Secret sacrament?

[MichaelTDoyle]

I don’t understand the theology behind this.

msnbc.msn.com/id/28663430/

The sacrament should be good for all sins, since it was based on Jesus’ statement to the apostles about forgiving sins and retaining them This article states that some sins are too bad for confession?

What is the theology behind this if it is accurate?

 

[LilyM]

They’re a bit confused, I think.

To my understanding any priest can grant ABSOLUTION of any sin, however in certain cases where the sin is one that has a penalty of excommunication attached to it, only a bishop or the Pope can lift some of those excommunications.

As a procedural matter, again my understanding is that the local priest will get the necessary delegation of authority from the Bishop or Rome and can then themselves lift the excommunication at the same time as granting the absolution to the penitent. That would probably be all the ‘tribunal’ is about, granting those permissions.

 

[BobCatholic]

In case of emergency, any priest can grant absolution of any sin, even those where absolution is reserved to bishops or the Holy See, and the excommunication is lifted too.

In the remaining cases, the priest doesn’t have the faculties to give absolution. So the penitent has to go to the Bishop or Pope who has faculties.