Is my confession valid if my confessor has heretical views?

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ag_28 said:
Thanks for the feedback.
However, I was quite firm on my explanation that the priest may not deviate. It seems to me that you are saying that I assume that there can be a deviation. far from it, even in the new formulary for Confession.
The priest must say I ABSOLVE YOU. The word forgive does not suffice. There must be the “loosing” of sins by the priest’s authority, The sacraments cannot be tampered with, especially with something as grave as the absolution of sins.
It’s quite different than Matrimony without a Mass because that does not affect the confection of the sacrament, since it is the bride and groom who confer the sacrament. In Confession, the validity of the absolution depends completely on the priest’s words, objectively speaking.

If the new formula faithfully follows the translation from the old, it will have the word absolve; “Deinde Ego Te Absolvo.” The word forgive is substantially different than the loosing of sins, which “absolve” confers. (loosing the chains of sin.)

In Charity,
ag 28
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Slow down here. When you say deviate, you’re talking about changing the words of the formula? I thought that you were talking about the ritual itself. The words of the formula do not change. It’s always "I absolve you . . . "

Can the priest say “I forgive you . . .”? That’s an interesting question and I do not know the answer. I’m going to guess that the absolution is valid because there are the elements necessary for validity:
  • intent
  • confession
  • contrition
  • faculties
It’s no licit. I’m not a canon lawyer. I doubt anyone here is either. If you really want an answer that you can take to the bank, you can take your question to one of several places, that is not CAF forums.
  • A canon lawyer
  • Diocesan office for worship, sometimes called liturgy and sacraments
  • Local bishop
  • Canon Law Society (you can google them)
  • Fr. Vincent Serpa on CAF, contact him directly
  • The Franciscan Friars of the Eternal Word, they have a Canon Lawyer on their team, write to them c/o EWTN
  • Sister Maximilia at the Franciscan Sisters of the Martury St. George, she’s an excellent lawyer, you can Google them and write her via the motherhouse. If she’s not around they have about 10 sisters who are lawyers
Good luck to you.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
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