Confession after excommunication

[soccerdad57]

If someone has an abortion (actually 2) and therefore received an automatic excommunication (granted that there weren’t any other mitigating circumstances), to be back in communion with the church does that person only need to make a confession to a priest? - Specifically - I was under the impression that the person needed to get permission from their bishop to make the confession - This would be in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles - what is the correct thing to do -I asked my priest in the Diocese of Orange and was told all this person needed to do was make a confession at a regular confessor- is this true or only true for orange county - someone cut through the mud please?

 

[1ke]

They need to start with Confession with the priest. The priest will guide them if further steps are needed to lift the excommunication. Some priests have been given faculties to do so, and others have not.

And, just because someone had an abortion does not mean they are excommunicated. Age, coersion, knowledge, and other factors enter into the equation.

So, the woman needs to start with the priest.

 

[puzzleannie]

If someone has an abortion (actually 2) and therefore received an automatic excommunication (granted that there weren’t any other mitigating circumstances), to be back in communion with the church does that person only need to make a confession to a priest? - Specifically - I was under the impression that the person needed to get permission from their bishop to make the confession - This would be in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles - what is the correct thing to do -I asked my priest in the Diocese of Orange and was told all this person needed to do was make a confession at a regular confessor- is this true or only true for orange county - someone cut through the mud please?

bishops in the US and other countries where abortion has become, sadly, common, have given priests the faculty to lift the automatic excommunication that adults incur when they procure, perform, aid or abet and abortion. This only comes into play if they had full knowledge and full free will consent so the priest will also help the penitent judge those factors.

 

[Bookcat]

The faculty to lift the excommunication for the sin of abortion is often delegated to all the Priests who hear confessions in a diocese. One may contact the diocese in question if one wants to verify that this has been given.

 

[soccerdad57]

Thank you - and I did leave a message with the person I talked with at the LA Archdiocese - she said that the Archbishop is in Rome but that she would try to get some information together for me and call me back- hmm…waiting - yes i know patience is a virtue - seriously though - thanks again for the information

 

[Joe_Kelley]

The priest should know whether he has the delegated power or not. If he does not he should be able to apply to the diocese for you.

 

[soccerdad57]

Thanks Joe - and just because I abhor all abortion and vote against politicians who support it and in case I gave the wrong impression - this is for someone else whom I love but is NOT ME - I love all little babies from when they are a tiny little peanut in their mamas bellies to when they are 19 and living on their own like my oldest - but I worry about this loved one of mine whom I hope to see in paradise with me someday (if the Lord will take me) and then I can finally meet the 2 little babies that were hers before they were ever given a chance to grow up - I wonder if they are brother and sister or 2 brothers or 2 sisters and if God gave them a name what their names are. I want to tell them I’m sorry that that happened to them and I want to hold them - I am so sorry this was done to them - they were just little and I can’t imagine how horrible that was for them