This is probably a silly question

[tom25]

About confession, as I understand, the priest upon hearing a confession is prohibited from acting upon the knowledge that he heard when acting as a confessor.

When it the confession is retroactive, as in “Father forgive me for doing this sin”, I understand the reasoning of that.

I would like to know, does the same prohibition work when the confession is for a sin that will take place. As in “Father forgive for this sin I am about to do” ?

 

[mom2em]

I could be entirely wrong as I myself am learning CONTINUOUSLY since my return. But I do not think that you are able to confess sins that have not already happened. To so would be … what is it, a sin of presumption? Or maybe that’s when you do something knowing it to be sinful thinking you can rely on God’s mercy and confess it later.

Maybe Bookcat or 1ke might pop by. They seem to have helpful answers often on such matters.

 

[insideitall]

mom2em is correct. my husband and I were actually discussing this the other day, though we didn’t know what it was called, so thanks!

you can’t confess something you haven’t done yet because of what you say in the act of contrition. you can certainly feel bad for what you’re about to do, knowing that god won’t be happy; you can certainly be afraid of going to hell; but you are not firmly resolving to amend your life, as you’re still planning to go out and sin anyway.

this website (chastitysf.com/q_confes.htm) explains it pretty well so I’ll just pull the important bits.

1. the sin of presumption is easy to commit because you can easily be fooled into confessing only on an intellectual level. that is, you know you’ve done something wrong, and think that god will forgive you every time, so you don’t need to change.
2. if you don’t try to change, you’re not really contrite, and without being contrite you aren’t really forgiven.
3. you also are not confessing all your sins, because “one of your sins is the unwillingness it takes to change your behavior.”

I don’t think that actually answered your question, though. if you can’t actually confess something you haven’t done, is the priest still bound by the seal of the confessional, since technically it’s not a real confession? from what I’ve looked up, each country has different laws that determine how the seal is the be interpreted, and even in america different states have different laws.

 

[Zundrah]

About confession, as I understand, the priest upon hearing a confession is prohibited from acting upon the knowledge that he heard when acting as a confessor.

When it the confession is retroactive, as in “Father forgive me for doing this sin”, I understand the reasoning of that.

I would like to know, does the same prohibition work when the confession is for a sin that will take place. As in “Father forgive for this sin I am about to do” ?

I think since it is private information, he is still obliged to be silent about it. While you are in confession with him, it’s all the same.

 

[Ohana]

Well no, I don’t think we can “pay it forward” with regard to sin. If you are talking about an habitual sin, that is what that part in the act of contrition is all about " to sin no more, to avoid the occasion of sin and to amend my life," When we reconcile, we are supposed to be sorry - either in a felt way or as an act of will - for doing something sinful and be willing to avoid doing it in the future. Do we fail? You bet. But one should not have the intention of committing the same sin again. If you do have reservations about that, it is best to discuss this with your confessor

 

[JRKH]

About confession, as I understand, the priest upon hearing a confession is prohibited from acting upon the knowledge that he heard when acting as a confessor.

When it the confession is retroactive, as in “Father forgive me for doing this sin”, I understand the reasoning of that.

I would like to know, does the same prohibition work when the confession is for a sin that will take place. As in “Father forgive for this sin I am about to do” ?

You cannot be absolved from a sin that you are not contrite for. A sin that you are planning on committing definitely falls into this category.
This will be obvious if you look at everything that occurs in the course of a confession.
Our first words are “Forgive me Father for I have sinned…” and after listing our sins, we are to recite our Act of Contrition…
O MY GOD, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen
One cannot resolve to sin no more if one is planning to sin…Neither can one resolve to avoid the near occasion of sin…These things are contrary to the very nature of confession.

Peace
James

 

[Corki]

There are two things going on here.

1. Absolution. The priest can not absolve a penitent for a sin that is to be committed in the future.
2. Seal of confession. The seal does not only apply to sins absolved. The priest cannot reveal what is said during the course of the Confession.

The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.

Canon Law 983.

 

[TheDoctor]

About confession, as I understand, the priest upon hearing a confession is prohibited from acting upon the knowledge that he heard when acting as a confessor.

When it the confession is retroactive, as in “Father forgive me for doing this sin”, I understand the reasoning of that.

I would like to know, does the same prohibition work when the confession is for a sin that will take place. As in “Father forgive for this sin I am about to do” ?

I think the replies have gone more toward absolution for the sin you are about to commit but you are really asking about the Seal of the Confessional.

If I understand your question, it goes like this: I walk into the confessional and during confession say “Father, forgive me for I am about to leave here and go shoot my wife”. You are asking if the seal does not apply because this is a future sin and therefore is the Priest able to notify the police about what I have done without breaking the seal? Did I get that right?

 

[TheDoctor]

I think the replies have gone more toward absolution for the sin you are about to commit but you are really asking about the Seal of the Confessional.

If I understand your question, it goes like this: I walk into the confessional and during confession say “Father, forgive me for I am about to leave here and go shoot my wife”. You are asking if the seal does not apply because this is a future sin and therefore is the Priest able to notify the police about what I have done without breaking the seal? Did I get that right?

If that is what you are asking look at Corki’s response above. If you mention it during confession the seal applies.

 

[FrDavid96]

About confession, as I understand, the priest upon hearing a confession is prohibited from acting upon the knowledge that he heard when acting as a confessor.

When it the confession is retroactive, as in “Father forgive me for doing this sin”, I understand the reasoning of that.

I would like to know, does the same prohibition work when the confession is for a sin that will take place. As in “Father forgive for this sin I am about to do” ?

Yes. The seal of confession still applies. The seal applies to everything that is said within the confession.

However a priest cannot absolve from that particular sin–the one in the future.

 

[Pfaffenhofen]

About confession, as I understand, the priest upon hearing a confession is prohibited from acting upon the knowledge that he heard when acting as a confessor.

When it the confession is retroactive, as in “Father forgive me for doing this sin”, I understand the reasoning of that.

I would like to know, does the same prohibition work when the confession is for a sin that will take place. As in “Father forgive for this sin I am about to do” ?

No forward sin allowed.
Suppose you die meanwhile, how do you know you are going to commit the sin?
Moreover, to forgive a sin you must be prepared to promise that you are not going to do it in the future.
So, no foreseen sin is forgivable.
As for the secret, I do not know. But I would guess that it would be in the realm of confession, though the situation is pretty strange.
For instance, if someone came to the priest with that talk just to shut him up for the person knew that the priest already knew the situation and wanted him not blow the whistle, I have serious doubts that the priest would be obliged to secret and not to report to police.

My guess only…
That will be for University Teachers of Ethics.

 

[odhiambo]

About confession, as I understand, the priest upon hearing a confession is prohibited from acting upon the knowledge that he heard when acting as a confessor.

When it the confession is retroactive, as in “Father forgive me for doing this sin”, I understand the reasoning of that.

I would like to know, does the same prohibition work when the confession is for a sin that will take place. As in “Father forgive for this sin I am about to do” ?

tom, the Sacrament of Penance is meant only for those who have sinned, have realised that indeed they have sinned and regrate having sinned. They ask God for forgiveness and if their sorrow is genuine, God, through the priest, forgives them.
To go to the confessional for a future sin would be a mockery of the Sacrament and of God’s love for us.

 

[Corki]

As for the secret, I do not know. But I would guess that it would be in the realm of confession, though the situation is pretty strange.
For instance, if someone came to the priest with that talk just to shut him up for the person knew that the priest already knew the situation and wanted him not blow the whistle, I have serious doubts that the priest would be obliged to secret and not to report to police.

My guess only…
That will be for University Teachers of Ethics.

The priest can act on information he learned outside of the Confessional. In your example, if the priest already had the information, repeating it in Confession would not “shut him up”.

 

[Kay_Cee]

Our first words are “Forgive me Father for I have sinned…”

I thought it was "Bless me Father, for I have sinned . . . "

At least that’s the way the nuns taught it to me.

 

[FrDavid96]

I thought it was "Bless me Father, for I have sinned . . . "

At least that’s the way the nuns taught it to me.

Either way is fine. There is no specific wording required to introduce one’s sins. Not now, and not in the past.

 

[mom2em]

Either way is fine. There is no specific wording required to introduce one’s sins. Not now, and not in the past.

Which is just lovely, because really, I just kind of go straight for it. Sit, bless my self, breathe and let it go. If I ever stopped and thought of a particular formula or anything like that, I’d work myself up more than is needed. hehe I do that enough now sometimes.

I’m VERY glad to see others have been able to contribute some other responses besides my own. I also liked seeing how others had read it. I think I just saw the one part of the question.

Thanks to all for the replies!

 

[jpjd]

I once went to confession for something, and ended by saying I wanted to also confess that I would be missing Mass on Sunday. My priest said he could not absolve something that hadn’t happened yet, and asked me what could be more important than Mass? When I told him what was more important, it not only sounded flimsy, but he helped me find an alternative that would allow me to attend Mass. I have never missed Mass since.

 

[tom25]

Thank you everyone. It has on and off bugged me as to whether or not priest could actively try to hinder an action of sin if he hears about it in a confessional. Now I have my answer.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

Thank you everyone. It has on and off bugged me as to whether or not priest could actively try to hinder an action of sin if he hears about it in a confessional. Now I have my answer.

If someone came to hinder a future sin, I do not think that is confession.
It is a bad joke.
It is someone playing with the secret of confession which is not a good in itself but something deeply connected to confession.
For the crook, it would be confession, but not for the priest.

My view…