General Absolution during Pandemic

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mythbuster1

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Have any bishops authorized General Absolution during the Coronavirus pandemic?
 
Not that I am aware of. AFAIK, there must be a reasonable expectation of death. And, IIRC in any event, one must be present. If there were military style temporary field hospitals set up and many dying, then it would be appropriate.

As I see it, one may still confess behind the screen, wearing mask and gloves, if Father permits. That way you are protected physically and spiritually.
 
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No but they should during this crisis and make it the norm in the future

Those who need spiritual direction can still go to confession

That being said, I’m not the pope and have no authority on the matter. 😃
 
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General absolution would require a gathering though. However when a person cannot get to confession but would do so if they could, we are absolved by private act of contrition as long as we get to the Sacrament as soon as we can.
 
po18guy said:
AFAIK, there must be a reasonable expectation of death. And, IIRC in any event, one must be present.
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A reasonable expectation of death is only one part. The other is “grave necessity”; when the number of penitents means there are not enough confessors available to hear the confessions of individuals properly within a suitable period of time in such a way that the penitents are forced to be deprived for a long while of sacramental grace or holy communion through no fault of their own.

However, you’re right in saying that physical presence is still required. It could be possible where people were about to go into quarantine (or were already in quarantine but in the same place); or where they could be gathered in groups under the maximum permitted number for as short a time as was needed to complete the Rite. More importantly though, they would all still need to confess their sins in the ordinary way once this was possible and before receiving the eucharist.

IMHO the reason this hasn’t come up is twofold: bishops are dealing with a dynamic situation which is evolving and changing daily. Second, there’s a risk that doing so would open the door to Rite III becoming commonplace in some parishes (or at least people wanting this - the human mind likes to go with whatever is easiest).
 
It could be done live on television through the Catholic Channel or
EWTN and it could be done a few times a week. Would reach not just the US but Europe, Asia, Africa etc.
 
I’m in the UK and myself and the rest of the family were really scared we might not get confession before we’re put in isolation for many months. We actually drove to another city in a panic where there was advertised reconciliation times because we were scared of dying without the opportunity to confess and I for one am so scared I’ve committed a grave sin.

When we got there the Fr was only giving out general absolution. He asked us before hand if we had intention of confessing grave sin at the next possible opportunity. There were more people than I’ve ever seen trying to get confession, including priests from other parishes. I’ve rarely seen anyone else in the line at this church.

I’ve just got to trust if I don’t survive this that God will know I tried and was truly sorry.

I wish we could confess by phone or Skype in times of emergency.

I have to say, recognising that he was giving us general absolution because there was a general threat to life really brought things home. Frightening times.
 
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