Hypothetical confession questions

[rosejmj]

A person who was raised in the Catholic faith and recieved the sacraments chooses to stop practicing the Faith because they believe Catholicism does not hold the fullness of truth. They do not accept many of the Church’s teaching because they believe they are not true. They also do not accept some of the Catholic morals. What if that person decided to go to confession and confess all actions which go against Church teaching even though they still do not believe or accept Church teaching just because it feels good to confess? What do your u think of that?

 

[Fauken]

What do your u think of that?

I think that they probably did not have a valid confession, as they probably have no remorse nor intention to amend the actions/beliefs that go against Church teaching. I also think they’re pretty rude to go to confession with such intent as they would know that’s not how the Sacrament works and would be thus abusing it.

 

[midori]

Why would someone confess to a priest if they didn’t believe that the priest stood in for Christ?

You ask forgiveness from the people you harm. If I steal your lunch money, I can’t go ask Tom to forgive me, because I didn’t hurt Tom. I ask for your forgiveness, because I harmed you, and I ask God’s forgiveness, because all sin is against God.

There’s no point in confessing to someone who’s just a man. I might as well tell my best friend, or my mom, or my brother, or my spouse.

But the point of Confession is absolution-- being forgiven. Some random guy can’t give me forgiveness-- God can forgive me, or the person I hurt can forgive me.

But there’s no point in me believing that a man can give me God’s forgiveness if I also don’t accept the other things that he can do by virtue of his priesthood.

 

[rosejmj]

I understand what you are saying. But what if the person is not so much doing it for forgiveness, but more because it helps to get the weight off their chest and they like the idea of confessing anonymously to someone who will be merciful and patient and will not condemn them?

 

[Beryllos]

I was going to say that they should see a therapist instead, but I changed my mind. They should go to Confession. Jesus is there, and through his love and mercy, they might find healing and faith. If you know such a person, encourage him or her to go and ask Jesus for forgiveness, faith, and guidance.

 

[Fauken]

they like the idea of confessing anonymously to someone who will be merciful and patient and will not condemn them?

I’m pretty sure that if the priest found out why they’re really there, he’d remind them of the purpose of the confessional and not give them absolution.

 

[poche]

It has been my observation that a person who has theological doubts is really involved in a serious sin that they are not willing to give up.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

People who go to confession, even seemingly for the reason described in the OP, are often searching for a deeper connection with God even if they don’t know it/won’t admit it. The confessional can be like a course of treatment for the sick at that stage that will eventually restore them to the faith.

 

[Edmundus1581]

People who go to confession, even seemingly for the reason described in the OP, are often searching for a deeper connection with God even if they don’t know it/won’t admit it. The confessional can be like a course of treatment for the sick at that stage that will eventually restore them to the faith.

I agree. The way this OP describes this hypothetical person they seem obstinate in their denial of Catholic teaching, in which case I think it both unlikely they would go to confession and also the confession would be of little use. What’s the point of saying that they have no intention of giving up their sins? But a very similar description could also apply to someone who is not obstinate, who is not ready to reform themselves and accept the fulness of the faith, but are, as you say “searching for a deeper connection with God”. I would think that confession in this case could be a helpful encounter with God through a merciful priest. It takes some humility.

The priest would probably not give them absolution, but would hopefully give them counsel and admonition. I think I have heard of people who have gone to confession in a similar state and had a conversion experience in the confessional, and fully confessed and been absolved.

 

[Lea101]

Why would they need to get it off their chest if they believe it’s not wrong though? I don’t feel the need to confess when I do something I believe is morally neutral at most tbh.

While reading your question, I thought about all those movies/shows where the protagonist goes into a confessional and talk to the priest. Pretty odd

 

[rosejmj]

So you think that often the reason they disagree with the Church is because they aren’t willing to give up some sin? So does that mean they are making up theological doubts to have better reason to leave the Church? Do they know or are they lying to themselves

 

[thistle]

I understand what you are saying. But what if the person is not so much doing it for forgiveness, but more because it helps to get the weight off their chest and they like the idea of confessing anonymously to someone who will be merciful and patient and will not condemn them?

If the penitent does not SINCERELY repent and the priest realises that the penitent will not receive absolution.
If the penitent does manage to fool the priest and receive absolution it would in reality be invalid because while you may be able to fool the priest you cannot fool God.

 

[rosejmj]

The penitent does not care about recieving absolution. He only wants to confess to a listening ear

 

[thistle]

The penitent does not care about recieving absolution. He only wants to confess to a listening ear

My post answers that question. What is unclear about what I said?
If he tells the priest upfront he has no interest in sincere confession or receiving absolution the priest will tell him to leave. He may agree to meet him outside Confession.

 

[poche]

The sin starts first. Then a love of the sin develops. After that is when the theological doubt comes forward. This has been my observation.
There is a story about Fulton Sheen. A priest came to him and told him that he had theological doubts about various matters, the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the immaculate conception, the trinity. Fulton Sheen looked at him and asked him, “What color are her eyes?”

 

[CRV]

The penitent does not care about recieving absolution. He only wants to confess to a listening ear

Then this person needs a therapists couch and not the confessional. Which would be better than abusing the sacrament of confession.

After all it was Christs’ horrific suffering which enables a persons sins to be forgiven and for the person to be reconciled to God and in the case of mortal sin, for the soul to be restored to the supernatural life of sanctifying grace.