Is my pastor mistaken?

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darkgreen

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I was told in confession over a year ago to “not count my sins.” Since then, during confessions, I haven’t even been giving counts for the most part, of any sin.

Also, my pastor told me he only wanted to hear sins since my last confession and anything beyond that was already forgiven, even if I forgot about it.
 
If he is the one administering the sacrament to you, then you should follow his guidance.

If you confess to another priest, and he asks you to confess in a different way, then follow his instructions when confessing to him.
 
@edward_george1, Fr., can you perhaps answer this question definitively?
 
Do you battle some scrupulosity? It sounds as if your priest is giving you excellent advice. Trust him.
 
I do have a bit of a problem with scruples, but I thought we were supposed to confess kind and number of sins regardless.
 
A beautiful sesame seed bun is delicious for me and is healthy.

For my family member it is deadly because of a sesame allergy.

In the same way, what is a good way of confession for one person may be damaging to a person with scruples.
 
Thanks for all of your replies. I sometimes wonder about the local priests.
 
You asked (in the title) “Is my pastor mistaken?”

Probably not. Pastors tend to be very wise about such things. It’s more likely, in my opinion, that you have misunderstood him. Ask him, not us. I am sure that he could help you to better understand his advice.
darkgreen said:
I sometimes wonder about the local priests.
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It sounds like you are wondering why he says things that seem to go against what you have learned about sin and forgiveness. Fear not! Local priests/pastors know the Catechism and the sacraments better than most of us. Rather than looking for apparent contradictions, seek understanding.
 
darkgreen said:
I was told in confession over a year ago to “not count my sins.”
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He certainly didn’t mean that the number of your sins is of no importance at all, but I imagine he may have meant that we can sometimes get fixated on our sins, and miss the opportunity to love God and humbly accept his love and mercy. Our relationship with God should not become a bookkeeping exercise, in which we catalog and count our sins, in order to check them off upon confession. When the priest told you not to count, did he instruct you to do something else instead, like pray for spiritual help, receive God’s grace, and give thanks? Or perhaps to do something for other people? What did he tell you to do?
 
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Wouldn’t the best way to find out what your priest/pastor meant be to just ask him?
 
darkgreen said:
I was told in confession over a year ago to “not count my sins.” Since then, during confessions, I haven’t even been giving counts for the most part, of any sin.

Also, my pastor told me he only wanted to hear sins since my last confession and anything beyond that was already forgiven, even if I forgot about it.
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Number and kind is only for mortal sins. See the canon law (CIC):
Can. 988 §1. A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins committed after baptism and not yet remitted directly through the keys of the Church nor acknowledged in individual confession, of which the person has knowledge after diligent examination of conscience.
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I’ll bet this is more of a misunderstanding.

Priests know that mortal sins need to be confessed in kind and number. If he’s overriding this, then it’s probably because he knows the penitent is scrupulous, is making a scrupulous confession and does not meet the requirements of mortal sin, and therefore is advising against number of times.

As for forgotten sins, I don’t know what principles he’s applying, but if there was a forgotten mortal sin, I will always mention it, maybe with qualification (all mortal sins of which one is conscious must be mentioned and directly remitted by the Keys). Most probably Father Confessor here is referring to venial sins wrongly classed by the penitent as mortal, and so again is applying treatment for the scrupulous.

The only way the OP can get a clear answer is to ask him.
 
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