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edward_george1
Guest
Yes. General absolution is made on the condition that after the crisis has passed, the survivors confess their sins.
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bassmansteiny
Guest
Gotcha, thanks Father. 
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Annie
Guest
I think the problem was that you were kind of rough in your retelling. And now complaining because we were rough on you.
One thing to know: different priests give different advice to different people. It is like medicine. I would not take my daughter’s medicine just because the doctor gave it to her, so advice one priest gives to a person is not necessarily good advice for another.
OTOH, you may have been told this by a priest with some sort of problem, either temporary or somewhat permanent, or something else happened.
As a new Catholic, you may have been confessing in a way that came off as scrupulous, and he may have been responding to that as well.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
rdj88, I’m sorry if this thread seemed like we were all pouncing on you. CAF can be a daunting experience for new Catholics or even new posters. To explain some of the context here:
A lot of us are concerned about other Catholics and even certain priests (one of them a “celebrity priest”) who express the opinion that one doesn’t need to go to confession unless one has sinned mortally. While this may be technically true, and is probably helpful advice if the person is living in some remote area with little or no access to a priest except once or twice a year, both the Catechism and the Church through its practices encourage people to go generally every month or couple of months.
During the 60s through the 80s, confession was de-emphasized from the more rigorous pre-Vatican II approach under which people went every week or couple of weeks, and the result was a whole lot of people just stopped going to confession at all and didn’t see anything wrong with that. I know adults my own age who don’t go at all or only go once a year, typically at one of those holiday “penance services” at which the church parking lots are always overflowing and they have to bring in 15 extra priests to get the crowd out of there before midnight. We’ve also heard stories of RCIA instructors or even RCIA priests suggesting that people don’t have to worry about confession unless they’ve committed some big grave sin.
So it’s rather alarming when someone posts what seems to be a story of that happening.
Also, we currently have maybe 3 priests and a couple deacons who post on this forum. A lot of the past clergy who used to post here left, in some cases because other posters were always arguing with them after the priest or deacon had given the correct Church teaching. The mods do, I believe, check on people who show up here and claim to be clergy. We have had a couple cases of purported “clergy” who showed up here posting very weird things and they were flagged by the community and vanished totally from the site within a couple of days.
Most of us regular posters know Fr. Edward and Fr InthePew and the couple of other priests who occasionally post, from seeing them over time on many threads. Fr. Edward has also been running a very popular Confession Q and A thread for a few weeks. We’re really grateful to have him and the other priests who post here and we wish that the others hadn’t left.
I hope you will continue to grow in the faith and participate here as you see fit to ask questions. We’re not trying to be mean, we’re just honestly concerned.
A lot of us are concerned about other Catholics and even certain priests (one of them a “celebrity priest”) who express the opinion that one doesn’t need to go to confession unless one has sinned mortally. While this may be technically true, and is probably helpful advice if the person is living in some remote area with little or no access to a priest except once or twice a year, both the Catechism and the Church through its practices encourage people to go generally every month or couple of months.
During the 60s through the 80s, confession was de-emphasized from the more rigorous pre-Vatican II approach under which people went every week or couple of weeks, and the result was a whole lot of people just stopped going to confession at all and didn’t see anything wrong with that. I know adults my own age who don’t go at all or only go once a year, typically at one of those holiday “penance services” at which the church parking lots are always overflowing and they have to bring in 15 extra priests to get the crowd out of there before midnight. We’ve also heard stories of RCIA instructors or even RCIA priests suggesting that people don’t have to worry about confession unless they’ve committed some big grave sin.
So it’s rather alarming when someone posts what seems to be a story of that happening.
Also, we currently have maybe 3 priests and a couple deacons who post on this forum. A lot of the past clergy who used to post here left, in some cases because other posters were always arguing with them after the priest or deacon had given the correct Church teaching. The mods do, I believe, check on people who show up here and claim to be clergy. We have had a couple cases of purported “clergy” who showed up here posting very weird things and they were flagged by the community and vanished totally from the site within a couple of days.
Most of us regular posters know Fr. Edward and Fr InthePew and the couple of other priests who occasionally post, from seeing them over time on many threads. Fr. Edward has also been running a very popular Confession Q and A thread for a few weeks. We’re really grateful to have him and the other priests who post here and we wish that the others hadn’t left.
I hope you will continue to grow in the faith and participate here as you see fit to ask questions. We’re not trying to be mean, we’re just honestly concerned.
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rdj88
Guest
I’m beginning to wonder that myself, with the way some of you are acting.
I don’t feel like it should have been at all controversial to state that we cannot be certain whether statements by strangers on the internet can be trusted. This is pretty basic, and if you find it insulting then you evidently misunderstood the point, which was simply that the Father stated he was a priest as though I should have been aware of it already - despite never meeting him before, in person or online. I’ve barely been here 24 hours, so forgive me for not knowing all of you personally.
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mrsdizzyd
Guest
I’ll withdraw my previous post. I didn’t mean to offend you, it just seems rather odd to me to be so flippant about the people posting here.
Yes, we all know that people could be misrepresenting themselves on the internet, but I think charity suggests we take people at their word until they have given us reason to question them. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Yes, we all know that people could be misrepresenting themselves on the internet, but I think charity suggests we take people at their word until they have given us reason to question them. Otherwise, what’s the point?
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rdj88
Guest
I appreciate the kind words and detailed explanation. I think it goes without saying that attacking a victim of this problem you’re describing isn’t a logical or effective strategy, though.
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rdj88
Guest
To a certain degree and depending on the context, sure, but as another person just said there have been several people here who were caught “impersonating clergy,” so clearly it happens.
But you’ve really made a big deal of something that was never intended to be one. It was an offhand comment about how we can never truly know whether we can trust someone we’re taking to online. That’s all. I wasn’t arguing anything or trying to make a grander point about it.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
In fairness, the “strangers on the Internet” thing works both ways. We get a lot of troll posters or people who seem to show up here just to pick fights. We get slap happy sometimes trying to deal with them.
Pax Christi
Pax Christi
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rdj88
Guest
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, eh? Didn’t Jesus have something to say about that?
In all seriousness, though, I didn’t intend my original comment to be rough at all, so if it came off that way I do apologise. I’m just a very blunt person; I speak plainly, and for some reason people often seem to think that if you aren’t being overly “polite” you’re being mean.
Sure, but it didn’t come off as a personal prescription to me, it came off as an objective truth, which is why I felt comfortable sharing it. It’s always possible I misunderstood, though, so maybe he did intended it more as personal advice.
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Annie
Guest
Well, maybe those who responded to you felt that they were just speaking plainly?
Anyway, I sometimes run into trouble when the lack of vocal expression trips me up. So have others here. This too shall pass
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rdj88
Guest
I’m beginning to wonder whether your apology earlier was sincere, since you seem to be defending the behavior you were apologizing for.
If your default position is to treat someone new as a malevolent troll, you’re not going to create a very welcoming environment. I’ve been on the verge of turning around and leaving since these comment started coming in, but I’m trying to give this community the benefit of the doubt. Maybe getting a bit of outside perspective is a good thing? Because this thread really hasn’t given a great first impression of the people here. The only reason I’ve continued the conversation is because my default position is to assume that everyone’s intentions are good - no matter how wrong or rude they may come off. I’m sure you all mean well, but I still hope you take to heart what I’ve said. I may be new to Catholicism, but I’m pretty passionate about it already and I want everybody to be Catholic, so forums like this should really be loving and welcoming.
If your default position is to treat someone new as a malevolent troll, you’re not going to create a very welcoming environment. I’ve been on the verge of turning around and leaving since these comment started coming in, but I’m trying to give this community the benefit of the doubt. Maybe getting a bit of outside perspective is a good thing? Because this thread really hasn’t given a great first impression of the people here. The only reason I’ve continued the conversation is because my default position is to assume that everyone’s intentions are good - no matter how wrong or rude they may come off. I’m sure you all mean well, but I still hope you take to heart what I’ve said. I may be new to Catholicism, but I’m pretty passionate about it already and I want everybody to be Catholic, so forums like this should really be loving and welcoming.
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rdj88
Guest
Wonderful; thank you.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
Like I said, Pax Christi.
I have nothing further to add on the matter, except to note that like I said, “first impressions” run both ways.
Have a nice evening, I am leaving the thread now.
I have nothing further to add on the matter, except to note that like I said, “first impressions” run both ways.
Have a nice evening, I am leaving the thread now.
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rdj88
Guest
Well forgive me for not knowing what that means.
The implication that I’ve made a poor first impression, without explaining how, is not helpful, and frankly comes off as snide and passive aggressive. But since you’ve announced that you’re leaving, I suppose I won’t expect any elaboration.
Peace.
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Annie
Guest
Pax Christi means Peace of Christ.
Your original post was number 14. You did not mention a priest told you all or part of what you said, and you said people were selfish and unscrupulous and wasting the priest’s time… That is why Tis Bear says you made a bad first impression.
Next time, be aware that you should preface what you say with the source, and don’t think every thing every priest says is the gospel truth.
If what you are reading runs counter to something you heard from a priest, you can say, hey, a priest said this, bit you all are saying that. Why is there are difference?
Just remember the lack of time of voice here means you have to be more careful how you put things.
Your original post was number 14. You did not mention a priest told you all or part of what you said, and you said people were selfish and unscrupulous and wasting the priest’s time… That is why Tis Bear says you made a bad first impression.
Next time, be aware that you should preface what you say with the source, and don’t think every thing every priest says is the gospel truth.
If what you are reading runs counter to something you heard from a priest, you can say, hey, a priest said this, bit you all are saying that. Why is there are difference?
Just remember the lack of time of voice here means you have to be more careful how you put things.
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CRV
Guest
I joined in Feb this year - but in one thread when Fr edward_george1 corrected something I posted, I also saw how other posters not just in that thread but in others responded to him with 'Father … ’ - thus confirming he was indeed a priest. So I get your point of ‘people claiming to be clergy when they aren’t and being on the internet how can I be sure’ concerns. But with many other posters addressing him as “Father” should alleviate your concerns in this matter.
I too haven’t always been told the right info from a priest , so my recommendation to you is to buy yourself a copy of the catechism or there’s this one online for you to read at the Vatican website - Catechism of the Catholic Church.
I too haven’t always been told the right info from a priest , so my recommendation to you is to buy yourself a copy of the catechism or there’s this one online for you to read at the Vatican website - Catechism of the Catholic Church.
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