Is heresy (an offense that results in excommunication) only forgiven by the Pope?

[Ben_Sinner]

So for instance like I stated in a previous thread I was a baptized catholic and then later converted to Protestant (converted back to the RCC 3 years ago).

Does that mean I have to get absolution from Pope Benedict personally in order to have my excommuncation lifted…as in I have communicate with the pope myself?

The reason I ask is because I found this in the Catholic Encylopedia…

newadvent.org/cathen/05678a.htm

Excommunications simply reserved to the pope

Before enumerating those it intends to retain, the Constitution “Apostolicæ Sedis” pronounces a first excommunication of this kind against “those who presume to absolve, without the requisite faculties and under any pretext whatsoever, from excommunications that are specially reserved”. This article is directed against those who dare to absolve in bad faith or rashly; a well-founded doubt, however, and even gross ignorance may be pleaded as excuses. Then follow seventeen excommunications simply reserved, declared against the following persons:

(1) “Those who either publicly or privately teach or defend propositions condemned by the Holy See under pain of excommunication latæ sententiæ likewise those who teach or maintain as lawful the practice of asking the penitent the name of his or her accomplice, a practice condemned by Benedict XIV in his Constitutions ‘Suprema’ (7 July, 1745), ‘Ubi primum’ (2 July, 1746), and ‘Ad eradicandam’ (28 Sept., 1746).” This article contains two distinct parts. In the first it is not question of all propositions condemned by popes or councils in terms less condemnatory (e.g. rash, offensive, etc.) than the specific stigma heretical (to defend heretical propositions being heresy itself and already declared a chief cause of excommunication, see above), but only those which the popes have specifically forbidden to be maintained under pain of excommunication latæ sententiæ. These propositions are:

(a) the forty-one errors of Luther condemned by Leo X, 16 May, 1520;

Excommunications specially reserved to the pope

These are twelve in number and are imposed upon the following persons:

(1) “All apostates from the Christian Faith, heretics of every name and sect, and those who give them credence, who receive or countenance them, and generally all those who take up their defence.”

 

[MrZoom]

That Catholic Encyclopedia is from 1909. Canon law has changed since then.

See this link from Catholic Answers about the 1983 Code:
catholic.com/quickquestions/apart-from-abortion-are-there-other-sins-that-incur-automatic-excommunication

Note well, that if you were not aware that excommunication applied to your offense when you committed it, then you were NOT excommunicated. It sounds like you’re just finding out that heresy is cause for excommunication.

Edited to add: from your previous postings it would appear that you suffer from scrupulosity, and that others on this forum have admonished you to get professional help. I will also add my voice: See a mental health professional, AND a good priest.

 

[MrZoom]

I looked up current canon law on the Vatican website. Heresy is addressed in number 1364. I am no canon law expert, but from reading the text it is clear that heresy is NOT reserved to the Apostolic See (i.e. the Pope). Throwing away the consecrated Eucharist, mentioned a few lines later, IS reserved to the Apostolic See, it says so right in the text, but does not say it for heresy.

And in any case … There are well over 1 billion Catholics on Earth. A good percentage of them probably believe something not in line with Catholic teaching. If forgiving this was something only the Pope could do, he’d never get anything else done.

 

[Warandpeace]

So an abortion cannot be resolved through the sacrament of confession?

 

[april32010]

 

[MrZoom]

So an abortion cannot be resolved through the sacrament of confession?

As stated in other threads (I just did a search), all priests in the USA have been delegated the authority to lift the excommunication for abortion. So in the USA at least, it CAN be resolved in confession.

 

[Spider42]

So an abortion cannot be resolved through the sacrament of confession?

Both these situations, direct abortion and rejection of papal authority, invoke a “latae sententi”. That is, you are excommunicated at the moment the act is committed. Like secular law, ignorance is not really an excuse.

This sounds scary, but the point of the punishment is instructional and communal welfare. You are still a Catholic, you still carry the indellible mark of baptism, but you are being seperated from the body of the faithful for both your good and the good of the Church.

This type of excommunication can be lifted by a bishop. The bishop can also delegate this authority to the priests under his direction. For example, most bishops empower priests to lift the penalty for first time offenses of abortion. But it isn’t necessarily universal. It is fully at a given bishop’s discretion as to wether he delegates this authority.

It also can be case by case. A priest might simply say, as a seeming part of penance, ‘and come see me again next Saturday…’, etc. Then obtain permission from his bishop to lift the sentence at your next visit.

I hope that helps.

Pax Christi

Edit: My example above is poor. Since it implies that a priest will let you take Sacraments without warning before he has permission to lift you sentance. I just meant that the priest might not tell you that his is getting permission from his bishop.

 

[Warandpeace]

Both these situations, direct abortion and rejection of papal authority, invoke a “latae sententi”. That is, you are excommunicated at the moment the act is committed. Like secular law, ignorance is not really an excuse.

This sounds scary, but the point of the punishment is instructional and communal welfare. You are still a Catholic, you still carry the indellible mark of baptism, but you are being seperated from the body of the faithful for both your good and the good of the Church.

This type of excommunication can be lifted by a bishop. The bishop can also delegate this authority to the priests under his direction. For example, most bishops empower priests to lift the penalty for first time offenses of abortion. But it isn’t necessarily universal. It is fully at a given bishop’s discretion as to wether he delegates this authority.

It also can be case by case. A priest might simply say, as a seeming part of penance, ‘and come see me again next Saturday…’, etc. Then obtain permission from his bishop to lift the sentence at your next visit.

I hope that helps.

Pax Christi

Edit: My example above is poor. Since it implies that a priest will let you take Sacraments without warning before he has permission to lift you sentance. I just meant that the priest might not tell you that his is getting permission from his bishop.

If I was in this situation, I would consider a priest not telling me to be a lie.