Is it a sin to not do what a priest merely recommends?

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user "Edmudus1581":
Just one question. Whilst in confession did you agree to do whatever it was the priest “recommended”, or did you just politely listen? In my experience, the priest’s advice is usually given as a monologue and I listen politely and nod with a manner that says “Yes, I will try”, but not necessarily “I will do it” - and the priest understands that is my response also. If the priest is more clear and firm on a matter, then I don’t say “yes” unless I mean it, and, consequently, I am obliged to perform the action afterwards.

It’s a two way dialog. If you have agreed to go to confession more frequently then you are more obliged than if the priest offered it as advice, without you explicitly agreeing.
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well I trusted that it was only a recommendation. I did not nod nor did I say yes and usually, when a priest says to go to confession more, it is said as a mere recommendation. All I did was politely listen.

Given this do you think it is safe to assume like I did?
 
fakename said:
well I trusted that it was only a recommendation. I did not nod nor did I say yes and usually, when a priest says to go to confession more, it is said as a mere recommendation. All I did was politely listen.

Given this do you think it is safe to assume like I did?
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If a priest advises a penitent to go to confession more, without expecting a response and without the penitent volunteering one, then does the penitent sin *inherently *by not acting on that advise?

No.

It would be prudent and respectful to at least consider the advise, but, if, after considering it, you decide not to act on it then that is not (inherently) a sin.
 
Edmundus1581 said:
In general I agree, but I think there are exceptions. Penance assigned in confession is the obvious example - it is inherently sinful not to do an assigned penance. Liturgy would be another matter. If the priest were to command that the people in the pews on the left approach communion before those on the right, then it would be a sin to disobey (without good reason). However, if he were to command me to stop dating a certain woman, just because he thinks she’s bad for me, and no other reason (eg. our marital statuses), then it would not be inherently sinful to disobey. I am struggling to think of any occasion, apart from penance, when it would be inherently sinful to not follow a priest’s command to me on a personal or even spiritual matter - even if he is correct, and the matter involves sin. He can withhold absolution for a just cause, but even then if I don’t do his required action (eg. stop living with my girlfriend) then my sin is not one of disobedience. I think that the Church does not give priests such authority.
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How do you tell when a priest should be followed or not?

Also, why do we have to follow bishops but not priests? Is it a matter of different authority in the Church? In that case what authority does a priest have over his particular church?
 
fakename said:
How do you tell when a priest should be followed or not?

Also, why do we have to follow bishops but not priests? Is it a matter of different authority in the Church? In that case what authority does a priest have over his particular church?
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Interesting questions, but they seem to be a whole new topic. Your original question branched into these areas, and I have commented on them with my personal observations, but I am not able to pursue that discussion in further depth - apart from adding the following information which recently came my way.

We have an Indian priest. He has mentioned to me that one of his difficulties in transferring to Australia as a priest was discovering that priests are not treated with the same authority as they are in India. Where previously he would instruct that something must be done, he now has to make a request and possibly explain his reasons. So, there is a cultural aspect to it, and probably no hard-and-fast rules which cover every situation.

Please take that “as is”. If you have a more general question then I recommend starting a new thread.
 
I believe if goes against the teaching of the church the priest must be ignored. In my ministry I minister to many homosexuals. I follow the proper teachings. A priest scolded me for teaching that the act of homosexuality is a sin. He claims its no longer a sin and any same sex couple living in a loving committed relationship is free to recieve communion. WRONG! He also says masturbation is no longer a sin. Noted though>
He a priest that claims Jesus fondled Mary Magalene and that Mary and Joseph had sexual relations. There’s no need to obey this priest. However he desperately needs our prayers.
God bless,
Br. Christopher B.P.P.
 
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