Absolution requires contrition and the firm resolve to not sin again.

not always…when anointed and the penitent cannot offer or acknowledge contrition and the resolution to not sin again, are still absolved.

In that case, the ‘penitent’ is to make recourse to aural confession as soon as it’s practicable, because… contrition & firm resolve really are necessary.

 

[Gorgias]

Hold on for a moment. HE never commented on civil marriage vs. marriage in the church

He commented on fornication / adultery vs valid marriage, though.

The whole concept of a formal marriage ceremony did not come up until the middle ages

Only because people were violating the rights of their spouses and claiming that no marriage had occurred (in order that they might skip off and subsequently marry a more well-heeled person). However, the notion that marriage was something permanent, etc, etc… already was part of the Church’s understanding & teaching. It was already the case that one did not have the right to marry / split / remarry… and the Church only stepped in once it became obvious that people were being harmed by the lack of formality of ceremony.

 

[Hereiam]

In that case, the ‘penitent’ is to make recourse to aural confession as soon as it’s practicable,

Anointing of an unconscious dying does not always leave the option…and i know my beloved mother was welcomed into heaven after her anointing, some 6 hours before her death…thankfully God’s concept of mercy and forgiveness is so glorious!