Question on Confession Not Seen Yet

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MichaelJTA

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Good Afternoon…I just read, that if a person cannot receive communion because of an ongoing problem with civil divorce and remarriage, that the person cannot go to confession as well.
I am coming back to the church after many years away, and wanted to start off with a good confession. If this is true about going to confession, or the not being able to,I feel the air has been taken from my sails…so to speak.

Thanks
Mike
 
MichaelJTA said:
Good Afternoon…I just read, that if a person cannot receive communion because of an ongoing problem with civil divorce and remarriage, that the person cannot go to confession as well.
I am coming back to the church after many years away, and wanted to start off with a good confession. If this is true about going to confession, or the not being able to,I feel the air has been taken from my sails…so to speak.

Thanks
Mike
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The short answer is: it’s complicated! Go see the priest and talk it over - you’re certainly free to approach the priest for the sacrament, what happens beyond that is a matter between you and him.
 
InThePew said:
The short answer is: it’s complicated! Go see the priest and talk it over - you’re certainly free to approach the priest for the sacrament, what happens beyond that is a matter between you and him.
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Indeed!

No-one is ever prevented from going to confession.

You’ll receive a warm welcome from the priest and a sympathetic hearing.

It may be that he cannot give sacramental absolution, but he’ll listen to you, pray with/for you and bless you in some way, and give advice on the way forward.

It sounds to me like you’ve made the very best decision you could to follow up on your yearning to return to the Church - for yourself and your family. The way forward may be difficult, but you’ve heard the call from the merciful Lord and responded.
 
The parable of the prodigal son; God doesn’t turn away his children who are repentant. Ask your confessor what you must do in order to be in good standing with the sacraments going forward.
 
I am coming back to the church after many years away, and wanted to start off with a good confession. If this is true about going to confession, or the not being able to,I feel the air has been taken from my sails…so to speak.
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I would call your local parish and make an appointment with the priest. Talk to him about everything you mentioned here and ask him what you need to do.
 
Please make an appointment with a wise and holy priest to discuss your return to the Church. He will be in the best position to advise you (and hopefully get annulment paperwork started). AND WELCOME HOME!!! We missed you. :extrahappy:
 
From the Catechism.

1650 Today there are numerous Catholics in many countries who have recourse to civil divorce and contract new civil unions. In fidelity to the words of Jesus Christ - “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery” the Church maintains that a new union cannot be recognized as valid, if the first marriage was. If the divorced are remarried civilly, they find themselves in a situation that objectively contravenes God’s law. Consequently, they cannot receive Eucharistic communion as long as this situation persists. For the same reason, they cannot exercise certain ecclesial responsibilities. Reconciliation through the sacrament of Penance can be granted only to those who have repented for having violated the sign of the covenant and of fidelity to Christ, and who are committed to living in complete continence.

That last sentence gives you a way to return to the sacraments until your “problem with an ongoing civil divorce and remarriage” can be resolve. We, as members of the Church, are called to welcome you back and encourage you to live a holy live within the community. You are to continue in works of charity, and work with the community in good works, and to come to mass to hear the word of the Lord.

Please come join us
 
Thank You all for the replies.
So if I am understanding this correctly, the previous marriages would have to go through an annulment process within the church for me to be able to participate in confession?

Thanks Again
 
EVAN, I just re-read your post, and understand your last sentence. I have this morning reached out to a priest with my situation.

Thanks
 
As others have suggested make an appointment with a priest to talk with outside of normal reconciliation times. I only say this because your case sounds like something that may take longer to work through than the normally scheduled confession times, which from experiences seem to be limited to only about an hour or so a week. You don’t want to be the guy that disappears into the confessional and then takes up all the time while others patiently wait in line and watch the hour slowly tick away.

ChadS
 
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