Multiple visits to confessional (esp. re: excommunication) - how is it practically handled?

[x1980x]

It seems that, under certain circumstances, a person who is seeking absolution in the Confessional may be required to make multiple trips. For example, if a person is Excommunicated, the priest may need to obtain permission from the Bishop to lift the excommunication before forgiveness can be granted. I’m guessing that, considering the confessional seal and the anonymity provided in the confessional, it could be difficult to logistically organize multiple sessions that give both the priest and the penitent confidence that there is mutual understanding of the ongoing process.

How does this work, in practice?

e.g.

Penitent: “Forgive me father… I committed .”
Priest: “You have been excommunicated. I do not have the faculty to lift this excommunication on my own. I will consult with the Bishop. Let me get a ticket number for you. Come back in two weeks to this same confessional booth and tell the priest that you are here for Incident # 44A55F32 and they will inform you of the status and, if permission has been granted, lift the excommunication. If it has been denied, you will be given further instructions. If no decision has been reached, you will be asked to come back in another 2 weeks. Good luck my child.”

 

[Edmundus1581]

you described it well! Looking forward to the answer!

 

[x1980x]

Does anyone know? Has anyone gone through this, know anyone who has, or gone through training where procedures are specified?

I’m talking about procedural matters here, not probing into the specificities of what sins someone might have committed that actually led to this happening.

In complex cases, do you pretty much have to waive anonymity and go ahead and just talk to the priest face to face and give them your full contact details so that they can get the results back to you?

Or is the situation effectively a non-issue because every priest has been empowered to lift every excommunication, even the ones nominally reserved to the Bishop or the Pope?

 

[damooster]

Excellent question! I enjoyed looking up the answer to this one.

It appears as if there are two forms of absolution in regards to excommunication: “absolution from censure” and “sacramental absolution.” Absolution from censure is the act of removing the excommunication, while sacramental absolution is the actual forgiveness of the sin committed.

So to answer your question, the penitent must seek absolution from censure first. In dioceses where priests are not allowed to grant absolution from censure, the penitent must first go to the bishop. Once the bishop grants absolution from censure, the penitent is “returned” to the Church and allowed to go to sacramental confession (where he/she must confess the sins that led to excommunication). Absolution from censure must precede sacramental absolution.

I should also note that many diocesan bishops have given priests the authority to grant absolution from censure. So in dioceses where bishops allow priests to grant absolutions from censure, the penitent can be returned to the Church in one confession (but absolution from censure must occur first).

You can read more here:

newadvent.org/cathen/05678a.htm

Note: I apologize if I am incorrect. This is simply how I interpreted the above reading.

Edit: Forgot to answer one question: if a priest is hearing a Confession and realizes that he cannot grant absolution of censure, I imagine that he does instruct the penitent to seek out the appropriate authority for absolution from censure.