Confession for those that aren't Catholic?

[FrDavid96]

I know that Anglicans practice private confession for those who desire it and they do consider it a sacrament.

While it may be true that some Anglicans have a ceremony which they liken to Confession, we have to remember that it is not a Sacrament. The Sacrament of Confession can only be celebrated by a validly ordained priest.

Please remember that “considering it a sacrament” does not make it a sacrament.

 

[Karoline]

For you it will grant absolution, you are becoming catholic and the confession is necessary for you to be able to recieve the communion.

So it is one of the steps that brings you in full communion with the church.

As a candidate officially received into that status, you are “one of the faithful” just not completely, so you can receive absolution as one of the final steps in preparation for full Communion. But the status of “candidate” is different from one who has no intention of becoming part of the Church.

Thanks guys, makes much more sense now!

 

[Phemie]

While it may be true that some Anglicans have a ceremony which they liken to Confession, we have to remember that it is not a Sacrament. The Sacrament of Confession can only be celebrated by a validly ordained priest.

Please remember that “considering it a sacrament” does not make it a sacrament.

I know, but my point was that not only Catholics believe in private confession. Anglican Canon Law puts Anglican priests under a similar obligation to maintain the seal of confession as that of Catholic priests.

Certain Lutheran Churches practice private confession too.

 

[FrDavid96]

Can those that aren’t Catholic go to confession? Can they recieve absolution (is that what you call it?) from a priest? Wondering…
Thanks,
mlz

mlz,
There are some good reasons why Confession is possible only for Catholics (and Orthodox if their own priest is not available). Absolution reconciles the penitent to the Church, and restores that person to the ordinary life of the Church. A person must first have been a part of that ordinary life of the Church in order to be restored to it.

The Church allows for some exceptions in very extreme circumstances to allow for the “good of souls” so that they are not deprived of the Graces which come from God through the Church but unless the circumstances are extreme, a person who wishes to be completely reconciled to God must first take the steps of becoming a member of the Church. That’s what RCIA is all about, and it’s what you have the blessings of looking forward-to in your own journey.

 

[FrDavid96]

I know, but my point was that not only Catholics believe in private confession. Anglican Canon Law puts Anglican priests under a similar obligation to maintain the seal of confession as that of Catholic priests.

Certain Lutheran Churches [sic.] practice private confession too.

I’m missing something here. Since the Sacrament can only be celebrated by a validly ordained priest, what does Anglicanism or Lutheranism have to do with the topic?

 

[Phemie]

I’m missing something here. Since the Sacrament can only be celebrated by a validly ordained priest, what does Anglicanism or Lutheranism have to do with the topic?

Someone made the comment along the lines of “Why would a Protestant want to confess since they don’t believe in that?” so I just wanted to point out that, even if we don’t believe their confession is a sacrament. other religions do practice private confession and they do believe it’s a sacrament.

 

[LutheranDK]

I don’t know why someone who is not Catholic would even go to confession to a priest. It seems to me that most Protestants tend to disagree with Church teaching and “go straight to the Lord” for forgiveness.

This is an interesting question because I wouldn’t think a Protestant would even go to confession. Unless they have some belief. And then I wonder, why not become Catholic?

See the above for answers to your first question

 

[GodIsGracious]

See the above for answers to your first question

When I asked my question, obviously, what had already been said didn’t answer my question.

I know now that some Protestants go to confession. But still… why bother if it doesn’t matter?

 

[peary]

Can those that aren’t Catholic go to confession? Can they recieve absolution (is that what you call it?) from a priest? Wondering…
Thanks,
mlz

The answer is: yes.

 

[FrDavid96]

Originally Posted by mlz
Can those that aren’t Catholic go to confession? Can they recieve absolution (is that what you call it?) from a priest? Wondering…
Thanks,
mlz

The answer is: yes.

I’m curious to know why you said that and what your reasoning might be.

 

[DevotedCatholic]

**As a Catholic Convert I can tell you coming from another church of a different faith that, The Catholic Religion is the only Religion where there are confessions and confessionals. Other denominations, confess through prayer to God. Each denomination in this manner does not require that confessionals be set up and that people go to the Pastor of the church to hear confessions. Only that when they pray to God for the sins they commit will they be forgiven, In some manner the Catholics do. The Sacrament of Reconcilaition is not instituted in other churches. There is Communion, Reading of the Word of God, Taking up the Offertory. In some other Religions Women are allowed to become Pastors. The Catholic Church is the only church where only men are allowed to become Priests and Deacons.

I hope this helps with telling the difference between The Catholic Church and Churches of other Denominations. Here is idea. you could search the differences and similarities between the Denominations, this will help you understand the concepts and view points of all Denominations and Churches.**

 

[Leonius]

Can those that aren’t Catholic go to confession? Can they recieve absolution (is that what you call it?) from a priest? Wondering…
Thanks,
mlz

First you have to be baptised to receive the sacraments.

Two not holding the Catholic Faith once it is made known to you is a mortal sin so to be absolved the non-Catholic would have to acept the Catholic Faith.

 

[LutheranDK]

As a Catholic Convert I can tell you coming from another church of a different faith that, The Catholic Religion is the only Religion where there are confessions and confessionals. Other denominations, confess through prayer to God. Each denomination in this manner does not require that confessionals be set up and that people go to the Pastor of the church to hear confessions. Only that when they pray to God for the sins they commit will they be forgiven, In some manner the Catholics do. The Sacrament of Reconcilaition is not instituted in other churches.

You’re wrong, and you’re right.
You’re wrong, because the RC Church is not the only church that practices confession. Actual Lutheran Churches do it also. Don’t know about the Anglican Churches, any Anglicans who can inform me?
You’re right, because in Western Christianity, the RC Church is the only church (that I know of - again, I don’t know about the Anglicans) which considers Confession a Sacrament.
DevotedCatholic;5486301:

In some other Religions Women are allowed to become Pastors. The Catholic Church is the only church where only men are allowed to become Priests and Deacons.

Hmmmm…
MOST (A rough guess would be some 90%) of confessional “protestant” Churches has the same view on ordination of women as the RC Church.
The liberal “churches”, on the other hand, are another matter entirely. They care for pleasing and appeasing society, more than they care about what’s right.

Secondly, the RC Church is not the only one where only men are ordained into the clergy. As I said - most actual “protestant” Churches share this view, and let’s not forget the Eastern Church either?

 

[jblake]

FrDavid96;:

Since the Sacrament can only be celebrated by a validly ordained priest, what does Anglicanism or Lutheranism have to do with the topic?

Lutherans are an example of a Protestant grouping which believes/practices private confession.

Anglicans are an example of a non-Catholic, non-Protestant grouping that believes/practices private confession.

What Catholic Canon Law has to say about the issue is irrelevant for non-Catholic organizations that practice either private, or public confession.

jonathon

 

[jblake]

GodIsGracious;:

because I wouldn’t think a Protestant would even go to confession. Unless they have some belief.

a) It can be easier to discuss an issue with a complete stranger, than with somebody that one knows very well. Furthermore, talking with somebody from a different spiritual background can result in a greater understanding of both the issue one has, and how not to do wrong, than talking with somebody of the same spiritual background;

b) Of the non-Catholic Christian congregations that believe/practice confession, the majority of them teach that it should be public, not private. לשון הרע, especially without public reconciliation makes the confession extremely traumatic. A private confession to a Priest can make the process much easier. (I’m ignoring the issue that most congregations that teach public confession don’t practice it.)

I am not saying that confession should be easy. I am saying that confession should not be traumatic.

And then I wonder, why not become Catholic?

You are missing the point of confession.

jonathon

 

[FrDavid96]

Lutherans are an example of a Protestant grouping which believes/practices private confession.

Anglicans are an example of a non-Catholic, non-Protestant grouping that believes/practices private confession.

What Catholic Canon Law has to say about the issue is irrelevant for non-Catholic organizations that practice either private, or public confession.

jonathon

A person can “confess” sins to anyone, at any time. The difference is that only a validly ordained priest can be a minister of Christ in offering the person forgiveness and absolution. Remember here that God forgives/absolves absolutely, the priest forgives/absolves ministerially.

If the person “absolving” is not a validly ordained priest, it has everything to do with it. If the person hearing the confession is simply offering a “willing ear” to listen to the person admit to sins, that can be done by anyone.

Sometimes in a discussion like this, we have to make distinctions that we might not otherwise make in casual conversation. When we say “confess” we usually say that in reference to the entire Sacrament of Confession. However, sometimes “to confess” means nothing more than that–to admit to a wrongdoing. We also use the word in reference to a police investigation. We might say “he confessed to the detective” but of course, that doesn’t mean that the detective absolved him. Unless the one hearing the confession is a validly ordained priest, and that priest absolves him, then any form of confession is simply an example of someone admitting to a sin.

 

[jblake]

FrDavid96;:

A person can “confess” sins to anyone, at any time. The difference is that only a validly ordained priest can be a minister of Christ in offering the person forgiveness and absolution. Remember here that God forgives/absolves absolutely, the priest forgives/absolves ministerially.

For those congregations that are not Catholic, but do practice confession, it is an absolution, both ministerially and of God. Which is precisely why I wrote “What Catholic Canon Law has to say about the issue is irrelevant for non-Catholic organizations that practice either private, or public confession.”

jonathon

 

[FrDavid96]

For those congregations that are not Catholic, but do practice confession, it is an absolution, both ministerially and of God. Which is precisely why I wrote “What Catholic Canon Law has to say about the issue is irrelevant for non-Catholic organizations that practice either private, or public confession.”

jonathon

By divine law, only a validly ordained priest is able to forgive & absolve ministerially. This same principle is also expressed in canon law.