Impersonating confessions

[Florida123]

What happens if a man goes into a Confessional dressed up as a priest and imparts absolution with the right words and hears confessions?

Are the sins of the people that were duped forgiven?

What are the penalties for the man who impersonated a priest and celebrated the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation?

 

[GKCT]

Boy, that’s a scary scenario. Maybe this is why we should know the priests we go to. I only go the the priests in my parish. I think if I came across a priest I didn’t know, I might ask for his card.
Our confessional is locked until the priest comes to hear confessions, so we are pretty safe.

As for your other questions, I would not know the answer.

 

[Trishie]

Absolution is not received in such a case.
The person is not ordained.

From the Code of Canon Law:

Can. 965 Only a priest is the minister of the sacrament of penance.

Can. 966 §1 For the valid absolution of sins, it is required that, in addition to the power of order, the minister has the faculty to exercise that power in respect of the faithful to whom he gives absolution.

intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/__P3F.HTM

 

[Oneofthewomen]

What happens if a man goes into a Confessional dressed up as a priest and imparts absolution with the right words and hears confessions?

Are the sins of the people that were duped forgiven?

What are the penalties for the man who impersonated a priest and celebrated the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation?

This is a very interesting question.

As far as “penalties” for impersonating a priest, I have no idea, but I am sure there are some, especially if one is Catholic!

As far as those who went to this man for confession, in my humble lay-operson opinion, I would think that if the pentitent would not have any reason to doubt the validity of the confession, it would be valid. However, if the penitent later found out that they did not actually confess ot a priest, I would think that they would need to re-confess the sins, and tell the new preist exactly what happened the first time!

 

[Trishie]

This is a very interesting question.

As far as “penalties” for impersonating a priest, I have no idea, but I am sure there are some, especially if one is Catholic!

If a Catholic, the person is excommunicated

§2 The following incur a latae sententiae interdict or, if a cleric, a latae sententiae suspension:
2° a person who, apart from the case mentioned in §1, though unable to give valid sacramental absolution, attempts to do so, or hears a sacramental confession.

§3 In the cases mentioned in §2, other penalties, not excluding excommunication, can be added, according to the gravity of the offence.

Can. 1379 A person who, apart from the cases mentioned in Can. 1378, pretends to administer a sacrament, is to be punished with a just penalty.

intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/__P52.HTM

latae sententiae interdict:

The particular personal interdict, which is a real censure, affects individuals much in the same way as excommunication. They may not assist at the Divine offices or at Mass, and if they are interdicted by name they should be put out, however, if they refuse to withdraw it is not necessary to suspend the service since, after all, the interdict does not deprive them of the communion of the faithful. They may not demand to receive the sacraments, except Penance and the Viaticum, and it is not lawful to administer them. They are to be deprived of ecclesiastical burial, but Mass and the ordinary prayers may be said for them. A cleric violating the interdict becomes irregular.

newadvent.org/cathen/08073a.htm

 

[Daizies]

At our parish, they keep the confessionals locked except during scheduled confession times. The Priest unlocks it when he arrives, and locks it when he leaves.

 

[George_Stegmeir]

One of the most frightening things that occured during Soviet communism was that Soviet secret police agents would disguise themselves as priests and hear confessions and then use the information they obtained against the people they confessed. This happened especially in the parts of Poland they took over in 1939.

 

[FrDavid96]

What happens if a man goes into a Confessional dressed up as a priest and imparts absolution with the right words and hears confessions?

Are the sins of the people that were duped forgiven?

What are the penalties for the man who impersonated a priest and celebrated the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation?

There is no absolution. It simply does not happen.

Are their sins forgiven? Yes. Because the “penitents” in-good-faith thought they were confessing to a priest and so they receive all the graces of the Sacrament, even though they don’t receive the Sacrament itself. God can still forgive them, and does, because they sincerely sought that forgiveness. He doesn’t hold them responsible because they were the victims of someone else’s deception.

 

[Trishie]

There is no absolution. It simply does not happen.

Are their sins forgiven? Yes. Because the “penitents” in-good-faith thought they were confessing to a priest and so they receive all the graces of the Sacrament, even though they don’t receive the Sacrament itself. God can still forgive them, and does, because they sincerely sought that forgiveness. He doesn’t hold them responsible because they were the victims of someone else’s deception.

Thanks Father David. Its so good to have a priest’s (name removed by moderator)ut to clarify issues.
Thanks for being around at such times.

 

[JGMendes4049]

As far as “penalties” for impersonating a priest, I have no idea, but I am sure there are some, especially if one is Catholic!

The punishment is interdict latæ sententiæ, according to canon 1378:

§1. …]

§2. The following incur a latæ sententiæ penalty of interdict or, if a cleric, a latæ sententiæ penalty of suspension:

1. a person who attempts the liturgical action of the Eucharistic sacrifice though not promoted to the sacerdotal order;

1. apart from the case mentioned in §1, a person who, though unable to give sacramental absolution validly, attempts to impart it or who hears sacramental confession.

§3. In the cases mentioned in §2, other penalties, not excluding excommunication, can be added according to the gravity of the delict.​

— of 1984Code of Canon Law​

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

One of the most frightening things that occured during Soviet communism was that Soviet secret police agents would disguise themselves as priests and hear confessions and then use the information they obtained against the people they confessed. This happened especially in the parts of Poland they took over in 1939.

It also occurred in Ireland at various times during English occupation.