Priest wouldn't give absolution

[basinite]

I went to confession today and the priest asked if my sin was a recurring sin and I told him yes. He told me he couldn’t give me absolution because if he did “he” would be commiting a mortal sin. He told me to do a certain thing and come back in two weeks and he would give me absolution.

My question is why would he be commiting a mortal sin?

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I went to confession today and the priest asked if my sin was a recurring sin and I told him yes. He told me he couldn’t give me absolution because if he did “he” would be commiting a mortal sin. He told me to do a certain thing and come back in two weeks and he would give me absolution.

My question is why would he be commiting a mortal sin?

When you come back in 2 weeks why not ask him?

We can only speculate.

For example, a priest does not have to give absolution if the person requesting it is not sorry. One example which would demonstrate a lack of sorrow would be if the person intended to keep on committing the sin. If the priest knows that the person is going to commit the sin again, it would indeed be sinful for that priest to absolve the person.

Another example would be if the priest himself were somehow involved in the sin. He could not give absolution if he were ‘partner’ in that sin. Of course, if that were the case he couldn’t somehow give absolution 2 weeks later --but it is an example where a priest cannot give absolution and would incur mortal sin if he did.

I recommend that you do exactly what the priest tells you, and ask HIM when you see him so that he can clarify.

 

[Elizabeth502]

My question is why would he be commiting a mortal sin?

First of all, he is only allowed to withhold absolution if he can reasonably assume, based on what you told him, that you do not have a “firm purpose of amendment” or in some serious way feel bound/compelled to continue in this same sin, and/or if he perceived that you were not truly sorry enough, didn’t recognize/acknowledge your sin to be truly serious, etc.

Rarely are priests supposed to withhold absolution; the vast majority seriously avoid having to do that, and will counsel penitents (encourage them to rethink their sins right then and there during that confession moment, rather than have to “send them away” unabsolved.) It must have been some way he received whatever you communicated to him, that caused him to withhold absolution. Next time, if you’re unsure as why a priest might do that, you should ask them in the confessional, preferably when he announces that.

He is bound to respect the sacrament (not honor sacramental form or matter that is invalid, not engage in dishonest absolution, etc.), or he is violating his duties as a priest, and thus committing a mortal sin. In addition, if he felt that you were not truly repentant, or would not make a concerted effort to cease that sin, or did not examine your conscience properly (prepare for an honest confession), then he could be in a position of cooperating with the pentitent’s sacrilege regarding that sacrament and possibly any subsequent sacriligious communion.

For example, priests have admitted telling a penitent to come back for absolution after they have done a better job examining their conscience, if it seems that the penitent is shining the priest on or has so little to say about their misdeeds, etc.

 

[Elizabeth502]

Just to elaborate on my post, priests have given examples of a married person “confessing” (insincerely) using artificial contraception, “because the Church forbids it,” then saying in the next breath that they themselves don’t believe it particularly to be wrong; it’s not ‘harming anyone,’ etc. IOW, that’s a grudging “confession.” It does not show awareness, let alone regret/remorse, and a purpose of amendment.

A confessor in that case might tell the penitent that he or she needs to instruct himself or herself in the teachings, and also get cooperation from the spouse in that regard.

That’s just an example. Priests have given other examples of penitents formally listings sins for which they have no repentance, but are merely being compliant. If the person confessing doesn’t think what they’re doing is particularly wrong, then naturally they are likely to continue doing it, or at least have not expressed conversion from repeating it. Lots of experienced confessors would prefer, as I say, to make the confessional an opportunity for brief education in the seriousness of the action, hoping that the sacramental opportunity will still be there for the penitent in that moment. But a number of people in the confessional apparently argue with priests.

Or, in the fictional example I just cited, it could be a case of the penitent being sorry for using contraception and wanting to cease doing that, but has determined that so far the spouse is unwilling and will not cooperate. That’s why I listed as a reason above, “feeling bound/compelled to continue in the sin.”

 

[Skeptic92]

I went to confession today and the priest asked if my sin was a recurring sin and I told him yes. He told me he couldn’t give me absolution because if he did “he” would be commiting a mortal sin. He told me to do a certain thing and come back in two weeks and he would give me absolution.

My question is why would he be commiting a mortal sin?

If he has the suspicion that you will carry on doing that same sin again and again, with no true inclination to stop, he would be committing a mortal sin yes, as it is Grave Matter to absolve someone for a sin they have no inclination to cease doing, and he has full consent of will and knowledge while doing it, so he would be committing a mortal sin.

Why he has withheld absolution to you we can not know for sure, as we do not know what you told him within the Sacrament of Confession (nor should we), trust in Fathers judgement, he is trying to look after your’s, and his soul.

 

[basinite]

If he has the suspicion that you will carry on doing that same sin again and again, with no true inclination to stop, he would be committing a mortal sin yes, as it is Grave Matter to absolve someone for a sin they have no inclination to cease doing, and he has full consent of will and knowledge while doing it, so he would be committing a mortal sin.

Why he has withheld absolution to you we can not know for sure, as we do not know what you told him within the Sacrament of Confession (nor should we), trust in Fathers judgement, he is trying to look after your’s, and his soul.

I never knew this and thanks for clarifying.

I go to a parish run by the FSSP and even though they can’t see you because of the confessional screen. It sometimes seem as though they can read your mind. Kinda freaky in a holy sort of way.

I love this priest and he is a very holy man. I will trust his judgement.