Priestly Confession and Correction

[tizzidale]

If a priest confesses (to his confessor) that he has committed an act harmful to those in his congregation, is there any recourse for the Church? Or can he go about his merry way?

rusty

 

[estesbob]

If a priest confesses (to his confessor) that he has committed an act harmful to those in his congregation, is there any recourse for the Church? Or can he go about his merry way?

rusty

A Priest can not divulge anything said to him in confession. It doesnt matter who the one doing the confessing is or what the sin was.

 

[4HisChurch]

Perhaps the confessor can mandate a penance that would help rectify the situation, though.

 

[Sir_Knight]

A penance does not have to be performed in order for sins to be forgiven.

 

[Katholish]

A penance does not have to be performed in order for sins to be forgiven.

It is my understanding that the intention of performing the penance at least at that time is necessary though for the primary effect of the sacrament to occur, namely the forgiveness of sins.

 

[Sir_Knight]

That is true …

the INTENTION of performing the penance AT THE TIME is necessary though for the forgiveness of sins

 

[CatholicNick]

That is true …

the INTENTION of performing the penance AT THE TIME is necessary though for the forgiveness of sins

Indeed - If one refuses such a penance, the Priest will not/may not grant absolution.

 

[Sir_Knight]

But, going back to what I originally said, the actual penance does not have to be performed in order for the sin to be forgiven – at the time of absolution, the person must have the intention to perform that penance.

 

[AquinaSavio]

But, going back to what I originally said, the actual penance does not have to be performed in order for the sin to be forgiven – at the time of absolution, the person must have the intention to perform that penance.

Could the priest refuse to give absolution until after the damage had been repaired as much as possible?

 

[LilyM]

But, going back to what I originally said, the actual penance does not have to be performed in order for the sin to be forgiven – at the time of absolution, the person must have the intention to perform that penance.

Of course if you then fail to do the penance assigned, without good reason, it is a fresh sin.

 

[asquared]

yes the confessor can refuse absolution if signs of penitence are not present, including contrition and restitution. the assigned penance has nothing to do with it. what he cannot do is use information obtained in confession in any way whatever outside the confessional.

 

[BrooklynBoy200]

A penance does not have to be performed in order for sins to be forgiven.

You’re really into the penance thing, aren’t you?

 

[dessert]

If a priest confesses (to his confessor) that he has committed an act harmful to those in his congregation, is there any recourse for the Church? Or can he go about his merry way?

rusty

You must have established a very trusting relationship with him. As it sounds like he feels he can tell you anything or maybe he is trying to get you to open up.
This situation is happening with mine it is kind of confusing me a little. but then I am only going to one confessor because I am new but I look at it as a next step an approach as he calls it. This reminds me of a dancing game or steps like I follow you for awhile and then I lead you. Or mine is just trying all angles to get me to tell it all. And I am very stubborn about it I’ll admit.
Do you want to tell if it is a big secret guess what it is probably not a secret . I’m an expert on keeping secrets but I have to agree don’t tell but tell himm next time it is eating you up to not tell and just to tell him you will tell.
He has to tell his bishop doesn’t he? Don’t priest go to bishops for confes? dessert

 

[dessert]

A Priest can not divulge anything said to him in confession. It doesnt matter who the one doing the confessing is or what the sin was.

But the one confessing can tell anything because he or she is not a priest believe me everything will be know one way or another.
After all I talk a lot of things over with otheres before even going into the box and practice in front of a mirror sorry but I have to in order to make sure I keep it short, I can get wordy and mad so then I have to appoligize for all that too. Is this wrong?dessert

 

[Spirithound]

If a priest confesses (to his confessor) that he has committed an act harmful to those in his congregation, is there any recourse for the Church? Or can he go about his merry way?

The attitude of “going on one’s merry way” is not consistent with the sorrow for one’s sins that the sacrament mandates. The very fact that you are going to confession should mean that you are willing to change your ways, and fix harm done. Anything else is in itself a sin, and invalidates your attempt at receiving the sacrament.

He has to tell his bishop doesn’t he? Don’t priest go to bishops for confess?

I don’t think it is mandated that priests must go to the bishop for confession. Who then, would the bishop go to to confess? Who would the pope go to? If the sin in question does hurt the congregation, it would probably be advisable to go to the bishop, as he is generally a very wise man, and can direct the priest in way to rectify his mistake.

 

[Cristiano]

You’re really into the penance thing, aren’t you?

I do not think that he is. I guess that he is making the point that Christ forgives us once we confess. Doing the penance as a condition for absolution says that we are trying to reach a level of worthiness that entitles us to God forgiveness. That is not true, we will never be worthy of His mercy, He just gives it to us out of pure love. Having said that, not doing penance is a sin by itself.

 

[Sir_Knight]

You’re really into the penance thing, aren’t you?

I do not think that he is. I guess that he is making the point that Christ forgives us once we confess. Doing the penance as a condition for absolution says that we are trying to reach a level of worthiness that entitles us to God forgiveness. That is not true, we will never be worthy of His mercy, He just gives it to us out of pure love. Having said that, not doing penance is a sin by itself.

My daughter just did her first confession and the DRE’s knowledge of the faith seemed a bit questionable. I went through a lot of these points providing church references to support what I was saying and it’s still fresh in my mind.

 

[Sir_Knight]

not doing penance is a sin by itself.

Of course if you then fail to do the penance assigned, without good reason, it is a fresh sin.

That is not true. Any penance that you fail to perform in this life will be performed in purgatory and it has been revealed to us that we will be able to pay our debt here on earth with pennies on the dollar. So no matter how difficult a penance is in this life (physically, emotionally, etc.), it will be numerous times worse in purgatory in all of those areas.

So, it is really foolish not to perform even the most harsh penance here on earth because in purgatory it will be countless times more difficult.

I think the exact quote was that in this life we will be able to pay our debt with pennies while in purgatory it will cost dollars – signifying how much more intense the penance will be in terms of time, and physical & emotional difficulty.

 

[Sir_Knight]

He has to tell his bishop doesn’t he? Don’t priest go to bishops for confes?

Even if he does confess to his bishop, the seal of confession is absolute and the bishop is not allowed to act on any of the information that was confessed to him. He is not even allowed to bring it up outside of the confessional.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Could the priest refuse to give absolution until after the damage had been repaired as much as possible?

No. That would make the absolution conditional on some action and absolution can never be conditional. When a person walks out of the confessional, the sins are either forgiven or retained. No, if this or that.