May a non-catholic christian confees to a preist?

[Annabelle_Marie]

Hi, Thanks for all the replies!!! To Puzzleannie yes that is very good advice, The only problem with that is I just became a Christian last year and I am 56 years old. I cant even remember all that I have sinned against and forgivness is very important to me. As per another previous reply I would guess that my first confession would be extremely long and since I have sinned daily for 56 years I could not give a number and type of all sins. Any further advice please?

Don’t worry about it…doing an examination of concience will help flush some of those out. I came back to the church after 20+ years…and it took several confessions. The Lord brought them back to my mind at the right time.

Of course I tell my husband that he should be writing them down now to prepare…especially those I think he has done to me…

 

[Aramis]

Hi,
I have been lurking for awhile on this site contemplating convering to Catholicsm. I realize I must go thru the RCIA program first. But prior to becomming a true Catholic may I confess my sins to a preist? If not, why? If so would absolution be given? I hope this is the correct forum to post this type of question.
Thanks for your replies,Bill

GOing to confession: sure.

Receiving absolution… it varies, and presumes that the priest is aware.

Orthodox, Assyrians, Armenians, Old Catholics, PNCC: Yes. Explicitly under canon law.

Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists: possibly, on a case by case basis.

Other Protestants: no.

Candidates: possibly; depends on how close to confirmation.

 

[scimitar60]

So for Candidates, first Confession would be only a few days prior to First Communion? Is this typical for all parishes? I was hoping I could start earlier. My First Communion is to be at the Easter Vigil, and I was hoping I could do my First Confession a week or two before Lent.

Well, I’m in RCIA and the priest is encouraging me on my journey because I am not rushing it. ‘Exiting’ is the word he used. It’s best to not rush things I think because if you don’t know enough when you get confirmed you might happen to leave the church later on.

 

[dcointin]

I have a friend who is an Episcopalian priest, and while he was in seminary he went to a Catholic priest for confession. When he told the priest he was not Catholic he refused to hear his confession. My friend was distraught, and said that the priest was unfriendly and offered no help, but I hope that was an isolated incident. So in my experience no, they would not hear a non-Cathlolic confession.

 

[MMprn]

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is for those who are in full communion with the Catholic Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. it is one of the Seven Sacraments of the the Church. I do not believe a person who is not in full communion with the Church should receive a Sacrament of the Church to which they are not members.
One can liken it to a non Catholic receiving the Eucharist.

 

[jmcrae]

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is for those who are in full communion with the Catholic Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. it is one of the Seven Sacraments of the the Church. I do not believe a person who is not in full communion with the Church should receive a Sacrament of the Church to which they are not members.
One can liken it to a non Catholic receiving the Eucharist.

Precisely. A Catholic priest has no jurisdiction or authority over non-Catholics, which is why he cannot administer the Sacraments to them.