Scandalous words (on the internet)

[Neithan]

I recently wrote something gravely scandalous on a website, but I can not delete it and the website will not remove it. It’s still there for all to read. I’ve confessed the sin of causing scandal, but I didn’t describe what I wrote, nor that I couldn’t remove it.

It’s bothering me. Does the fact that what I wrote is permanent and could scandalize people now and in the future affect the state of my soul?
How can I be absolved/do penance/reparation for something that could be continually causing spiritual harm?
Should I confess this again and clearly tell the priest my concerns? I will not tell him what I wrote for fear of scandalizing him too (or should I?).

 

[baltobetsy]

It might be a good idea, just for practical reasons, to bring it up again in confession. Not because it’s not properly forgiven, but to submit it to the authority of the priest for better, more complete advice about what to do. It would be kind of like what you do in case of having stolen something to find out how to make restitution. Once you receive an indication of what to do and obey it, you can rest easy. And don’t worry about scandalizing the priest. If he asks you what it is, tell him.

 

[agnes_therese]

I recently wrote something gravely scandalous on a website, but I can not delete it and the website will not remove it. It’s still there for all to read. I’ve confessed the sin of causing scandal, but I didn’t describe what I wrote, nor that I couldn’t remove it.

It’s bothering me. Does the fact that what I wrote is permanent and could scandalize people now and in the future affect the state of my soul?
How can I be absolved/do penance/reparation for something that could be continually causing spiritual harm?
Should I confess this again and clearly tell the priest my concerns? I will not tell him what I wrote for fear of scandalizing him too (or should I?).

Since they won’t remove it, can you write again and “correct” (or whatever would be appropriate) the first one?

 

[Neithan]

Since they won’t remove it, can you write again and “correct” (or whatever would be appropriate) the first one?

I already wrote a response asking for it to be removed. I don’t know how else to correct it and writing again might just draw more attention to it.

 

[Neithan]

Well I asked them to remove it again, and thankfully they did.

What a relief! But this reminds me of all the other little things I’ve written that could be scandalous. I’ll definitely have to be more careful. :sad_yes:

I wonder though, say I’d written a book and had it published, so there were thousands of scandalous copies circulating out there. What could I do, demand they stop the presses and request everyone to burn their copy??