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David_Ereai
Guest
If a penitent cofesses a serious sin, i.e murder, that is also required by the law, Can the priest tell the police?
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jmcrae
Guest
No.If a penitent cofesses a serious sin, i.e murder, that is also required by the law, Can the priest tell the police?
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CWBetts
Guest
This came up in RCIA a couple of weeks ago (I am on the RCIA team). Our priest said that he cannot tell the police, nor can he require the penitent to turn themselves in, but he would reccomend that they do so.
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FrDavid96
Guest
No. And the “why” is also important. When we confess our sins, we are confessing to Christ. The person of the priest is “not even there.” That means that the priest himself did not hear the sin/crime. Also, people need to know that they are able to confess their sins without fear. If penitents have a fear of being reported to civil authorities, they are not free to confess their sins openly and honestly.If a penitent cofesses a serious sin, i.e murder, that is also required by the law, Can the priest tell the police?
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David_Ereai
Guest
can he give them absolution anyway? If then it’s wrong.
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CWBetts
Guest
How is it wrong? You are saying then that some sins cannot be absolved. I believe if the penitent is truly remorseful, he would do as his priest encouraged. At any rate, very few murders (despite what you may see in the movies) are unsolved. I am not sure how I would handle it, but then I am no priest. ALso keep in mind at judgement, we all have to answer for everything we did in our lives. So even if he would escape earthly judgement, he will still have a period of purification in purgatory, that is if he died in a state of grace.can he give them absolution anyway? If then it’s wrong.
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FrDavid96
Guest
Sacramental absolution does not mean that the person who committed the crime no longer has to answer to the civil authorities for that crime.can he give them absolution anyway? If then it’s wrong.
What do you mean when you say it’s wrong?
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Jude_Smith
Guest
Couldn’t a priest make turning yourself in part of the penance? And then wouldn’t the absolution depend on doing so?How is it wrong? You are saying then that some sins cannot be absolved. I believe if the penitent is truly remorseful, he would do as his priest encouraged. At any rate, very few murders (despite what you may see in the movies) are unsolved. I am not sure how I would handle it, but then I am no priest. ALso keep in mind at judgement, we all have to answer for everything we did in our lives. So even if he would escape earthly judgement, he will still have a period of purification in purgatory, that is if he died in a state of grace.
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AHapka
Guest
Absolution never depends on performing the assigned penance. Though a person confessing should have every intent of performing his penance as part of his repentance.Couldn’t a priest make turning yourself in part of the penance? And then wouldn’t the absolution depend on doing so?
That being said, not performing a penance (on purpose) is a sin. It would be disobedience to your religious superior. Whether or not it would be venial or mortal would depend on the circumstances, of course, and should be discussed with their confessor.
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1ke
Guest
No.Couldn’t a priest make turning yourself in part of the penance?
No.And then wouldn’t the absolution depend on doing so?
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jmcrae
Guest
If so, then who would ever confess to committing a crime? The priest is interested in our eternal welfare; he is not an agent of the police or of the government. So, he will do whatever is necessary to encourage us to confess our sins to God, but he will not act as a policeman.Couldn’t a priest make turning yourself in part of the penance? And then wouldn’t the absolution depend on doing so?
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puzzleannie
Guest
no not necessarily, he can and must refuse absolution in some cases (see canon law, lack of any contrition or remorse is one, failure to remove oneself from an ongoing sinful situation is another) but he cannot make absolution dependent on the penitent turning himself in, nor upon performing any penance. The confidential seal of the confessional is absolute. The only thing in the secular culture that comes close is lawyer-client or doctor-patient privilege.can he give them absolution anyway? If then it’s wrong.
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Ginger2
Guest
What if the person confesses a sin they are about to commit?
Obviously (at least I assume) the priest would refuse to absolve the person’s future sin.
But if the person said he was on his way to…uh, let’s say his ex-wife’s house to murder her and then shoot himself,…
Is the priest obligated to remain silent?
Obviously (at least I assume) the priest would refuse to absolve the person’s future sin.
But if the person said he was on his way to…uh, let’s say his ex-wife’s house to murder her and then shoot himself,…
Is the priest obligated to remain silent?
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jmcrae
Guest
If you aren’t repentant of your sin, you wouldn’t confess it in the Confessional.What if the person confesses a sin they are about to commit?
He can’t, because there is no intention to amend one’s ways.Obviously (at least I assume) the priest would refuse to absolve the person’s future sin.
But if the person said he was on his way to…uh, let’s say his ex-wife’s house to murder her and then shoot himself,…
Since no valid Confession took place, he would not be under the Seal. He could certainly contact the police and prevent the situation from happening, for sure.Is the priest obligated to remain silent?
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Ginger2
Guest
But this person wants to be forgiven. He can’t go after the sin, so he went beforehand.If you aren’t repentant of your sin, you wouldn’t confess it in the Confessional.
That’s why he would confess it.
Well, that is good to know.Since no valid Confession took place, he would not be under the Seal. He could certainly contact the police and prevent the situation from happening, for sure.
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jmcrae
Guest
If he was repentant (wished he had never done it/was never going to do it), then he would stop intending to do the sin, and then there would be no sin at all. Nothing, therefore, to confess.But this person wants to be forgiven. He can’t go after the sin, so he went beforehand.
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Ginger2
Guest
I am not saying he is repentant. I am saying he wants to be forgiven for what he is about to do, and believes a priest can forgive him.
Some people do have very distorted views of religion. It is possible someone could think they can be forgiven in advance and not understand what being repentant means.
Some people do have very distorted views of religion. It is possible someone could think they can be forgiven in advance and not understand what being repentant means.
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quiet52
Guest
“Jesus, please forgive me for all my future sins”I am not saying he is repentant. I am saying he wants to be forgiven for what he is about to do, and believes a priest can forgive him.
Some people do have very distorted views of religion. It is possible someone could think they can be forgiven in advance and not understand what being repentant means.
Nope – doesn’t work that way.
One of the components of the sacrament of Reconciliation is repentence – a sense of remorse and firm amendment of purpose, or conviction, to try not to sin again. In the scenario you present, that component would not be there.
Absolution isn’t some wave of a magic wand to excuse a person. The priest could not absolve a person for a “future sin” to begin with, and cannot absolve a person for a sin he or she isn’t sorry for.
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Verbum_Caro
Guest
Ginger,
I follow you.
I’m not certain, but I would think that the seal of confession would apply, even to those “future sins” – even though they cannot be absolved by the priest.
I am not aware that a defect in the confession, such that it renders the sacrament invalid, would prevent the seal of confession from attaching.
In this case the defect is lack of contrition and purpose of amendment – but nevertheless, if the person told the priest because he thinks it can be absolved, or he thinks that he is confessing, it would seem to me that the seal would still attach.
Thoughts?
VC
I follow you.
I’m not certain, but I would think that the seal of confession would apply, even to those “future sins” – even though they cannot be absolved by the priest.
I am not aware that a defect in the confession, such that it renders the sacrament invalid, would prevent the seal of confession from attaching.
In this case the defect is lack of contrition and purpose of amendment – but nevertheless, if the person told the priest because he thinks it can be absolved, or he thinks that he is confessing, it would seem to me that the seal would still attach.
Thoughts?
VC
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jmcrae
Guest
If he’s so sure it’s wrong that he wants to confess it, why on earth would he want to do it, in the first place?I am not saying he is repentant. I am saying he wants to be forgiven for what he is about to do, and believes a priest can forgive him.
Someone who thinks he has a good reason to commit murder and kill himself isn’t going to think “I should go to Confession before I do this, so that God will forgive me” - he already thinks that God is on his side.
Well, if the priest ran into such a person, he would most likely sit him down and set him straight.Some people do have very distorted views of religion. It is possible someone could think they can be forgiven in advance and not understand what being repentant means.
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