Pope Francis: SSPX priests will licitly and validly absolve sins during Jubilee of Mercy [CWN]

[Denise1957]

It sounds odd to me, that you would go to the SSPX Chapel, confess your sins, get absolved, but RUN out in a hurry before Mass starts

I agree, especially since the Pope said…“A final consideration concerns those faithful who for various reasons choose to attend churches officiated by priests of the Fraternity of St. Pius X.”

The Pope says nothing about not attending SSPX Masses after going to confession. And confession is often offered after Mass there as well. The Pope also said that…“This Jubilee Year of Marcy excludes no one.”

 

[Lormar]

I hope that will be clarified in the days ahead - about attending Mass at one of their chapels - but I do agree that it doesn’t make sense that a Catholic can go to one of their priests for confession, and then not be able to attend Mass there. In which case, I suppose, they can just go back to one of the SSPX priests and confess Father, I confess having attended Mass at an SSPX chapel.

 

[johnnyc176]

Thanks:thumbsup:

It sounds odd to me, that you would go to the SSPX Chapel, confess your sins, get absolved, but RUN out in a hurry before Mass starts

But, of course, instead of people being happy that the Holy Father has done something truly Merciful toward our fellow Catholic brethren, they find something to complain about…

We should REJOICE!!

God bless you!

PAX+

I would imagine there will be more clarification coming. The SSPX would certainly help in the fight against secularism.

 

[Tim_D]

It sounds odd to me, that you would go to the SSPX Chapel, confess your sins, get absolved, but RUN out in a hurry before Mass starts

I refer you to Deacon Jeff’s post below, #41.

But, of course, instead of people being happy that the Holy Father has done something truly Merciful toward our fellow Catholic brethren, they find something to complain about…

You are putting the cart before the horse. You are declaring that everything is settled when it isn’t. Let’s see what the response of the SSPX will be to this. I will bet you dollars to donuts that they will take the position that their confessions have always had faculties.

Also, have any of you who support the SSPX ever read the FAQs on their website? Specifically, the ones dealing with the Ordinary Form, the pope, diocesan Latin Masses, the catechism, the “Novus Ordo Missae,” and the FSSP? Can you read these and tell me that you agree with them?

 

[Walking_Home]

---

Agree.

 

[Tim_D]

I agree, especially since the Pope said…“A final consideration concerns those faithful who for various reasons choose to attend churches officiated by priests of the Fraternity of St. Pius X.”

The Pope says nothing about not attending SSPX Masses after going to confession. And confession is often offered after Mass there as well. The Pope also said that…“This Jubilee Year of Marcy excludes no one.”

I hope that will be clarified in the days ahead - about attending Mass at one of their chapels - but I do agree that it doesn’t make sense that a Catholic can go to one of their priests for confession, and then not be able to attend Mass there. In which case, I suppose, they can just go back to one of the SSPX priests and confess Father, I confess having attended Mass at an SSPX chapel.

Wow…you guys certainly take a lot for granted.

Unless you have evidence that Pope Francis has made such a declaration, then things remain as they were with the exception of faculties for confession during the Year of Mercy.

 

[Denise1957]

I hope that will be clarified in the days ahead - about attending Mass at one of their chapels - but I do agree that it doesn’t make sense that a Catholic can go to one of their priests for confession, and then not be able to attend Mass there. In which case, I suppose, they can just go back to one of the SSPX priests and confess Father, I confess having attended Mass at an SSPX chapel.

It’s possible that the CDF will issue a clarification about this in the near future. You can wait and see if they do.

If we just go by the words of the Pope, it would seem likely that he is leaving it up to the faithful to decide if they want to attend an SSPX chapel. He would have put some sort of disclaimer in if he thought that Catholics should avoid SSPX chapels. Not that he’s saying that Catholics should flock to SSPX chapels if they want to, though. I dunno.

 

[Megan7]

I agree, especially since the Pope said…“A final consideration concerns those faithful who for various reasons choose to attend churches officiated by priests of the Fraternity of St. Pius X.”

The Pope says nothing about not attending SSPX Masses after going to confession. And confession is often offered after Mass there as well. The Pope also said that…“This Jubilee Year of Marcy excludes no one.”

Bingo! :clapping: Thank you!

I have never been to an SSPX Chapel, but from what I have heard confessions are also heard during Mass. So, how would you “delicately” leave the Chapel?

I had a Priest once give me as Penance to go to Mass (maybe, since I missed going to Mass the previous Sunday… ) I did not see that as Penance, but obviously I accepted. And I stayed for the Mass, even though my plans were to go that evening…

In a way, and again I am not disrespecting the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in any way (with the following comparison, just in case…) but, it is like if I go to your house for Dinner & leave before the main course, RUN out in hurry…

Thank you & God bless!

PAX+

 

[Denise1957]

It’s only my opinion. If you disagree, that’s fine.

 

[Denise1957]

I have never been to an SSPX Chapel, but from what I have heard confessions are also heard during Mass. So, how would you “delicately” leave the Chapel?

If there’s only one priest at an SSPX chapel, which is quite common at the smaller chapels, then he will hear confessions before and often after Mass. If there are two priests at a chapel on Sunday, then they might offer confession during Mass. This is similar to how it works at an FSSP parish as well.

 

[Denise1957]

We shouldn’t be allowed to discuss the (possible) ramifications of what the Pope has issued by his Papal authority? Sounds rather intolerant to me.

 

[Tim_D]

It’s only my opinion. If you disagree, that’s fine.

The problem is that you are stating your opinion as to the pope’s thoughts and intentions as if it were fact. As Deacon Jeff said, the Church’s position on the sspx, their role in the Church, and the validity of their sacraments has already been officially stated. When your opinion contradicts these positions, then you create the chance of leading people to conclusions that have no basis in fact.

 

[dans0622]

Very confusing…I read the Pope will allow more priests to forgive people who had abortions during the “jubilee of mercy”. I thought any priest could always give absolution for any sin, if the person is sorry!

Hello,

It would perhaps be better if the Pope maintained an appropriate distinction between sins and penalties. Just because a person commits a sin such as abortion does not mean she is certainly excommunicated.

You are correct that a priest can forgive any sin (with one exception–he can’t forgive an accomplice’s sin against the 6th Commandment) if the penitent is contrite.

Penalties, such as excommunication, are a different matter and the priest is typically not able to remit/pardon excommunications entirely on his own authority. With the (canonical) crime of abortion, it is common for priests to be given the authority to pardon the excommunication.

Even though the Pope (here and elsewhere) has only spoken of the “sin” of abortion, it seems clear that he is addressing the penalty.

That being said, the Eastern Catholic Churches do have a notion of “reserved sins” and abortion is one of them that is reserved to the eparchial bishop. The Pope is addressing his remarks to all Catholic priests, East and West, so his use of terminology is more conducive to the Eastern perspective.

Dan

 

[Tim_D]

Thanks, Deacon Jeff!

That was a good post that answered many of the assumptions here.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Deacon, please read the Pope’s own words.

"A final consideration concerns those faithful who for various reasons choose to attend churches officiated by priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X. This Jubilee Year of Mercy excludes no one. From various quarters, several Brother Bishops have told me of their good faith and sacramental practice, combined however with an uneasy situation from the pastoral standpoint.

Notice that the Pope addresses those who attend the sacraments at Churches OFFICIATED by SSPX priests. He does not suggest that they do not attend but rather ENCOURAGES them to seek out their “home” priest for a sacrament. He also acknowledges “various reasons” If he were concerned about the faithful receiving sacraments he would have told them to go to confession and “return” to a valid parish. He didn’t.

We must be careful here on both sides. One side is obviously bothered by the idea of SSPX chapels being included. And the other is jumping on the full communion bandwagon. CAF needs to weigh in on if some of the SSPX rules on the forums need to be changed or nuanced to really discuss this issue.

I would caution all that the priests of the SSPX are indeed Catholic priests. So when we blast them for perceived attitudes we need to change the way we speak about them to be respectful.

I don’t think it is reading too much into the document to say that Pope Francis has weighed in on the ever hanging question on if someone can attend a chapel for “various reasons” probably including the “For love of the EF” that we have heard of.

He has changed Pope Benedict’s decree that they have no "legitimate ministry in the Church. Because for at least the next year starting in December they have been commissioned by the Pope himself to minister…

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

The problem is that you are stating your opinion as to the pope’s thoughts and intentions as if it were fact. As Deacon Jeff said, the Church’s position on the sspx, their role in the Church, and the validity of their sacraments has already been officially stated. When your opinion contradicts these positions, then you create the chance of leading people to conclusions that have no basis in fact.

I am sorry that this news is so troubling for you.

 

[Tim_D]

Deacon, please read the Pope’s own words.

"A final consideration concerns those faithful who for various reasons choose to attend churches officiated by priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X. This Jubilee Year of Mercy excludes no one.

Notice that the Pope addresses those who attend the sacraments at Churches OFFICIATED by SSPX priests.

I think that you should notice, as Deacon Jeff has said, that your quote is addressing the FAITHFUL, not the priests of the SSPX.

 

[Denise1957]

The problem is that you are stating your opinion as to the pope’s thoughts and intentions as if it were fact. As Deacon Jeff said, the Church’s position on the sspx, their role in the Church, and the validity of their sacraments has already been officially stated. When your opinion contradicts these positions, then you create the chance of leading people to conclusions that have no basis in fact.

Wrong. I have said that it’s my opinion, which apparently you believe that some of us shouldn’t be allowed to express. I’ll have to make further use of the ignore feature.

 

[Tim_D]

I am sorry that this news is so troubling for you.

What is troubling to me is people who take a single thread of a statement and weave it into a tapestry of their own desire and design, claiming things to be something that they aren’t. I think that Deacon Jeff and Father Z’s thoughts on the matter are more knowledgeable and informative than the posts that have been appearing here.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I apologize.