Confession. what if ptiest is wrong?

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RitasKid

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I OK’d giving morphine for pain to dying friend. Her death would take weeks or months without it. She would be short of breath, swollen. The key to me is “would”, She died within a few hours. I confessed this and the priest insisted it was not sinful. I am pretty sure I’m not scrupulous. So, I’m forgiven. He also told me I didn’t need to fast before communion. I’m 65 and healthy. My question is can I live by his his advice licitly. That is hastening death by sedation and/or ignoring fast? If I was seriously sinful should I mention it at another confession?.
 
As long as you did not give morphine with the deliberate intent to hasten death, it’s not sinful. The fact that she died within hours was an unintended consequence. It was not your intention.

As far as the fasting before Communion, I’m not sure.
 
It sounds like the priest was right, or at least had a reasonable answer. I think RitasKid could licitly go by his advice. Confession is definitely taken care of, unless other stuff was going on that she didn’t mention to the priest.

If RitasKid is still troubled about it, she might want to schedule a talk with the priest (or another priest) so that she can hash it out with him more fully. Sometimes it’s hard to get peace of mind. If the priest then thought there was more to confess, he’d be right there available for Confession, too.
 
RitasKid said:
I OK’d giving morphine for pain to dying friend. Her death would take weeks or months without it. She would be short of breath, swollen. The key to me is “would”, She died within a few hours. I confessed this and the priest insisted it was not sinful. I am pretty sure I’m not scrupulous. So, I’m forgiven. He also told me I didn’t need to fast before communion. I’m 65 and healthy. My question is can I live by his his advice licitly. That is hastening death by sedation and/or ignoring fast? If I was seriously sinful should I mention it at another confession?.
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Whether or not you would be guilty of murder would depend on:
  1. Were you trying to manage the pain of a dying person even at the risk of hastening the dying process? or
  2. Did you deliberately administer a lethal overdose of pain medication?
Here is a quote from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website regarding the encyclical of John Paul II "Death with Dignity"usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/end-of-life/euthanasia/john-paul-ii-dying-with-dignity.cfm
Ethical questions can arise regarding the use of pain medication. Pain should be managed in such a way as to allow patients to prepare for death while fully conscious. The dying should be kept as free of pain as possible. Some wish to blur the distinction between the use of medication to manage pain even at the risk of hastening the dying process, and the deliberate administration of a lethal overdose of pain medication. Those who claim the latter is mercy killing fail to recognize that true “compassion” leads to sharing another’s pain; it does not kill the person whose suffering we cannot bear.xii
 
RitasKid said:
He also told me I didn’t need to fast before communion. I’m 65 and healthy. My question is can I live by his his advice licitly. .
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The priest is correct for fasting. You don’t have to fast after certain age. I am pretty sure 65 qualifies. You can fast if you choose to.
 
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