Confession with a Catholic priest as a non-Catholic?

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lord_bumblemunch2nd

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I’m a Marine in student status at 29 Palms, and I cannot decide whether or not to go to the Catholic chaplain and ask about a confessional. I know that ordinarily as a Lutheran, I should go to my own pastor, which I regularly did at my home church. However, there are no Lutheran parishes reasonably distanced. I have been attending the Catholic chapel, abstaining from communion, but I sorely miss the exercising of private confession. Would these circumstances permit me to have the chaplain hear my confession? I am under-informed of the stipulations the Catholic Church has for its clergy regarding confession.
 
Man, go talk to that “padre” he is a man of God. In the name of Ecumenical Dialogue, we are suppose to keep good friendship and understanding with each other - Our Lord Christs commandment of love is nothing other than this. I think you’ll enjoy the conversation and so will the priest. A good experience of being Christian. He is the right man to answer all your questions and you’r bound to enjoy meeting him. God bless soldier.
 
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Catholic priests ordinarily offer Catholic sacraments only to Catholics. The exception for Protestants would be those in danger of death. However, it is very likely that a Catholic priest would be willing to hear your confession and advise you, without sacramental absolution. Feel free to ask.
 
Here’s a thread that was talking about this very subject. Read Fr. David’s post with regards to this.
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Fr. Mulcahy and Real Millitary Chaplains Popular Media
So, one of my favorite television programs (there are few that I can stomach these days) has to be reruns of the classic M* A* S* H. One member of the regular cast is Fr. John Francis Patrick Mulcahy, a Roman Catholic priest who serves as the 4077th’s military chaplain. I think that the character is very well written, but from time to time, I find myself questioning some of his behaviors. Some that have come to mind lately are: Fr. Mulcahy is a Catholic Priest who presides over multiple deno…
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Thank you for your service.

God Bless
 
lord_bumblemunch2nd said:
Would these circumstances permit me to have the chaplain hear my confession?
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Can. 844 §1. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone, without prejudice to the prescripts of §§2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and ⇒ can. 861, §2.

§2. Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

§3. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they seek such on their own accord and are properly disposed. This is also valid for members of other Churches which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition in regard to the sacraments as these Eastern Churches.

§4. 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 these same sacraments 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.

§5. For the cases mentioned in §§2, 3, and 4, the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops is not to issue general norms except after consultation at least with the local competent authority of the interested non-Catholic Church or community.

So, the circumstances outside danger of death would be up to the bishop if the military archdiocese. You should talk to the Catholic chaplain regarding the directives he has received in this regard.

Don’t be afraid to ask, the chaplain will let you know.
 
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Can. 844 §1. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone, without prejudice to the prescripts of §§2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and ⇒ can. 861, §2.

§2. Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

§3. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they seek such on their own accord and are properly disposed. This is also valid for members of other Churches which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition in regard to the sacraments as these Eastern Churches.

§4. 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 these same sacraments 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.

§5. For the cases mentioned in §§2, 3, and 4, the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops is not to issue general norms except after consultation at least with the local competent authority of the interested non-Catholic Church or community.
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I have done this more times that I could even begin to count in the decades of my priesthood since the 1983 Code went into effect.

Original Poster: You should most assuredly speak to the Catholic Chaplain and ask for this provision of Canon 844 to be used in your favour. The criteria is straightforward and, fortunately, where I minister as a priest, our bishops are most generous in the latitude they give…as the Canon allows them to do.

I shall pray this provision works out for you with the Catholic Chaplain.
 
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God bless you Marine! Yes, go to the Catholic priest as 1ke and Fr. Ruggero said.
 
Don_Ruggero said:
I have done this more times that I could even begin to count in the decades of my priesthood since the 1983 Code went into effect.
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That’s surprising.

Now, I don’t know Lutheran practice, but I would’ve thought that the answer would’ve been “your Catholic chaplain can clearly hear your confession, but you’re not asking him for absolution (as in the Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation), right?”

So, two questions:
  • do Lutheran ministers offer absolution?
  • even if they do, can’t a Catholic priest listen to a confession and offer advice, but just not offer sacramental absolution?
 
The Lutheran order for individual confession ends with absolution. After general confession of sins and faith (and the sins that specifically burden your conscience), the pastor will ask if you believe his forgiveness is God’s forgiveness. To which, he’ll tell you that by the power of God and His authority he forgives you all your sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Is that a similar procedure in what the chaplain is probably used to? If so, is he authorized and likely to hear my confession and impart the clerical powers to tell me my sins are forgiven? From the other responses it seems he might be, or even probably is. But is it going to be something similar to what I’m used to if he is? I sent him an email explaining my situation and all my questions. Thanks to all you helpful folks, I appreciate the explanation of the circumstances a bit better. I felt more confident in writing to him after reading all your replies.
 
1ke said:
Yes, if he hears your confession it will be a true confession with absolution.
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We, as Catholics, believe that – but would a Lutheran make the same claim (that is, that a Catholic priest validly absolves sins)? (I honestly don’t know what the Lutheran church asserts with respect to sacramental validity and absolution…)
 
Well the Lutheran asking the question certainly does.

Please, let’s not be pendantic here— or go off into philosophical land. This isn’t a question about Lutheran Theology not some hypothetical.
It’s a real person asking a specific question, let’s be respectful of him and his inquiry.

This is a concrete question from a Lutheran who is requesting the sacrament of confession. He clearly desires sacramental absolutIon and has been advised to talk to the chaplain about it for spiritual counsel.
 
1ke said:
This is a concrete question from a Lutheran who is requesting the sacrament of confession. He clearly desires sacramental absolutIon and has been advised to talk to the chaplain about it for spiritual counsel.
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Agreed. And, the dimension that hasn’t been addressed is the chaplain’s duty to provide spiritual services to all with whom he’s stationed, and not just his co-religionists.

And, of course, I’m asking the question of the principles in play here, not the specific one, because otherwise – in their absence – it boils down to an exercise in “go ahead and do what you feel is best.” We see, in the Book of Judges, how well that worked out for the people of God… 😉
 
Chaplains are sent for training and are ready to help all denominations, not just their own. Please, read 1ke’s first post and Fr. Ruggero’s. It is not your place to question the OP’s belief.
 
Gorgias said:
I’m asking the question of the principles in play here, not the specific one, because otherwise – in their absence – it boils down to an exercise in “go ahead and do what you feel is best.
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Having already posted the canons spelling out what it takes to be able to receive the sacrament as a non-Catholic, and directing him to talk to the chaplain to see if he can receive the sacrament and for spiritual counsel, and couching my answer as “if” the chaplain can hear his confession, I don’t believe it can be construed as “go ahead” or anything based on “feelings” alone.
 
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1ke said:
Having already posted the canons
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Yes, I get that. However, the OP isn’t asking for the Catholic sacrament, is he? (Yes, according to the canons, a priest can give him the sacrament.) The OP is asking for what his Lutheran minister gives, no? After all, a Catholic wouldn’t say that what the Lutheran minister does and what a Catholic priest does in the confessional are identical, would we?

So: although I get that what @Don_Ruggero has offered will work from the Catholic side, and that this may be acceptable to the OP, I’m still asking the theoretical questions: does a Catholic priest (/chaplain) ‘give’ what non-Catholic ministers ‘give’ to their flock? Would the Lutheran church accept a Catholic priest’s absolution as valid in the Lutheran context?
 
that’s really sad. I’m not a Catholic, yet I would love to be able to go to a priest. It would certainly help settle a lot of issues.
 
Well, I do know that the Lutheran Church (or those of whom takes the Augsburg Confessions seriously) recognize the clerical authority of Catholic clergy and their filling of the office of Holy Ministry. I know that Rome-side you can’t recognize both sets of ministers (which seems to have been hinted at here previously), but I’m not here to question Catholic theology. I’m not one for debates anyways. I much prefer asking and learning.
 
I think you found your own answer there. Go to the Catholic priest on base and you will be fine. Again, God bless you!
 
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