False memories and confession

[almostfound]

I am undiagnosed, but suffer from OCD (or at the very least scrupulosity). I struggle with false memories: memories that I truly believe happened when they didn’t. There are two things that I haven’t said in previous confessions (mostly because I didn’t remember them at those times). These “memories” are of mortal sins I committed years ago (that came up suddenly) that I don’t know if they happened or not at one-hundred percent. Even though I shouldn’t confess things I’m not sure of, I’m worried about not saying them in confession because they’re really bad if they did happen.

Also, while I know that a priest can’t beak the seal of confession, I’m scared that I will be the exception. Again, I’m pretty sure this is my OCD/scrupulosity.
If I tell the priest that I might suffer from OCD and that some of these are false memories will he understand or will he think I’m crazy?

 

[guanophore]

There are two things that I haven’t said in previous confessions (mostly because I didn’t remember them at those times). These “memories” are of mortal sins I committed years ago (that came up suddenly) that I don’t know if they happened or not at one-hundred percent.

It will not hurt you to confess wrongdoing that you are not sure you committed. Do you know what constitutes a mortal sin?

 

[Canvas]

I will tell you that you, as a scrupulant, are not bound to accuse yourself of any sin that is in any way doubtful. This is Catholic teaching that goes back a long way. Check out any moral theology writing concerning scrupulosity.

 

[DeniseNY]

He will not think you are crazy. Your pastor is exactly the person to speak to about this.

 

[Vico]

…

The sorrow in confession, for mortal sins must be universal and it is universal when the sorrow extends to all mortal sins. If you do not remember if a sin was mortal it should still be covered by universal sorrow. A remembered sin that was not confessed should be told if you are certain it mortal.

 

[Socrates92]

The seal of confession is absolute. You will not be the exception.

 

[Arwing]

It can and does hurt the scrupulous. OP, you need to talk to your priest, and also get help for the OCD. (I do know that’s often much easier said than done.)

 

[guanophore]

It can and does hurt the scrupulous. OP, you need to talk to your priest

And this is the whole point. A person who suffers from this condition needs a supportive relationship with a confessor so that there is help with discernment. If a scrupulous person brings up something that does not require the sacrament, then the priest can instruct/advise them.

 

[JimG]

You may think that confessing uncertain sins that may or may not have happened, in confession, will set you mind at ease. But it won’t. Confessing uncertain sins will simply feed your scrupulosity, which ought to be starved, not fed.

 

[Roguish]

If I tell the priest that I might suffer from OCD and that some of these are false memories will he understand or will he think I’m crazy?

Unfortunately neither priests nor the people on CAF are very good at giving advice to OCD sufferers. Some priests don’t even know what it is. Probably the best OCD-related thread we ever had on CAF was this one:

OCD Discussions Catholic Living

So, there have been an awful lot of threads about scrupulosity and OCD. All of them got me thinking about my own struggles with OCD. I also tend towards OCPD (Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder)…although I haven’t been officially diagnosed with that…but I definitely have several traits lol! My worst time with it was about 8 yrs ago when I was pregnant with my younger daughter…it flared up so badly…I should have been on meds but I was in denial and didn’t want to take anything during pr…

It’s a long read (more than 300 posts) but there’s a lot of valuable stuff there.

In your personal case, first: priests don’t break the seal of confession. Second, don’t confess stuff you’re not sure happened, you’re only worsening your OCD if you get into that. Third, don’t use public threads on CAF to ask questions about specific sins, because it’ll get worse. Ideally, find a human being you know in person who can help you with this. This may be a priest, or it may be a mental-healthy physician, or it may be a brother/sister in faith. In any case, make sure that person is both religious and understands OCD, otherwise they just won’t understand what you’re going through. If you’re going to ask questions about specific sins on CAF, better to get to know a handful of members first, choose one that relates to you best, and talk to him/her via private messages.

 

[InThePew]

If I tell the priest that I might suffer from OCD and that some of these are false memories will he understand or will he think I’m crazy?

Tbh it’s a matter for your confessor - and on the point, you should ensure that you always go to the same priest and only to that priest - but you might be better off on a formula; that is, set words you say each time you come to confession in order to help you avoid fixating on whether something is or isn’t a sin or in your case, did or didn’t happen. Again, this requires you to find a priest you trust to be your regular confessor and to follow his advice.