I have been raised protestant but have a Catholic Partner. I don’t feel like I know enough about Catholicism to convert but when I listen to my partner, I understand and know that he has been sent to me to guide me in my life. I have made several mistakes when I was younger that I have undergone counselling for and I have had many years of spiritual searching, none of which has helped in any way…I’ve only really felt that I’ve been offered acceptance about my actions which for some reason I cannot accept. My question is that I want to be able to go to confession but know that I can’t be accepted by the church as I am not Catholic. Can I at least speak to a Priest?
Since you are asking, and in a Catholic Forum for non-Catholic religions, you predicament will be solved if you are Catholic.
No, don’t get me wrong and as a Catholic it is natural for me to say that.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation, as a Sacrament is, an outward sign of an inner grace. So the Sacrament exudes grace. Specifically it is a grace of forgiveness. However, what many people do not realize is that this Sacrament is also a healing grace. In the Gospels, when Jesus pronounced forgiveness, healing also came about. So you are on the right track if you view Confession to have a healing effect; not just forgiveness of your sin but actually a restoration, a healing of your guilt.
Yes, certainly you can speak to a priest. If he is not busy enough, he would be glad to speak to you. You can ask for an appointment or through your Catholic partner or short of that, you can strike an informal conversation with him and if necessary with a view of a more personal follow-up. You see, there is no strict rule about this.
As I see it, and you said it, it is the counseling that you probably need at the moment. This, your pastor can do for you. I have seen Protestants doing this and they are good though comparing them with a priest is two different things altogether. Catholics find it more convenient to go to a priest because they can have two things done at one time – counseling and forgiveness through the Sacrament which the Priest can grant them right away. But this of course does not render lay people counselors obsolete; they have useful purpose too, sometimes in areas where they have life experience that priests do not have.
So do go ahead and speak to that priest. And may you be blessed and the hand of the Lord be upon you.
