Is my confession valid if my confessor has heretical views?

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notredame_999

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Just went to confession today, bad experience. It started with the priest mocking me when I told him I had committed mortal sins. He asked me sarcastically, are you a theologian? Before I even told him the sins he said, I doubt very much you committed a mortal sin. He then said that before vatican II eating meat on the wrong day was a mortal sin so I shouldn’t be concerned with black and white stuff. He then whistled around the alter later. It really bugged me.

Going to this confession by this priest, who sounded homosexual, got me really upset. I’ve been reading Malachi Martin and Marcel Lefebvre and I am really tempted to go to the SSPX although something in me says don’t. I am sick of this new church. No mention of hell, no mention of confession, no mention of Fatima. Nobody goes to confession anymore. Whenever I go its like me and 3 old ladies. Thats it. It seems like there is this dont ask dont tell policy regarding masturbation, pre-marital sex, and contraception.

Anyway’s, is my confession valid if I received it from a priest who doubts the realities of hell and the interpretation of mortal sin?

Another question, I just remembered another mortal sin I forgot to confess. Is this ok if I confess it next saturday? I really need to receive tomorrow.
 
Is there an FSSP or Institute of Christ the King Church in your area? If so, why not go there exclusively?
 
Confessions can neither be valid nor invalid. The issue is whether the absolution is valid, and the answer is that yes, it is.

The sin you forgot was also forgiven, but you should mention it at your next confession.
 
HCC said:
Is there an FSSP or Institute of Christ the King Church in your area? If so, why not go there exclusively?
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Yes I am going to one tomorrow. The problem is I didn’t confess there
 
notredame_999 said:
Yes I am going to one tomorrow. The problem is I didn’t confess there
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Stop going to places and dealing with people who bother you so much. Find the right parish and stick with it. Try to give yourself some stability and peace of mind. It sounds like you owe that to yourself, for the good of your soul.
 
As I remember and consider many of your posts on this Forum the past couple of months, I believe it’s your theology and knowledge that need updating and expanding. Don’t you think it’s just a tad cheeky to question the priest’s understanding, rather than your own? You are a young person with extremely opinionated and conservative views, and some views that are… ummm…let’s say out of step with valid and current teachings of the Church.

You’ve indicated before that you’re considering the priesthood – you need to discover how theology has developed and is applied to life in this century.

Applying the term “heresy” to a functioning priest (whom you suspect is gay – which has no bearing on his spirituality or standing as a priest) is more than a little arrogant and very uncharitable, in my opinion.
 
Jesus,our Lords peace be with You.
Dear friend,and sorry for my bad english. The confession is valid if it is given with open heart and mind and if You believe that the persons You talk to is priest. So yes,it is valid. For Your other comments,I am not gay,by the way,it it a bit out of line if You think he is gay,how did You by the way come to that conclusion? A gay priest lives in celibacy as a heterosexual priest does aswell,and has nothing to do with what he do as a priest. Celibacy is the key word. I will not speculate on how true Your writing was,and I am not saying that lied,but maybe You missunderstud him? The most importen thing is that You did confess,and are forgiven and maybe You better find another Church in another parish in the future. I hope all will go well,and offer one Hail Mary to You. All the best.
 
HAHAHAHA sorry I just had to burst out laughing when you said ‘He sounded Gay’

AHAHAHA I honestly can’t stop laughing, please tell me how you came to this conclusion ! :eek:
 
Stick the the FSSP parish, you can NOT go wrong with the FSSP!
 
notredame_999 said:
Just went to confession today, bad experience. It started with the priest mocking me when I told him I had committed mortal sins. He asked me sarcastically, are you a theologian? Before I even told him the sins he said, I doubt very much you committed a mortal sin. He then said that before vatican II eating meat on the wrong day was a mortal sin so I shouldn’t be concerned with black and white stuff. He then whistled around the alter later. It really bugged me.

Going to this confession by this priest, who sounded homosexual, got me really upset. I’ve been reading Malachi Martin and Marcel Lefebvre and I am really tempted to go to the SSPX although something in me says don’t. I am sick of this new church. No mention of hell, no mention of confession, no mention of Fatima. Nobody goes to confession anymore. Whenever I go its like me and 3 old ladies. Thats it. It seems like there is this dont ask dont tell policy regarding masturbation, pre-marital sex, and contraception.

Anyway’s, is my confession valid if I received it from a priest who doubts the realities of hell and the interpretation of mortal sin?

Another question, I just remembered another mortal sin I forgot to confess. Is this ok if I confess it next saturday? I really need to receive tomorrow.
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The priest might be a jerk but nothing you have said he said was heresy.

You also said “I am sick of this new church”. What Church is that?
 
What does the priest “sounding” gay have to do with this?

A priest who’s a jerk does get annoying. Find another parish if you want, but definitely go to an FSSP parish if you want something like a SSPX-type church that isn’t in bad standing with the Church.
 
LoyalViews said:
Stick the the FSSP parish, you can NOT go wrong with the FSSP!
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This is NOT an answer. As pointed out, this person needs to realize that maybe his perspective on things is outside of the box, not everyone that he doesn’t agree with. He criticizes because he doesn’t hear about hell, Fatima and what not. He accuses his priest of being heretical based on his own personal opinion. He even thinks that his priest “sounds gay.” It sounds like an immature intellect trying to force everything outside of himself into what he thinks it should be. Perhaps the best answer for this poster is to learn more about the faith and what the Church teaches, realizing that there is always variations among opinions and that people aren’t “heretics” because they have a different point of view. What I’m trying to say, politely, is that the poster needs to grow up.
 
  1. What does him “sounding homosexual” mean? Does it mean he had a stereotypical lisp or something? There are many people out there with speech impediments – including lisps – that are not homosexuals. My brother has a lisp, but he is certainly heterosexual.
  2. Even if he is attracted to men (and this seems like a big if based only on this post), what does that have to do with anything?
  3. Have you made confessions to this priest before? It’s possible that he thinks you may be overly scrupulous and is trying to give you some guidance. (I remember several similar conversations with priests when I was a teenager struggling with scrupulosity.) Perhaps he didn’t do that in the right way, and was too sarcastic, but it’s possible his intentions were very good.
  4. What’s the problem with whistling by the altar? The Bible tells us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Unless he was whistling an inappropriate song, I really don’t see the problem with this.
And finally, my very conservative NO parish (we just got an altar rail! yippee!) never mentions Fatima, either. I wouldn’t judge a parish solely based on whether the priest mentions Fatima in his homilies.
 
notredame_999 said:
It started with the priest mocking me…

He asked me sarcastically…

…this priest, who sounded homosexual…

…a priest who doubts the realities of hell…
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Wow. Sounds to me like the problem just might lie with you rather than the priest.

I have never, in all my years of going to confession, heard a priest mock anyone or speak sarcastically. I have to wonder if you’re reading something into his comments because you don’t like him in general. Or perhaps it’s because he struck a nerve with an on-point comment.

I’m not sure what a homosexual sounds like. I know a number of gay men and lesbians but there isn’t any particular quality I could use to say what they sound like.

And not only can you determine his sexuality by what he sounds like, you can also read his heart to know that he doubts the realities of hell.

If you don’t like this priest, then don’t go to confession with him. Certainly some priests/penitents are better matches than others. If you find one who is a good fit for you, make him your regular confessor.
 
notredame_999 said:
Just went to confession today, bad experience. It started with the priest mocking me when I told him I had committed mortal sins. He asked me sarcastically, are you a theologian? Before I even told him the sins he said, I doubt very much you committed a mortal sin. He then said that before vatican II eating meat on the wrong day was a mortal sin so I shouldn’t be concerned with black and white stuff. He then whistled around the alter later. It really bugged me.

Going to this confession by this priest, who sounded homosexual, got me really upset. I’ve been reading Malachi Martin and Marcel Lefebvre and I am really tempted to go to the SSPX although something in me says don’t. I am sick of this new church. No mention of hell, no mention of confession, no mention of Fatima. Nobody goes to confession anymore. Whenever I go its like me and 3 old ladies. Thats it. It seems like there is this dont ask dont tell policy regarding masturbation, pre-marital sex, and contraception.

Anyway’s, is my confession valid if I received it from a priest who doubts the realities of hell and the interpretation of mortal sin?

Another question, I just remembered another mortal sin I forgot to confess. Is this ok if I confess it next saturday? I really need to receive tomorrow.
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I’d say put your spiritual needs first. If this priest is not doing it for you, find one who does. The goal is to build faith. Get away from there. And pray for the priest without judging him.

Your confession is valid, but don’t receive if you are aware of a mortal sin. Get to Mass early and catch a priest and ask him to hear your confession. Otherwise, there is no shame or anything wrong with a Spiritual Communion.

there is a priest at a local parish who never waits for the penitent to say an Act of Contrition. When he is hearing confession, I still confess before him and say my act of contrition in the pew before I do my penance. God will not hold another’s action against you.

Find a parish where you fell comfortable, even if it’s the SSPX. Recently, it has come to light Rome has indeed granted permission to the SSPX to hear confessions. No general public statement… yet, but true nonetheless.
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
Wow. Sounds to me like the problem just might lie with you rather than the priest.

I have never, in all my years of going to confession, heard a priest mock anyone or speak sarcastically. I have to wonder if you’re reading something into his comments because you don’t like him in general. Or perhaps it’s because he struck a nerve with an on-point comment.

I’m not sure what a homosexual sounds like. I know a number of gay men and lesbians but there isn’t any particular quality I could use to say what they sound like.

And not only can you determine his sexuality by what he sounds like, you can also read his heart to know that he doubts the realities of hell.

If you don’t like this priest, then don’t go to confession with him. Certainly some priests/penitents are better matches than others. If you find one who is a good fit for you, make him your regular confessor.
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So you think it’s not possible ? With clown Masses, lazer light rock Masses, and the like, you think it’s not possible because you’ve never encountered it ?

You are making a quite liberal assumption of the OP.
 
At_Trent said:
With clown Masses, lazer light rock Masses, and the like, you think it’s not possible because you’ve never encountered it ?
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And here we go…:rolleyes:

Why is it only people of your perspective have witnessed the above when the untold masses have never even heard of it?
 
At_Trent said:
Recently, it has come to light Rome has indeed granted permission to the SSPX to hear confessions. No general public statement… yet, but true nonetheless.
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Really? No public statement, yet it is true? Are their Masses no longer illicit, too? And are their clergy no longer suspended?
 
Timothysis said:
Really? No public statement, yet it is true? Are their Masses no longer illicit, too? And are their clergy no longer suspended?
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Doesn’t matter what I cite to those who despise the SSPX. I can cite a Roman Catholic Bishop who said it, but you won’t believe it, short of a MP. So why bother ?
 
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