Questions concerning Confession

[lucybeebee]

Is it valid for a Catholic in the Latin Rite to have his/her confession heard by a priest in the Melkite rite?

 

[German_Melkite]

Yes.

No Catholic should “parish shop” or shop for a “particular priest,” but if the parish is available and the spirituality suits - - - - yes - - - - we are all Catholics.

When I think of such questions, I always want to substitute the terms “Dominican” and “Jesuit.”

Is it valid for a Catholic who attends a Dominican parish to have his/her confession heard by a priest in a Jesuit parish?

Yes.

 

[mardukm]

Is it valid for a Catholic in the Latin Rite to have his/her confession heard by a priest in the Melkite rite?

Yes.

On a related note:

Canonically, the Latin Catholic Church accepts only private confession as valid (sans extenuating circumstances). Thus, a Latin Catholic attending a general confession in a non-Latin sui juris Church (where such confession is regarded as fully valid) would not absolve a Latin of his/her canonical obligation to seek private confession (though that private confession can be heard from a priest of any Rite)…

A related question for those concerned:

In lieu of the circumstance mentioned above – suppose an Armenian Catholic (whose sui juris Church practices general absolution) attends a service for general absolution at a Latin Church (rare, but it happens). Now the Latin Rite does not INTEND such a general absolution to be complete (i.e., all her members are required to go to private confession afterwards). Has the Armenian Catholic made a complete confession?

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[Cluny]

Another thing:

It’s not “Melkite rite,” but “Melkite Church.”

 

[Fuerza]

Yes.

On a related note:

Canonically, the Latin Catholic Church accepts only private confession as valid (sans extenuating circumstances). Thus, a Latin Catholic attending a general confession in a non-Latin sui juris Church (where such confession is regarded as fully valid) would not absolve a Latin of his/her canonical obligation to seek private confession (though that private confession can be heard from a priest of any Rite)…

A related question for those concerned:

In lieu of the circumstance mentioned above – suppose an Armenian Catholic (whose sui juris Church practices general absolution) attends a service for general absolution at a Latin Church (rare, but it happens). Now the Latin Rite does not INTEND such a general absolution to be complete (i.e., all her members are required to go to private confession afterwards). Has the Armenian Catholic made a complete confession?

Blessings,
Marduk

I was under the impression that all Eastern Churches in union with Rome were required to use particular confessions barring an emergency, even if their Orthodox counterpart did not. There is even a Church Council ( I forget which one) which states that specific confession is an absolute necessity under ordinary circumstances.

Do you have a cite from the Canons of an Eastern Catholic Church that talks about this? The Armenian Catholic Church in particular comes to mind, since I’m well aware of the Armenian Apostolic practice and have often wondered if the CC considered it valid.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Although the majority do not regularly practice it, regular individual confession is the “ideal” in the Armenian Apostolic Church - I’ve read numerous articles by educated Armenian clergy to their laity stating that the Latin practice should be emulated and that not doing so is an unfortunate recent (within the last few hundred years) American church practice.

armenianchurch.net/worship/badarak/badarak4p.html

discipulussimplex.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/liturgics-penance-in-armenian-rite-vs-byzantine-rite/

pluto.matrix49.com/15119/?subpages/Sacraments.shtml

armenianchurch.net/news/magazine/winter2002/feature7.html

 

[Aramis]

The Armenian Apostolic Orthodox patriarchal website had an article lamenting the loss of individual confession from Armenian praxis over the last 400 years. So it’s NOT an American phenomenon in the Armenians; it’s an Armenian phenomenon.

Further, general absolution is considered valid even for Romans, but the sins still need to be individually confessed at the next opportunity.

One licit use is in communal services, where everyone goes and confesses, but then the celebrant absolves them all at once, and assigns a group-wide penance.

 

[mardukm]

One licit use is in communal services, where everyone goes and confesses, but then the celebrant absolves them all at once, and assigns a group-wide penance.

Thanks for that info, brother! I never knew that about the Latin practice (i.e., that there is individual confession, and a general absolution and giving of penance). I thought it was more like a general silent confession+absolution+penance AS A GROUP. Or is it that BOTH forms of general absolution are practiced, while it is only the latter form that requires private, individual confession afterwards.

Thanks, once again.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[Aramis]

Thanks for that info, brother! I never knew that about the Latin practice (i.e., that there is individual confession, and a general absolution and giving of penance). I thought it was more like a general silent confession+absolution+penance AS A GROUP. Or is it that BOTH forms of general absolution are practiced, while it is only the latter form that requires private, individual confession afterwards.

Thanks, once again.

Blessings,
Marduk

THe licit mode is individual aural confession, then a single general absolution. If individual pennance was not given, a general penance is given at absolution.

Barring emergencies, it is illicit but valid to grant general absolution then hear the confessions following.

It is licit to attend an Armenian general absolution, but the forgiven sins must be individually confessed as part of one’s next individual confession.