Confession of non baptized person

  • Thread starter Thread starter emom
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
E

emom

Guest
Can a non baptized person make a confession? If not, how can I explain this to a non-baptized person with pushing them away from the getting to know the faith? This person expressed desire to go to confession, but I thought that only baptized people can do this?
 
I do believe that a non-baptized person could make a confession to a priest, but it wouldn’t be sacramental, and they could not receive absolution. It would probably be best explained to them by a priest.
 
This question was asked in Ask An Apologist and Jim Blackburn gave this reply:

Code of Canon Law (844 §4) makes provision for this in limited circumstances:

Quote:
**If the danger of death is present or if, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops, some other grave necessity urges it, Catholic ministers administer [the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick] licitly also to other Christians not having full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who seek such on their own accord, provided that they manifest Catholic faith in respect to these sacraments and are properly disposed. **
UNQUOTE

I recommend referring your friend to a local priest to discuss the details of his situation further.
 
40.png
thistle:
This question was asked in Ask An Apologist and Jim Blackburn gave this reply:

Code of Canon Law (844 §4) makes provision for this in limited circumstances:

Quote:
If the danger of death is present or if, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops, some other grave necessity urges it, Catholic ministers administer [the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick] licitly also to other Christians** not having full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who seek such on their own accord, provided that they manifest Catholic faith in respect to these sacraments and are properly disposed.**
UNQUOTE

I recommend referring your friend to a local priest to discuss the details of his situation further.
Click to expand...
If they are not Baptized they are not Christian!
 
Obviously an unbaptised person can make a confession to the police. But what we are talking about it the sacrament of confession. According to canon 842: “A person who has not received baptism cannot validly be admitted to the other sacraments.”
 
Br. Rich SFO:
If they are not Baptized they are not Christian!
Click to expand...
Until Easter Vigil, I’m one of those nasty non-Christians.

Sorry, Br.Rich, but I don’t appreciate the tone I perceived from your comment.

To the author of the topic…

First, I would suggest that your friend confess to God through prayer. I believe that God hears all prayers regardless of state of baptism.

Second, suggest that your friend speak to a priest. Your friend’s desire to confess may be a calling from God to become a Christian. A priest can help your friend decide what is best for him or her.

A confession to a priest would serve no formal purpose.
 
40.png
LeahInancsi:
Until Easter Vigil, I’m one of those nasty non-Christians.

Sorry, Br.Rich, but I don’t appreciate the tone I perceived from your comment.

.
Click to expand...
I wonder how you perceived any tone from written words! Br. Rich simply made a statement of fact - if a person is not baptised he or she is not a Christian.

In no way did Br. Rich imply that non-christians are “nasty”. Perhaps you should re-think your comments.
 
Until Easter Vigil, I’m one of those nasty non-Christians.

Sorry, Br.Rich, but I don’t appreciate the tone I perceived from your comment.
Click to expand...
I think you misinterpreted the object of Brother Rich’s tone. I think he, like myself, was just extremely surprised at the application of Canon 844 §4 to an unbaptized person. For the purposes of that particular law an unbaptized person isn’t a Christian. I don’t think Brother Rich was expressing any attitude about the unbaptized themselves.

There would really be no point in considering the unbaptized who are also Catechumens since there is already a planned means for their sins to be forgiven and for them to receive the other sacraments.

(But I like your advice to the OP.)
 
Joan M:
I wonder how you perceived any tone from written words! Br. Rich simply made a statement of fact - if a person is not baptised he or she is not a Christian.

In no way did Br. Rich imply that non-christians are “nasty”. Perhaps you should re-think your comments.
Click to expand...
Like I said, it was my perception. The exclamation point “!” is what offended me. He could have very easily left it off.

One reason I’m being baptized it that I regret that I have not made my belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God formal, earlier. It’s not something I’m proud of . The exclamation point felt like salt in a wound.

If you’ll reread my statement, I prefaced it with “I’m sorry…”.
 
40.png
SMHW:
I think you misinterpreted the object of Brother Rich’s tone. I think he, like myself, was just extremely surprised at the application of Canon 844 §4 to an unbaptized person. For the purposes of that particular law an unbaptized person isn’t a Christian. I don’t think Brother Rich was expressing any attitude about the unbaptized themselves.

There would really be no point in considering the unbaptized who are also Catechumens since there is already a planned means for their sins to be forgiven and for them to receive the other sacraments.

(But I like your advice to the OP.)
Click to expand...
Please see my response to Joan M.
 
Joan M:
I wonder how you perceived any tone from written words! Br. Rich simply made a statement of fact - if a person is not baptised he or she is not a Christian.

In no way did Br. Rich imply that non-christians are “nasty”. Perhaps you should re-think your comments.
Click to expand...
Despite the example of a catechumen, Joan M wrote “Br Rich simply made a statement of fact - if a person is not baptised he or she is not a Christian.” Joan M seems to be saying a catechumen is not a Christian. This is wrong.

For example according to the Code of Canon Law, canon 206: “Catechumens are linked with the Church in a special way … The Church has a special care for catechumens. While it invites them to lead an evangelical life, and introduces them to the celebration of the sacred rites, it already accords them various perogatives which are proper to Christians.” (From The Code of Canon Law, HarperCollins Liturgical, 1997, ISBN 0-00-599375-X).

For example, from the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, n. 47: “One who dies during the catechumenate receives a Christian burial.”
 
I think some of you are doing Bro Rich an injustice. He highlighted the part that says “licitly to other Christians”. The OP asked the question if an unbaptised person can go to Confession. Obviously if they are not a Christian (which an unbaptised person is not) they cannot. Bro Rich said nothing about catechumens (they at least have the baptism of desire) who want to become Christian.
 
40.png
LeahInancsi:
Like I said, it was my perception. The exclamation point “!” is what offended me. He could have very easily left it off.

One reason I’m being baptized it that I regret that I have not made my belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God formal, earlier. It’s not something I’m proud of . The exclamation point felt like salt in a wound.

If you’ll reread my statement, I prefaced it with “I’m sorry…”.
Click to expand...
I think what Brother Rich was doing was emphasizing that baptism is a very important, perhaps the single most important of all the sacraments. He wasn’t being mean just emphasizing a point. The un-baptized are not Christians Not yet anyway 🙂
 
40.png
LeahInancsi:
Until Easter Vigil, I’m one of those nasty non-Christians.

Sorry, Br.Rich, but I don’t appreciate the tone I perceived from your comment.

To the author of the topic…

First, I would suggest that your friend confess to God through prayer. I believe that God hears all prayers regardless of state of baptism.

Second, suggest that your friend speak to a priest. Your friend’s desire to confess may be a calling from God to become a Christian. A priest can help your friend decide what is best for him or her.

A confession to a priest would serve no formal purpose.
Click to expand...
My “tone” is directed at the answer posted. The posted answer by Jim Blackburn has nothing to do with the original question. Also at the many who claim to be Christians but refuse Baptism. You my friend are no longer one of them since you seem to have been a Catechumen and are now an Elect. Am I not correct?
 
Br. Rich SFO:
My “tone” is directed at the answer posted. The posted answer by Jim Blackburn has nothing to do with the original question. Also at the many who claim to be Christians but refuse Baptism. You my friend are no longer one of them since you seem to have been a Catechumen and are now an Elect. Am I not correct?
Click to expand...
As I am the one who posted Jim Blackburn’s answer it seems I’m the one responsible for the discontent for which I’m sorry.
However I still think it does answer the OP.

The question to AAA was “can a non-Catholic go to Confession?” and the OP’s question is “can a non-baptised person make a Confession?”
Jim Blackburn is basically saying a non-Catholic who is a Christian can in certain circumstances make a Confession. In other words if a person is a non-catholic but not a Christian they cannot make a Confession.
As I read it Jim’s reply answers both questions.
 
40.png
thistle:
As I am the one who posted Jim Blackburn’s answer it seems I’m the one responsible for the discontent for which I’m sorry.
However I still think it does answer the OP.

The question to AAA was “can a non-Catholic go to Confession?” and the OP’s question is “can a non-baptised person make a Confession?”
Jim Blackburn is basically saying a non-Catholic who is a Christian can in certain circumstances make a Confession. In other words if a person is a non-catholic but not a Christian they cannot make a Confession.
As I read it Jim’s reply answers both questions.
Click to expand...
Maybe I misread it? I thought the original question was can an unBaptized person go to Confession? There is a great difference between a non-Baptized person and a Baptized non-Catholic.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
Maybe I misread it? I thought the original question was can an unBaptized person go to Confession? There is a great difference between a non-Baptized person and a Baptized non-Catholic.
Click to expand...
In the Ask An Apologist forum the topic was “Can a non-Catholic go to Confession” and the post to which Jim responded talked about a baptised non-Catholic, so a Christian.
The reason I copied Jim’s reply was that he shows that a Christian who is not a Catholic can in some circumstances make a Confession. By default this answers the OP in this thread because it means a non-baptised person cannot make a Confession.
 
I am confused. My 6 y/o Grand daughter is not yet baptized yet she asked me " Nanny, am I a Christian?" I told her yes she was. Now I read Baptism is necessary to be considered a Christian. I am not sure I understand that.
Kathy
 
40.png
Katie1723:
I am confused. My 6 y/o Grand daughter is not yet baptized yet she asked me " Nanny, am I a Christian?" I told her yes she was. Now I read Baptism is necessary to be considered a Christian. I am not sure I understand that.
Kathy
Click to expand...
Yes you need to be baptised (in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit) to be a Christian.
Although I’m sure its not a sin if the time limit is exceeded, babies are supposed to be baptised within four weeks of birth.
 
40.png
thistle:
Yes you need to be baptised (in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit) to be a Christian.
Although I’m sure its not a sin if the time limit is exceeded, babies are supposed to be baptised within four weeks of birth.
Click to expand...
She just recently came to live with me. I fully intend to get her baptized at my church as soon as it can be arranged.
Kathy
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top