Rec'g without Confession-Should I mention this to someone?

[Fuerza]

I’m not really sure where this post should go, but this forum seems to be the most appropriate.

Here’s the situation my (now former) priest has said some things to me that I find slightly troubling. This is the same priest I’ve talked about before who changes the wording of some of the prayers in the Mass, utilizing inclusive language. In a private conversation I had with him a while ago( in which he indicated his support for gay marriage among other things) he asked me why I had not been to communion the previous week. I answered him that I had had a mortal sin on my conscience at the time and had not yet gone to confession at that point. His response to me was that I could go to communion, even with a mortal sin, as long as I made an act of contrition. I’m not too concerned with reporting his support for gay marriage, but should I tell someone about this last piece of advice? I’m afraid he could be telling the same thing to other people who don’t know any better. If so, who do I tell? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[CatholicNick]

I’m not really sure where this post should go, but this forum seems to be the most appropriate.

Here’s the situation my (now former) priest has said some things to me that I find slightly troubling. This is the same priest I’ve talked about before who changes the wording of some of the prayers in the Mass, utilizing inclusive language. In a private conversation I had with him a while ago( in which he indicated his support for gay marriage among other things) he asked me why I had not been to communion the previous week. I answered him that I had had a mortal sin on my conscience at the time and had not yet gone to confession at that point. His response to me was that I could go to communion, even with a mortal sin, as long as I made an act of contrition. I’m not too concerned with reporting his support for gay marriage, but should I tell someone about this last piece of advice? I’m afraid he could be telling the same thing to other people who don’t know any better. If so, who do I tell? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

Report him to your Bishop - and start going to the Tridentine Mass where none of this nonsesne happens…

Seriously though, something should be done about him telling people its alright to recieve Our Lord while they are in Mortal sin - its a Grave matter, which is excommunicable.

 

[CatholicCid]

I’d confront the Priest again… Bring with you the documents supporting the correct teaching and just talk with him.
Ask him why he gave you the advice and that when you compared it with correct Church teaching, he was wrong. If he refuses to see how or why he was wrong and insists he was right, then I would take it to the Bishop.

Being a Priest does not leave him free from error… He might just be making an honest mistake.

 

[awalt]

Being a Priest does not leave him free from error… He might just be making an honest mistake.

This could be exactly it - he may have remembered this:

Mortal sin can be forgiven by an act of contrition (which is what he said)

But he forgot this:

the act of contrition must be PERFECT which is hard to do;

AND with the intent to go to confession ASAP

AND the Church recommends to go to CONfession anyway before having the Eucharist in this case because you won’t know if you actually performed a perfect act of contrition or not.

I still remember Father Vincent on CA Live saying a number of the priests from seminaries in the 60s/70s got bad formation, and that of course will change over time with the new breed, who so far appear excellent.

 

[Wendy-Kay]

Definetly do not do nothing! He says these things to you and, thanks be to God, you have a conscious formed well enough to know this is wrong. What about those in his flock that do not and listen to this? And, as a previous poster said, the priest may not be well informed.
I knew someone in RCIA who confessed that he was having pre-marital relations with his girlfriend and they were using “a barrier” method with the pill. His parish priest told him it would be a good gift to stop having relations with his girlfriend when and if they got engaged and to stop contracepting when he got married. Since this young man didn’t know his faith well, he felt justified in continuing in his sin for years. When I find it hard to correct someone, I think of him and it gives me the courage.
For more advice on the how-tos, you could contact the St. Joseph Foundation.

 

[Sir_Knight]

I’d confront the Priest again… Bring with you the documents supporting the correct teaching and just talk with him.
Ask him why he gave you the advice and that when you compared it with correct Church teaching, he was wrong. If he refuses to see how or why he was wrong and insists he was right, then I would take it to the Bishop.

… If he refuses to see how or why he was wrong and insists he was right, then ask him if he would have a problem with you going to his bishop for further clarification and see what his reaction is.

If he honestly thinks that what he is saying is correct, then he should have no problem with you going to the bishop and you SHOULD go to have the bishop correct him.

If he does have a problem with it, then chances are that he will deny his actions in front of the bishop and while it should be reported, it might not accomplish much because he may continue in his ways.

 

[LilyM]

Off topic here. I have one huge bugbear - I see loads of people here use the word ‘conscious’ (as in examination of conscious or well-formed conscious) when the correct word (and I’ve never seen any other used) is actually CONSCIENCE!!!

Please people, it’s driving me :whacky: