Forgotten sins

[raphaeluriel]

HI,
I came back to the Church after an amazing spiritual experience during lent 2014 having lived most of my 20’s in prison & on drugs. I went to confession after a full examination of conscience and told the priest that i would not be able to remember every mortal sin during those years. He absolved me off my sins but sometimes i remember things i did during those years. Am i still guilty of those or do i keep going back…
Thank you

 

[Vico]

HI,
I came back to the Church after an amazing spiritual experience during lent 2014 having lived most of my 20’s in prison & on drugs. I went to confession after a full examination of conscience and told the priest that i would not be able to remember every mortal sin during those years. He absolved me off my sins but sometimes i remember things i did during those years. Am i still guilty of those or do i keep going back…
Thank you

You confess sins in number and kind after an good examination of conscience and are absolved for all sins, even those that are not remembered. However, it you remember later a grave sin, then it should be told, next time, even though it is already absolved, because the priest is responsible to give a penance and guidance for all the sins confessed. Integral confession means confession of all of the mortal sins remembered unless it is morally impossible.

Also, some sins may required the prior approval of the bishop to remove an excommunication. Bishops can delegate this power to other priests in their diocese and normally have done that for the sin of abortion (in the USA).

 

[Bookcat]

One is obliged to confess forgotten sins that are remembered- if they are mortal sins (grave sin and serious sin mean the same thing as mortal).

jimmyakin.com/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html (senior apologist of Catholic Answers)

Forgotten venial sins never need to be confessed (just as venial sin do not need to be confessed anyhow - though it is good to go regularly and confess some…they can be forgiven in many ways).