Is the lifting of automatic excommunication only done in the confessional?

[Madcat768]

Does an ordinary priest in america have the authority to lift automatic excommunication resulting from apostasy outside of the confessional? Or is it only done through the confessional?

For example:
If the sinner is not sure he is sorry for having committed the sin but wishes to obtain graces which only being officially christian can give (ex:15 promises of the rosary) to help him become sorry.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hey, hey, hey!

What do you mean a sinner is not sure he is sorry—yet still wants graces? One cannot be going forward and backward at the same time! If he is not sure that he is sorry, then he isn’t sorry. If you know that you hurt someone you care about, you will know if you are sorry or not.

The American bishops gave priests in the U.S. quite a while ago, permission to lift the excommunication in the confessional of those who have had abortions. But other censures are still reserved to the bishop of the diocese.

You sound very confused.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.