Confession Question

[TexasSeeker]

I understand that some priests can deny absolution based on the severity of the sin. Could a person go to another priest and get absolution?

 

[GEddie]

There is no unpardonable sin while one is alive.

Absolution can be withheld however, if the priest believes that somoene is nonrepentant.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[jtodisco]

I understand that some priests can deny absolution based on the severity of the sin. Could a person go to another priest and get absolution?

Absolution cannot be withheld due to the severity of the sin. Only a lack of sincere repentance can cause the priest to refuse to give absolution.

Also, if one priest refused to absolve you for whatever reason and you went to another for confession I believe you would have to notify that priest of what happened previously so that they would be able to try and understand why absolution was withheld. Otherwise you’d be hiding something from the priest during confession and this would likely invalidate your reception of absolution.

Honestly though I’ve never met anyone who was turned away at the confessional before. I’m sure it happens, I know it’s happened in the past, but it is rare and I imagine priests would only do this for extremely good reasons.

 

[GEddie]

Absolution cannot be withheld due to the severity of the sin. Only a lack of sincere repentance can cause the priest to refuse to give absolution.

Also, if one priest refused to absolve you for whatever reason and you went to another for confession I believe you would have to notify that priest of what happened previously so that they would be able to try and understand why absolution was withheld. Otherwise you’d be hiding something from the priest during confession and this would likely invalidate your reception of absolution.

Honestly though I’ve never met anyone who was turned away at the confessional before. I’m sure it happens, I know it’s happened in the past, but it is rare and I imagine priests would only do this for extremely good reasons.

While I have never met someone to whom this has happened, I understand that Saint Pio, said to have had the faculty of “reading souls,” would turn away penitents if they appeared to him to be unrepentant.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[MissRose73]

I’ve always received absolution for my sins no matter what. I’ve never been denied, but I can assure you that I’ve got various forms of penance to perform like doing a work of mercy and/or prayer to do after I leave the confessional.

 

[Corki]

I understand that some priests can deny absolution based on the severity of the sin. Could a person go to another priest and get absolution?

There are a **very few sins **where absolution is reserved to the Bishop, or even the Pope. An example of this is certain sins committed by Priests must be absolved by a Bishop. The sin of abortion, because of it’s penalty of excommunication, is reserved to the Bishop officially. But most Bishops have extended the authority to absolve to the priests.

Most Catholics will never run into this.

There are, however, other sins that are not absolved. This is not due to the severity of the sin but the lack of contrition or resolve. For example, if a young person confesses pre-marital sex but is adamant about remaining in a “live together” relationship with his girlfriend, the priest may determine that he has no intention to reform and withhold absolution.

If a priest withholds absolution, there will be some remedy given. That’s what you have to do to be able to be absolved. In the example above, the priest may say the person has to stop living together with his girlfriend. The person **could **go to another priest and try to side-step the instruction but he/she would probably be committing another sin to do so.

 

[AnneTeresa]

I had absolution withheld from me once. I did go to another priest and explain the situation. I also have heard of it happening to others. Just so you know, it does happen. I’m not sure if the second confession was invalid or not. The ideal would have been for BOTH priests to help me understand and rectify the situation–that didn’t happen.

 

[puzzleannie]

I understand that some priests can deny absolution based on the severity of the sin. Could a person go to another priest and get absolution?

this is not true. Absolution must be denied of the penitent is unrepentent and indicates he will not cease the sinful act or condition.

Most common situations usually involve marriage in some way. Penitent refuses to take steps to convalidate an invalid marriage, refuses to stop cohabiting, refuses to stop using articial means of contraception. I suppose someone notoriously involved in organized crime might be another example, yes there are some sins that are reserved for the bishop to absolve, usually those that have resulted in excommunication, but some, such as abortion are so common priests have a blanket permission to absolve. There are sins reserved to the Pope for absolution I think they are those that a priest might commit in connection with exercise or abuse of his office.

 

[TexasSeeker]

The priest requested that internet be removed from the household… issue is that wife needs to for her business (and mine too). To get rid of it would tip off the wife to my sins and hence exacerbate the situation… potentially leading to divorce (not that I don’t have it coming).

The other odd thing was that alcohol was a factor and he didn’t mention that… and for that matter he seemed to be in a rush because he had to go say mass.

 

[Bookcat]

The priest requested that internet be removed from the household… issue is that wife needs to for her business (and mine too). To get rid of it would tip off the wife to my sins and hence exacerbate the situation… potentially leading to divorce (not that I don’t have it coming).

The other odd thing was that alcohol was a factor and he didn’t mention that… and for that matter he seemed to be in a rush because he had to go say mass.

Perhaps speak with him again in confession?? (make an appointment) …

and perhaps you may need to seek out another good priest somewhere else …for advice as to what one is to do…(mentioning what happened…in confession…and the various aspects of your difficulty as you noted here and any others… though… I would think you perhaps would do so without saying at the moment who the priest was (for he is can not give his side …his understanding of the situation at the time etc…he may not have known various details etc in the quick confession etc…how he judged things etc…)…it would seem that you could do this too within confession and thus under the seal…speak with the priest about this…)

(and certainly steps must be taken in regards to near occasions…)

In all things seek to follow Christ of course…conversion of life…prudence…light from the Holy Spirit…direction faithful to the Church (of course)…etc…

 

[Corki]

The priest requested that internet be removed from the household… issue is that wife needs to for her business (and mine too). To get rid of it would tip off the wife to my sins and hence exacerbate the situation… potentially leading to divorce (not that I don’t have it coming).

The other odd thing was that alcohol was a factor and he didn’t mention that… and for that matter he seemed to be in a rush because he had to go say mass.

Maybe you can make an appointment to continue the conversation when he has time.

Is it possible that you were resistant to his suggestion (you called it a request) about the computer and he didn’t have time to assess whether you were serious about making changes?

From what you’ve described, it sounds less like withholding absolution and more like not being able to finish.