Must one be a Catholic to receive the sacrament of Penance

[mrsed]

A friend who was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran church is interested in the Catholic Church. She believes in the Real Presence, accepts the Trinity, church doctrine regarding the Blessed Mother and wants to learn more. Most of all she would like to go to confession. I thought this was possible but when she inquired at our parish office, she was told that she had to be Catholic first. If this is true, why do those in the RCIA program go to confession before being baptized during the Easter Vigil? Or am I also mistaken on this?

 

[jmcrae]

A friend who was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran church is interested in the Catholic Church. She believes in the Real Presence, accepts the Trinity, church doctrine regarding the Blessed Mother and wants to learn more. Most of all she would like to go to confession. I thought this was possible but when she inquired at our parish office, she was told that she had to be Catholic first. If this is true, why do those in the RCIA program go to confession before being baptized during the Easter Vigil? Or am I also mistaken on this?

Only those who were baptized previously can go to Confession during the last few weeks before Easter Vigil. They do this because you can’t receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion without first making a good Confession.

An unbaptized person cannot receive any Sacraments, which is why they are baptized before receiving Confirmation and First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil. Baptism washes away all sins, so they are in the state of grace to receive the other Sacraments at the same time.

 

[Corki]

When someone (already baptized) is converting they go to Confession after they have made their profession of Faith (usually a couple of weeks before the Easter Vigil). At least that’s how it’s done at my parish. At that time, tthey have publically made their committment to the Catholic Church.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

When someone (already baptized) is converting they go to Confession after they have made their profession of Faith (usually a couple of weeks before the Easter Vigil). At least that’s how it’s done at my parish. At that time, tthey have publically made their committment to the Catholic Church.

In the Easter Vigil liturgy those already baptized make their Profession of Faith immediately after they, and the congregation, renew their Baptismal Promises. It is immediately followed by Confirmation of all who are entering the Church.

In our program, they go to Confession anytime during Lent. I encourage them to go to a Penitential Service, but not to go to Confession at that time. They are free of course to go to any priest they wish, and whenever they wish. However, I encourage them to make an appointment; so they are not rushed.

 

[midori]

Can. 844 §1 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments only to catholic members of Christ’s faithful, who equally may lawfully receive them only from catholic ministers, except as provided in §§2, 3 and 4 of this canon and in can. 861 §2.

§2 Whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage commends it, and provided the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, Christ’s faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a catholic minister, may lawfully receive the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick from non-catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

§3 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick to members of the eastern Churches not in full communion with the catholic Church, if they spontaneously ask for them and are properly disposed. The same applies to members of other Churches which the Apostolic See judges to be in the same position as the aforesaid eastern Churches so far as the sacraments are concerned.

§4 If there is a danger of death or if, in the judgement of the diocesan Bishop or of the Episcopal Conference, there is some other grave and pressing need, catholic ministers may lawfully administer these same sacraments to other christians not in full communion with the catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who spontaneously ask for them, provided that they demonstrate the catholic faith in respect of these sacraments and are properly disposed.

§5 In respect of the cases dealt with in §§2, 3 and 4, the diocesan Bishop or the Episcopal Conference is not to issue general norms except after consultation with the competent authority, at least at the local level, of the non-catholic Church or community concerned.

 

[mrsed]

Thanks to all of you. Your responses have given me a better understanding of the place of Baptism/Profession of Faith/Confession.