Forgot to confess contraception

[JohnPeter]

Hi, I’m a recent convert, during my first confession I confessed to having premarital sex with many women, but I forgot about contraception, now do I need to mention this next time I go? The priest said he would ask if he needed more info about something, and he did, but not on this point. I think he assumed that I did use it, it is after all quite common, or maybe it didn’t occur to him to ask.

 

[coolduude]

If you legitimately, honest-to-goodness forgot, then you’re fine. It is forgiven. It would still be good to bring this up next time, though, so you and your confessor can talk about it.

However, if you purposely withheld this sin, your entire confession is invalid, nothing was forgiven, and you must go again (and confess this sin).

 

[Rascalking]

If you legitimately, honest-to-goodness forgot, then you’re fine. It is forgiven. It would still be good to bring this up next time, though, so you and your confessor can talk about it.

However, if you purposely withheld this sin, your entire confession is invalid, nothing was forgiven, and you must go again (and confess this sin).

This is word for word the right advice.

Prayers your way my friend.

 

[Bookcat]

If it was mortal (sometimes such can have been done in complete ignorance for example…but I would still mention it anyhow…saying that one thinks it was not subjectively mortal) then one is obliged to confess it in the next confession.

 

[Bookcat]

he priest said he would ask if he needed more info about something, and he did, but not on this point. I think he assumed that I did use it, it is after all quite common, or maybe it didn’t occur to him to ask.

Remember …confession is “confession” …to accuse oneself…not interrogation.

While the Priest can ask various questions when needed…we are *obliged *to confess all mortal sins in number and kind (and circumstances that change the sin…like it was your brother you murdered).

Fornication 2x
Adultery 3x
Murder 5x
Lustful thoughts 2x
etc

But also remember…you were new to all this I too once was

 

[JohnPeter]

Well I honestly completely forgot, but I will mention it next time or I know I will be attacked by doubts. Thanks everyone.

 

[smichhertz]

Well I honestly completely forgot, but I will mention it next time or I know I will be attacked by doubts. Thanks everyone.

That’s the right thing to do, don’t worry though, your sins are still forgiven!

 

[MS_SURVEYOR]

WOW! I was thinking about how I forgot to confess contraception just this morning. Never though about contraception! Just goes to show what the Holy Spirit will do to get you right with GOD!

 

[thistle]

Hi, I’m a recent convert, during my first confession I confessed to having premarital sex with many women, but I forgot about contraception, now do I need to mention this next time I go? The priest said he would ask if he needed more info about something, and he did, but not on this point. I think he assumed that I did use it, it is after all quite common, or maybe it didn’t occur to him to ask.

Were you baptised into the Catholic Church or were you already validly baptised in a Protestant Church?
If you were not previously baptised and to convert you were baptised into the Catholic Church then that baptism takes away both original sin and personal sin. Such a person making their first Communion only has to confess sins that have been committed after being baptised.
I was in the other situation being a validly baptised Methodist so in my case I had 44 years of sins to confess.

However, as the others have said sins genuinely forgotten at Confession do not affect your absolution but you should mention them at your next Confession.

 

[mark_a]

Hi, I’m a recent convert, during my first confession I confessed to having premarital sex with many women, but I forgot about contraception, now do I need to mention this next time I go? The priest said he would ask if he needed more info about something, and he did, but not on this point. I think he assumed that I did use it, it is after all quite common, or maybe it didn’t occur to him to ask.

Unless you now married and contracepting, I don’t see that you would need to confess contracepting during the (already) sinful act of fornication.