New converts confessing abortion

[jecook]

Hello, I have a dear friend who converted three years ago from Protestantism. She had more than one abortion many years ago. When she joined our faith, she claims that her abortions were forgiven as a result of baptism. I was under the impression that you still had to confess such grave sins to the priest when you made your first confession prior to Holy Communion. Which is correct? I cannot imagine that sins as serious as abortion are just forgiven without having to actually confess them. Please help.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

A valid baptism forgives all previous sins so if her abortion preceeded her baptism it was forgiven.

 

[aidanbradypop]

Hello, I have a dear friend who converted three years ago from Protestantism. She had more than one abortion many years ago. When she joined our faith, she claims that her abortions were forgiven as a result of baptism. I was under the impression that you still had to confess such grave sins to the priest when you made your first confession prior to Holy Communion. Which is correct? I cannot imagine that sins as serious as abortion are just forgiven without having to actually confess them. Please help.

My wife converted to the Church a few years ago. She was never baptized in her former faith. She was told that her baptism washes away all prior sins. She did not have to go and do a first confession like most in her RCIA class. Now any mortal sins she commits after her baptism she has to confess, but the Bishop stated in her RCIA class that baptism takes care of it.

 

[1ke]

Baptism washes away Original Sin and all actual sins. Forgiven. 100%. No, she does not have to confess these in confession.

 

[Bookcat]

Correct --if she was Baptized at that time. See Catechism:

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a1.htm#VII

(now if it was a “conditional baptism” where there was doubt about the validity of a former baptism -then such would a different story). (you mention she was Protestant -and in some cases there needs to be a conditional baptism due to doubt about the first baptism or if they were baptized–but if she was never baptized prior -then yes as noted above) (so the question is --was that the only baptism? or was it a “conditional” one)

 

[jecook]

Thank you. She was baptized in her former church, The Church of Christ. So I do not think her Catholic baptism would qualify as a conditional baptism. Does that help?

 

[1ke]

Thank you. She was baptized in her former church, The Church of Christ. So I do not think her Catholic baptism would qualify as a conditional baptism. Does that help?

this is something she needs to clarify with her priest.

 

[jecook]

Thanks. Abortion is so serious I would think it would have to be confessed once, at the time of the first confession. I would think one would WANT to make that confession once and for all. I could not carry that around with me. Maybe that’s just me though. I want to advise her as best as I can.

 

[VivienneJ]

Hello, I have a dear friend who converted three years ago from Protestantism. She had more than one abortion many years ago. When she joined our faith, she claims that her abortions were forgiven as a result of baptism. I was under the impression that you still had to confess such grave sins to the priest when you made your first confession prior to Holy Communion. Which is correct? I cannot imagine that sins as serious as abortion are just forgiven without having to actually confess them. Please help.

Thank you. She was baptized in her former church, The Church of Christ. So I do not think her Catholic baptism would qualify as a conditional baptism. Does that help?

If I understand correctly, she was baptised in the Catholic Church prior to Confirmation. In which case her baptism in the Church of Christ was not a baptism in the trinitarian formula. When she was bapitsed in the Catholic Church all prior sins were washed away.

My daughter and I are both converts. She was baptised in her father’s church (actually they called it being ‘sealed’). She went through full RCIA classes and at the Easter Vigil was Baptised, Confirmed and received First Holy Communion - no confession was needed before Confirmation and First Holy Communion. I was baptised in the Anglican church and did a much shortened RCIA ‘course’ however, prior to my Confirmation and First Holy Communion, I did have to make my First Confession as my baptism was as a baby long before.

It seems to me that your friend has no need to separately confess her abortion as this was forgiven at the time of her Baptism and, unless she has specifically asked you about this, you will be doing her no favour suggesting that she ‘ought’ to confess it.

 

[Bookcat]

Thank you. She was baptized in her former church, The Church of Christ. So I do not think her Catholic baptism would qualify as a conditional baptism. Does that help?

It would depend on if it was determined that the proper matter and form and intention was not present.

From what I found the Church of Christ may have a valid Baptism – one though would need to determine what was done in her case in her particular Church of Christ community.

It very well may be that such was a conditional baptism --for one does NOT baptize absolutely unless it is determined that it was not a valid baptism (*such as the case of the Mormons).

(I have found “Church of Christ” on lists of valid baptisms…but one would have to check what actually happened)

If there was prudent doubt and it was not certain that it was not valid --then mortal sins would need to be confessed (in the past such was said to be conditionally --in any case one would mention that one had been conditionally baptized or that the former baptism may have been valid)

(even if it was not said to be a “conditional baptism” --or they made a mistake in determining the case and baptized her outright --if there should have been a conditional baptism --the mortal sins need to be confessed --and of course that such was prior to her being Catholic)

The question then hinges on if the first baptism was valid, or there was prudent doubt about it or if it was determined to have been invalid.

 

[JohnMPhilomena]

If her original baptism was valid, the Catholic Church should not re-baptize her. (Since a person should only be baptized once).

When I joined the church 4 years ago, my childhood baptism in the Methodist church was deemed valid, therefore I had to go to confession before I could receive the Eucharist and Confirmation.

 

[1ke]

Thanks. Abortion is so serious I would think it would have to be confessed once, at the time of the first confession.

Putting aside your friend’s questionable situation regarding her Church of Christ baptism-- let’s look at your above statement.

This indicates that you either do not understand the sacrament of baptism or reject its efficacy.

Baptism washes away ALL actual sin-- murder, abortion, theft, adultery, rape, the worst sin you can think of that a person commits.

I would think one would WANT to make that confession once and for all. I could not carry that around with me.

Then you are not understanding that Baptism REALLY, ACTUALLY washes away ALL sin. The person is FORGIVEN. They do not “carry it around with them”.

 

[Loving_disciple]

On this matter if she was baptized before she was converted in the name of the father son and Holy Spirit then she must confess to the priest. Not confessing something that serious is a ticket to hell. It might just be she does t want to face the guilt of killing her children. Comfort her and encourage her to confess. God is loving and caring he will guide you in all your ways if you ask him.

 

[jecook]

Thank you all for your posts. I am not attempting to judge this person, I am fervently praying for her soul. If I am wrong about this issue, that is fine. I just want her to have all the facts. I am not really sure how old she was or, if in fact, that she actually received another baptism prior to her conversion or not. I see that will make a difference as to whether she needs to talk to a priest. All I’m saying is that I pray for her to get it right. Whether she does need or not need to talk to a priest is one point. I personally cannot imagine having had an abortion at ANY time and not wanting to talk to a priest. As for “carrying it around”, I would not equate abortion with almost any other mortal sin. It carries its own set of burdens. Ask anyone who has had one.

 

[Bookcat]

Thank you all for your posts. I am not attempting to judge this person, I am fervently praying for her soul. If I am wrong about this issue, that is fine. I just want her to have all the facts. I am not really sure how old she was or, if in fact, that she actually received another baptism prior to her conversion or not. I see that will make a difference as to whether she needs to talk to a priest. All I’m saying is that I pray for her to get it right. Whether she does need or not need to talk to a priest is one point. I personally cannot imagine having had an abortion at ANY time and not wanting to talk to a priest. As for “carrying it around”, I would not equate abortion with almost any other mortal sin. It carries its own set of burdens. Ask anyone who has had one.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=10282430&postcount=10

Yes but the reality is that if she her baptism on becoming Catholic was her baptism (in other words she was never baptized validly before) --then she was at that moment:

a new creation

As to say mental suffering …that is another matter…

She could of course talk with a Priest in general or others specialized in helping those who have had abortions to heal…but such would not be sufficient matter for confession.

 

[jecook]

Thank you.

 

[triumphguy]

Thanks. Abortion is so serious I would think it would have to be confessed once, at the time of the first confession. I would think one would WANT to make that confession once and for all. I could not carry that around with me. Maybe that’s just me though. I want to advise her as best as I can.

Catholicism is wonderful, isn’t it. The most depraved sinner on earth can be baptized and be washed spotless in an instant, as if they had never committed any sin.

And no confession required.

 

[triumphguy]

Thank you all for your posts. I am not attempting to judge this person, I am fervently praying for her soul. If I am wrong about this issue, that is fine. I just want her to have all the facts. I am not really sure how old she was or, if in fact, that she actually received another baptism prior to her conversion or not. I see that will make a difference as to whether she needs to talk to a priest. All I’m saying is that I pray for her to get it right. Whether she does need or not need to talk to a priest is one point. I personally cannot imagine having had an abortion at ANY time and not wanting to talk to a priest. As for “carrying it around”, I would not equate abortion with almost any other mortal sin. It carries its own set of burdens. Ask anyone who has had one.

It was up to the priest who baptized her to determine whether her prior “baptism” was valid or not. Since he baptized her then presumably it was not.

Secondly you do not know if she needs to talk to a priest to unburden herself or not. Or even whether she “needs” to unburden herself at all. What you feel and what she feels are entirely different things. If she has been validly baptized into the Church then there is no necessity for her to even talk to a priest at all.

Also, if she felt the need to unburden herself the priest may not even be the appropriate person for her to talk to. For instance, she may need to talk to a woman who understands the situation.

 

[jecook]

Thank you. I guess it’s just a matter of what burdens one person may not burden another.

 

[Bookcat]

It was up to the priest who baptized her to determine whether her prior “baptism” was valid or not. Since he baptized her then presumably it was not.

Secondly you do not know if she needs to talk to a priest to unburden herself or not. Or even whether she “needs” to unburden herself at all. What you feel and what she feels are entirely different things. If she has been validly baptized into the Church then there is no necessity for her to even talk to a priest at all.

Also, if she felt the need to unburden herself the priest may not even be the appropriate person for her to talk to. For instance, she may need to talk to a woman who understands the situation.

It is question of when the person was baptized. A question was the* first* baptism valid. If it was and the second was thus either a mistaken attempt to baptize or a conditional baptism --the mortal sins still need to be confessed.