Is it okay to confess something even though you are pretty sure you didn't do it?

[CB_Catholic]

Are sacraments something we should be joking about? While I agree we shouldn’t take things too seriously, what if someone were to joke about the Eucharist? Or about having sex on the altar? It’s just a joke?

To me, if there is anything out there to be completely serious about… it’s the Sacraments.

Oh dear, there go all the wedding and marriage jokes…

 

[fakename]

Is it obligatory though, to confess something that “all things considered” might have happened even though your pretty sure that it never did?

Or should you just let “bygones be bygones” and say if it probably didn’t happen then we’ll let it rest?

Because I’ve committed mortal sins in my life before, so I could see certain conditions that could lead me to do so in a past instance, but there really is more evidence to say that I didn’t do it.

I’m just worried that I’m being unreasonable in confessing everything that bothers me no matter the lack of evidence.

 

[Bookcat]

Is it obligatory though, to confess something that “all things considered” might have happened even though your pretty sure that it never did?

Or should you just let “bygones be bygones” and say if it probably didn’t happen then we’ll let it rest?

Because I’ve committed mortal sins in my life before, so I could see certain conditions that could lead me to do so in a past instance, but there really is more evidence to say that I didn’t do it.

I’m just worried that I’m being unreasonable in confessing everything that bothers me no matter the lack of evidence.

One is not “obligated” to confess a ‘mortal sin’ that is “doubtful” that it was in fact committed.

A person who has a lax conscience can be very much urged to do so (noting the doubt). and others ordinarily can be advised to do the same (also noting it is doubtful).

A person who is struggles with scruples or has a tendency in that direction can be often advised not to confess “doubtful sins”.

You may wish to bring it up with your “confessor”.

 

[mfrances]

It is totally okay to ask the priest in confession if something is a sin. Tell him you are not sure if it is a sin, and tell the whole story. He will help you out and give advice. Do not be afraid, he is there to help!

 

[fakename]

user "Bookcat":

One is not “obligated” to confess a ‘mortal sin’ that is “doubtful” that it was in fact committed.

thanks for the responses all.

But my question was " is one obligated to confess a mortal sin that was doubtful as a doubtful mortal sin or can one safely not confess such sins esp. when you have evidence to the contrary?"

This goes to the use of the word “advised”. Is this “advice” to confess doubtful sins as doubtful sins an “obligation” “advice” (as when I “advise” you to not kill someone) or a non-obligation “advice” (as when I advise you to use a certain sacramental)?

 

[JimG]

thanks for the responses all.

But my question was " is one obligated to confess a mortal sin that was doubtful as a doubtful mortal sin or can one safely not confess such sins esp. when you have evidence to the contrary?"

This goes to the use of the word “advised”. Is this “advice” to confess doubtful sins as doubtful sins an “obligation” “advice” (as when I “advise” you to not kill someone) or a non-obligation “advice” (as when I advise you to use a certain sacramental)?

A “mortal sin which is doubtful” is NOT a mortal sin. Thus there is no need to confess it.

 

[fakename]

user "JimG":

A “mortal sin which is doubtful” is NOT a mortal sin. Thus there is no need to confess it.

I meant a mortal sin that was forgotten and when you try to remember it, there is a sort of ghost-memory but not a vivid, real, recollection.

 

[Bookcat]

thanks for the responses all.

But my question was " is one obligated to confess a mortal sin that was doubtful as a doubtful mortal sin or can one safely not confess such sins esp. when you have evidence to the contrary?"

This goes to the use of the word “advised”. Is this “advice” to confess doubtful sins as doubtful sins an “obligation” “advice” (as when I “advise” you to not kill someone) or a non-obligation “advice” (as when I advise you to use a certain sacramental)?

My answer from before can be divided as such:

Regarding obligation:

One is not “obligated” to confess a ‘mortal sin’ that is “doubtful” that it was in fact committed.

One can also state it the way you did: One is not obliged to confess a “doubtful mortal sin” -where one is doubtful that one committed it or not -even “as a doubtful mortal sin”.

Regarding possible advice:

A person who has a lax conscience can be very much urged to do so (noting the doubt). and others ordinarily can be advised to do the same (also noting it is doubtful).

A person who is struggles with scruples or has a tendency in that direction can be often advised not to confess “doubtful sins”.

You may wish to bring it up with your “confessor”.

 

[Bookcat]

I meant a mortal sin that was forgotten and when you try to remember it, there is a sort of ghost-memory but not a vivid, real, recollection.

Not sure what you mean here?

Speak with your confessor in confession…he can assist you directly.

 

[thistle]

I’m trying to figure out the reasoning behind this question. Are you saying that you want to confess a sin that someone else did? Or are you indicating that there could be a time that you might have stolen something but you don’t remember it, don’t think it was you, but you confess it anyway?

Either you did something or you didn’t. If you are having trouble remembering events, then I think you should not be trying to drudge up “well maybe I did this, and maybe I did that.” Instead I would go see a neurologist to find out why my memory was so faulty. I don’t think sin is something that is forgotten. It’s one thing to forget a sin, it’s another to start confessing things you might have done and have no recollection of. That would be a level of scrupulosity that is just… well… would definitely need counseling for.

If you check all the threads of the OP you will find that he is really scrupulous. He thinks almost everything he has done or not done, said or not said, thought or not thought is a sin.
He really should talk to a priest.

 

[Sacred_Heart_1]

Is it okay to confess something even though you are pretty sure you didn’t do it?

But not totally sure?

If you’re not sure about what you did confess it to the priest and tell him you’re not sure about it.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

I meant a mortal sin that was forgotten and when you try to remember it, there is a sort of ghost-memory but not a vivid, real, recollection.

Boy, you seem to want it to be real…
How come you killed someone and do not remember ?

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

If you check all the threads of the OP you will find that he is really scrupulous. He thinks almost everything he has done or not done, said or not said, thought or not thought is a sin.
He really should talk to a priest.

 

[fall_fox]

Is it okay to confess something even though you are pretty sure you didn’t do it?
But not totally sure?

I know that when you were a child, and had just learned how to go to Confession, you tried to remember everything Sister told you to do. It seemed very important to get it right.

It should not be that rigid, Just have a conversation with your Priest in the Confessional. Whether face to face or behind the screen, just relax and talk to him. I’ve noticed others in this thread say that if you don’t know it is a sin, then it probably is not a sin. I think the main thing here is that it apparently bothers you, so that in itself should tell you that you need to talk about it, so you can let it go.

 

[porthos11]

Is it obligatory though, to confess something that “all things considered” might have happened even though your pretty sure that it never did?

Or should you just let “bygones be bygones” and say if it probably didn’t happen then we’ll let it rest?

Because I’ve committed mortal sins in my life before, so I could see certain conditions that could lead me to do so in a past instance, but there really is more evidence to say that I didn’t do it.

I’m just worried that I’m being unreasonable in confessing everything that bothers me no matter the lack of evidence.

I would think that in light of what thistle wrote, just ask your Confessor, and from the signs of scrupulosity, I would say obey him unconditionally (that is, if he tells you to confess, confess. If he tells you to not confess something, do not confess it).

Second, once you find a good, faithful confessor, stick with him as much as possible so that he can know your soul.

Further, I even suggest (and I never mean this in an unkind manner), that you may need to take a break from these forums. The plethora of opinions here are terrible for the sufferer of scruples and I think you should listen only to your confessor and no one else.

While confessing things as doubtful is fine and even recommended for the non-scrupulous, a confessor may order the scrupulous to NOT confess doubtful sins. It is imperative for the scrupulous to obey without question if he wants to be healed.

 

[fakename]

user "Thistle":

If you check all the threads of the OP you will find that he is really scrupulous. He thinks almost everything he has done or not done, said or not said, thought or not thought is a sin.
He really should talk to a priest.

That’s a common misconception -I’m not scrupulous just serious about the small things in life (the devil is in the details). Also I like learning new things so I like to pick people’s opinions on these small things. If I’ve ever brought up an old topic again, It’s merely because I try to accept only rigorous proof before I fully accept any opinion as true (as is natural for anyone) and not just something of faith.

And again, most of my questions are hypothetical so I wouldn’t characterize myself as believing that everything I thought or not thought are sins.