If I kill someone and go to confession, am I forgiven?

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Arch_Angel

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Sorry for my blunt question but I have to admit, I do wonder sometimes in certain circumstances if certain sins are forgiven. What if you kill, commit adultery, or what if you’re the president and pass a bill that allows abortion (killing millions of unborn). What happens then? What if you go to confession with true remorse feeling sorry for such awful crimes… will you just be forgiven and that’s it? What if Hitler went to confession after all he did and truly felt sorry for what he has done, would he be saved? I’m just very confused about this side of confession.
 
Arch_Angel said:
Sorry for my blunt question but I have to admit, I do wonder sometimes in certain circumstances if certain sins are forgiven. What if you kill, commit adultery, or what if you’re the president and pass a bill that allows abortion (killing millions of unborn). What happens then? What if you go to confession with true remorse feeling sorry for such awful crimes… will you just be forgiven and that’s it? What if Hitler went to confession after all he did and truly felt sorry for what he has done, would he be saved? I’m just very confused about this side of confession.
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If the person by the grace of God has contrition and the firm purpose of amendment…any sin can be absolved…yes even if Hitler had repented…with contrition and purpose of amendment …he could have received absolution…(though his penance would be a whopper of a penance…etc) God loves us and desires our life …our true life…

but of course one should not plan to kill someone saying…I will just go to confession…one would have more sin… for when it came time for confession…one may not have contrition or a firm purpose of amendment when needed…one should not presume that one will be able to repent etc…(if someone kills some one …he may not be able to repent of it…for he still may want to have killed him etc…not a good place to be…not to mention that killing is very bad)

we trust in the mercy of God…and if we do fall into mortal sin…go right to confession and receive that mercy (even perhaps before you get there… with perfect contrition and intent to confess as soon as is possible) …but we need to know too that we never know when our “hour” of death will come for us…and the door may closed with us not having the oil in our lamps…or if we may not turn further away…into more mortal sin…from one to another…

So trust God…get to confession…but also we must be ready…so “watch for we know not the day or the hour”

hope this is not a practical question …if it is then go to confession now and do not do any killing 😃
 
Thanks Bookcat haha, I am just asking in general haha. I was asked this question in conversation by a non-catholic the other night and I was stumped. However I follow up with another question; didn’t Jesus grant His disciples the power to forgive or not forgive? I have never heard of a case where a priest did not forgive someone (and we will never know since its closed doors).

But lets say that Hitler has some whopper penance, He of course must still face just trial correct? Penance in these types of situations mean to me that Hitler or whoever did such an act must present himself with humility through social justice and accept punishment of society (even it it means being put in jail or to death).

I just can’t imagine Hitler going to confession and coming out with penance (not sure what it would be) yet still walking the earth with people as if nothing happened and feeling guilt free. He still has to answer for his crimes / sins right?

I guess my point is, for our general mortal sins our penance can be on the light side in comparison. But for crimes like this, do these people undergo a much harder penance or will they spend a long time in purgatory?

I’m missing something here I know and I appreciate your incite and patience… its helping me have a better understanding of my own faith so thank you.
 
Perhaps a priest could explain those situations when absolution isn’t granted.

I can think of cases where an unrepentant sinner would ask for absolution while not feeling repentance for their sin.

Negative personal attitude in the confessional would be a warning sign.

Automatic absolution for the act of abortion wasn’t until recently an act that could be granted by a priest. Now, a Bishop can give that act of absolution to his priests, if he chooses to.
 
God knows our hearts.

Confessing when you aren’t sorry… does nothing.
 
As long as one is willing to try their best not to sin again, any sin can be forgiven.
 
What our Protestant brothers and sisters also don’t quite grasp is that we as Catholics confess for absolution.

Forgiveness and absolution are different.
 
Absolution may be withheld if the penitent is clearly intending to continue committing the sin. For example, people in invalid marriages who cannot/will not live as brother and sister, contracepting couples who intend to continue, embezzlers who refuse to stop and find other ways of supporting their families, etc.

Betsy
 
Is it common practice for the priest to tell the person to give themselves up to the authorities in order for the absolution to take place? That makes a lot of sense to me. And what about rape or grand theft? I mean, would they be told to serve their time?
 
Kontrak said:
Is it common practice for the priest to tell the person to give themselves up to the authorities in order for the absolution to take place? That makes a lot of sense to me.
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The priest may encourage the person to do so but may not require it, as that would break the seal of confession.

Betsy
 
baltobetsy said:
The priest may encourage the person to do so but may not require it, as that would break the seal of confession.

Betsy
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But the priest doesn’t tell the police. The penitent has to. Is that part of the seal? I watched a movie once where a priest suffered a great deal because someone confessed murder to him and the priest got convicted for it. So that’s why I’m not sure that the withholding absolution practice is common and seems to me if it was, then all priest would be required to do so unless the person was at death’s door.
 
Arch_Angel said:
Thanks Bookcat haha, I am just asking in general haha. I was asked this question in conversation by a non-catholic the other night and I was stumped. However I follow up with another question; didn’t Jesus grant His disciples the power to forgive or not forgive? I have never heard of a case where a priest did not forgive someone (and we will never know since its closed doors).
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Yes he gave them (Bishops and Priests have this power) the power to bind and loose…the Priest must make a judgment…is the person really contrite etc…

If a person is not…he can not be absolved.
 
Arch_Angel said:
T
I guess my point is, for our general mortal sins our penance can be on the light side in comparison. But for crimes like this, do these people undergo a much harder penance or will they spend a long time in purgatory?
.
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Yes…the penance must take into account the evil committed…

And even our penance does not necessarily remove all the temporal punishment…effects…due to sin. Thus the person may very well need further purification on earth…and purgatory …
 
Bookcat said:
Yes…the penance must take into account the evil committed…

And even our penance does not necessarily remove all the temporal punishment…effects…due to sin. Thus the person may very well need further purification on earth…and purgatory …
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Unless, that is, if a person is receiving confession before death. Then, I believe you’re released from temporal punishment as well. I think I read this on Fisheaters, but I could be wrong.
Anyone willing to verify that for me? 🙂
 
Kontrak said:
But the priest doesn’t tell the police. The penitent has to. Is that part of the seal? I watched a movie once where a priest suffered a great deal because someone confessed murder to him and the priest got convicted for it. So that’s why I’m not sure that the withholding absolution practice is common and seems to me if it was, then all priest would be required to do so unless the person was at death’s door.
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Forcing the penitent to turn himself in to the authorities is an action by the priest that would cause the sin to be made public; therefore it breaks the seal.
 
The Priest hearing confession may have to receive clearance from their Bishop before forgiving a excommunicable sin like murder. Even if this wasn’t neccessary you would certainly be encouraged to admit responsiblity to the authorities as part of your penance.
In this circumstance God may forgive, but probably not forget!!

🙂 Peace and love!
 
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