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MetalMark
Guest
What are sins that are so severe that only the Pope can absolve them?
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D
Deacon_Ed
Guest
There are no “sins” that only the pope can forgive them. There are, however, things that we can do that are so severe that they result in automatic excommunication. Some of these only the Holy Father can remove.
Deacon Ed
Deacon Ed
N
NetNuncio
Guest
I assume this stems from the AP article from today regarding the opening up of some of the workings of the Apostolic Penitentiary. And Deacon Ed is completely right. Secular news sources, such as the AP, are so woefully lacking in any sort of knowledge of ANY religion that, quite frankly, I don’t think they should ever write on them unless they bring in someone who has at least half a clue of what they are talking about.
P
passus
Guest
No, there’s nothing wrong with the article at all.
The particular part I believe is in question was quoted of Cardinal James Francis Stafford, the current Major Penitentiary, who said:
[The Apostolic Penitentiary’s] work involves those sins that are reserved for the pope — considered so serious that a local priest or bishop is not qualified to grant absolution, said Cardinal James Francis Stafford, an American who heads the Apostolic Penitentiary.
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gk2CDHJiyFMPEKlnBGVAvzKFH6wQD95N6K0G1
He is referring to sins which incur latae sentiae excommunications and per the definition of “excommunication” a person cannot be absolved of those sins until the excommunication has been lifted.
A priest cannot absolve anyone of a sin which has incurred a latae sentiae excommunication reserved to the pope because a person who is excommunicated cannot be absolved in the first place unless the excommunication is one that a priest has been dispensed to lift (in the United States, the excommunication incurred by participation in or reception of an abortion would be an example). The job of the tribunal is to first lift the excommunication, only after which absolution can be granted.
Take a look at this article and scroll down to the section called “Excommunications specifically reserved to the pope.” There are twelve of them and the circumstances of their imposition are detailed there.
I hope that helps.
The particular part I believe is in question was quoted of Cardinal James Francis Stafford, the current Major Penitentiary, who said:
[The Apostolic Penitentiary’s] work involves those sins that are reserved for the pope — considered so serious that a local priest or bishop is not qualified to grant absolution, said Cardinal James Francis Stafford, an American who heads the Apostolic Penitentiary.
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gk2CDHJiyFMPEKlnBGVAvzKFH6wQD95N6K0G1
He is referring to sins which incur latae sentiae excommunications and per the definition of “excommunication” a person cannot be absolved of those sins until the excommunication has been lifted.
A priest cannot absolve anyone of a sin which has incurred a latae sentiae excommunication reserved to the pope because a person who is excommunicated cannot be absolved in the first place unless the excommunication is one that a priest has been dispensed to lift (in the United States, the excommunication incurred by participation in or reception of an abortion would be an example). The job of the tribunal is to first lift the excommunication, only after which absolution can be granted.
Take a look at this article and scroll down to the section called “Excommunications specifically reserved to the pope.” There are twelve of them and the circumstances of their imposition are detailed there.
I hope that helps.
J
Joe_Kelley
Guest
See Father Z’s comments [Scroll down past the birds; though they are worth a loo too]]
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