US Bishop Forbids Priests To Hear Confession - Seemingly Without Exception

[IanM]

St Leonard is certainly exhorting us not to be complacent about salvation; however, he is not saying that those who would have confessed their sins but were unable to will not be saved. Certainly, that is not what the Church teaches; rather, what benedictinehopeful said is right - we commend them to God’s mercy. the wording of Preface I for the dead says pretty much the same thing when it talks about how those “saddened by the certainty of dying might be consoled by the promise of immortality to come.”

I think examination of the Catechism of the Council of Trent is necessary here for information concerning this topic:
“It Is Limited As To Its Ministers And Exercise”

But if we look to its ministers, or to the manner in which it is to be exercised, the extent of this divine power will not appear so great;** for our Lord gave not the power of so sacred a ministry to all, but to Bishops and priests only. The same must be said regarding the manner in which this power is to be exercised; for sins can be forgiven only through the Sacraments, when duly administered. The Church has received no power otherwise to remit sin.** Hence it follows that in the forgiveness of sins both priests and Sacraments are, so to speak, the instruments which Christ our Lord, the author and giver of salvation, makes use of, to accomplish in us the pardon of sin and the grace of justification."
(This can be found on page 72 of the document all of which is available as a dowload here.)

https://www.catholicsociety.com/documents/Catechism_of_the_Council%20of_Trent.pdf

Those who withhold such a Sacrament from the Faithful will of course have to answer for their decision.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

When someone dies without being able to confess first, then it’s not the Church that remits their sins, it’s God, if he deems the person is repentant and has the proper state of mind.

God isn’t bound by the sacraments.

I also doubt that the bishops who are limiting confessions in a public health crisis are going to have to “answer for their decision” to God because he realizes they are trying to do the best thing for their priests and parishioners both.

 

[ThomasMT]

Regretfully, your sentiment falls on the deaf ears of a faithless generation. Very little scriptualy or historically rooted common sense will empower appeals to those so gripped by fear and worldly attachment. It is what it is. I’m not casting my own self as pious or anything, in fact I’d regard myself as quite the contrary, but one thing I am not is ignorant or blind. Neither are you, dont let anyone tell you otherwise. Pray and trust in the Lord, we will get through this.

 

[JulianN]

your sentiment falls on the deaf ears of a faithless generation.

It is not ‘faithless’ to prevent the spread of a deadly disease by limiting interaction with others. This is not the teaching of Christ, nor of his Church.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Yeah, there is a definite concern that one brave priest might also take out a significant percentage of his parish by passing the infection to them, even if he doesn’t get seriously ill himself; he might even be asymptomatic. And I don’t think any priest wants that.

 

[ThomasMT]

In sure that there are many parishiners, if offered a warning by said priest, would opt to make an informed decision and proceed to receive a confession (with all reasonable precautions in place). If the risk of going to the store is worth it, how much more a state of grace.

 

[benedictinehopeful]

It isn’t just the penitents at risk though, it’s them and everyone they interact with, and the priest. There’s already a shortage of priests, and many of the priests we have are old; why risk their lives?

 

[Mark121359]

The rector of the Basilica of the Assumption in downtown Baltimore, was hearing confessions until this past Monday, that is, until our governor put a mandatory shutdown of all essential businesses until further notice. He had it set up in the Sanctuary, and only allowed 10 people into the entire basilica at one time. (See picture below for perspective) There was about ten feet between priest and penitent. Now how is this any more dangerous than going out to the grocery store, where there are many, many more people in much closer contact??? And yes, I believe this Sacrament to be every bit as important as food. Especially in these times. In fact, I believe that it’s much more so!!! But that’s just me.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[Tis_Bearself]

That’s kind of a lot of people in the church at once. When I’ve been into the open churches here they typically have between about 5 and 12 people there.

I made a point of going to confession last weekend because I figured it would start looking more like what you posted starting this week and continuing next Saturday.

 

[Mark121359]

That’s kind of a lot of people in the church at once.

You’re misinterpreting that picture. That picture and the amount of people in it is irrelevant. That is not a recent picture! That picture was posted to show you the vast size of that basilica, and to imagine it if you will with only ten people in the entire building. Please ignore the number of people you see in that picture I posted, because it was taken long before the current crisis! The picture was posted for perspective only!

 

[InThePew]

Confession is not “withheld” it is merely triaged

Breaking this down, firstly as the Code of Canon law observes:

Individual and integral confession and absolution constitute the only ordinary means by which a member of the faithful conscious of grave sin is reconciled with God and the Church. Only physical or moral impossibility excuses from confession of this type; in such a case reconciliation can be obtained by other means.

So, measures necessary to prevent the spread of serious illness clearly create a physical (if not moral) impossibility. So we have to then turn to extraordinary means for the forgiveness of sins. There are many faithful Catholics who do not enjoy the luxury of confession effectively on demand but may go months without access to it. Obviously anyone who dies in such circumstances cannot be condemned to hell merely because they couldn’t do the impossible!

Bishops have been placed in the unenviable position of trying to interpret and apply civil laws as best they can while at the same time bearing in mind the important of access to the sacraments while also ensuring the wellbeing of their flock, their priests and the wider community. As as friend of mine would say - if you can do it better, please do!

Sometimes it is necessary to limit of restrict the sacraments for the good of the individual (and, in this case, the community) but that does not mean that those whose confessions cannot be heard are condemned, nor does it mean that bishops and priests are trying to do the best they can under extremely difficult circumstances. It is only too easy to criticise - it’s much harder to humbly trust and accept.

 

[Cathoholic]

JulianN . . .

It’s that when they leave the hospital, they risk passing on the virus to everyone else they meet.

But you can say the same thing about the nurses and doctors. Or the makeshift public day care providers (for the nurses kids) or lunchladies up at some of the schools (still preparing take-out lunches for the “immigrant” community).

Or the hardware store or WalMart worker or grocery store employee.

Is the vocation of the priest and the needs of the penitents soul, any LESS important?

 

[Cathoholic]

InThePew . . .

Bishops have been placed in the unenviable position of trying to interpret and apply civil laws as best they can while at the same time bearing in mind the important of access to the sacraments while also ensuring the wellbeing of their flock, their priests and the wider community. As as friend of mine would say - if you can do it better, please do!

One of my friends from Poland has told me they are increasing the number of Masses and lessening the number of those in the Churches.

This seems to be working reasonably well.

.

Sometimes it is necessary to limit of restrict the sacraments for the good of the individual

Think of St. Edmund Campion.

Or tell that to martyrs in communist countries where they were secretly going to Mass, before being killed by their Government.

These are times that heroic virtue is more available then ever in our lifetimes and circumstances to be embraced.

 

[JulianN]

Is the vocation of the priest and the needs of the penitents soul, any LESS important?

Of course not. But the penitent has access to God’s forgiveness through an act of perfect contrition. The prayers of the priest, his offering of Masses for us, do not require us to be physically present.

For generations, there have been Catholics who, for one reason or another, must practice their faith without a priest.

Of course that is not ideal. And we have been blessed on this country with unimpeded access to the sacraments.

But that does not mean those people who cannot physically be in the presence of a priest do not receive God’s mercy and grace.

As to your analogy, no, the same cannot be said of medical care or food. Because we are human and not God.

 

[JulianN]

Or tell that to martyrs in communist countries where they were secretly going to Mass, before being killed by their Government.

These are times that heroic virtue is more available then ever in our lifetimes and circumstances to be embraced.

That’s comparing apples and oranges. This isn’t some kind of persecution. And it is not heroic virtue to insist on doing something that could kill people or make them seriously ill.

St. Edmund was not spreading a deadly disease through the populace with his virtue—and our priests are demonstrating that virtue by obeying their bishops.

And our bishops, thank God, are demonstrating that virtue by doing what is necessary to save lives.

 

[Mark121359]

But the penitent has access to God’s forgiveness through an act of perfect contrition.

Yes and no. While it’s true that under extreme circumstances one can “attempt” to make a perfect act of contrition, it’s not an automatic. It depends on the penitent. My own pastor has stated this as does the priest in the following article. Scroll down to where he talks about making a perfect act of contrition where he acknowledges it’s purpose, but also says the following;
"It is true that, if it is not possible to get to confession, a private act of “perfect contrition” is sufficient for the forgiveness of mortal (grave) sins, if it includes the intention to get to confession as soon as is possible.
However, it is difficult to make an act of “perfect contrition.”

Coronavirus Clarity on Confession Suspension: A Primer for Pastors| National Catholic Register

 

[stpurl]

It is a conundrum. Poland, arguably, has fewer people than the U.S., and even its larger cities are not so large as many of the US large cities, so it’s possible that with offering more Masses, limiting the gatherings, practicing social distancing, their priests CAN offer a Mass that is as safe, relatively speaking, as going out for 45 minutes to a grocery store. Unfortunately, that is probably something that would not be possible in many of the cities in the U.S. And for the smaller areas, where one priest may serve 2 or 3 or 4 parishes spread apart by several miles, offering more Masses at each parish may just not be possible.

OTOH, there tends to be this almost subliminal thought for many Catholics in the U.S. today that is all about ‘saving life’ (well, except lives of the unborn who are aborted, or people who are ‘burdens’ and need euthanasia), and thus they justify everything under the sun if it ‘saves a life’. “If a man with a gun tells you he’ll shoot you if you say you’re a Christian, then of COURSE you lie, because life, you know”. “If you can pull a switch on a trolley and then save 100 lives but 1 person will definitely die OF COURSE you pull the switch because life, you know’. . .

And so, when you see so many bishops (a lot of the priests, especially the younger priests, would have gladly tried for ‘smaller Masses’ at least anecdotally in my neck of the woods) just LEAP to publicize that OF COURSE they would cancel Mass, cancel sacraments, cancel all Catholic things immediately because LIFE you know. . .one kind of did a ‘wait what” moment deep inside.

Because as it is, so many Catholics don’t even come to Mass on Sunday, and now, if there is a ‘threat to life with a virus’, well Mass gets axed with almost no afterthought. In fact it took a few days for most bishops to even put in a little, “we know how important Mass and the Eucharist are, and we encourage people to offer this time as a SACRIFICE, and to practice all devotions they can at home in order to ready them to RETURN which will be as soon as we possibly CAN”. . .and then, many people don’t even bother to read beyond the first, “We are hereby cancelling Mass until the government says”, and just, “oh good, can sleep in and not worry’. How many of the already lukewarm Christmas and Easter Catholics (especially since we’ll miss Easter this year) will be fired up to resume regular Sunday Mass when it seems to be of such small importance to our hierarchy?

So it’s a worry, indeed. I don’t have answers, I’m just noting that there are problems. I hope our bishops will indeed find some answers and fire up the faith.

 

[JulianN]

OTOH, there tends to be this almost subliminal thought for many Catholics in the U.S. today that is all about ‘saving life’ (well, except lives of the unborn who are aborted, or people who are ‘burdens’ and need euthanasia),

Actually, this is almost the polar opposite of what I’ve observed. First, overall, Catholics are still opposed to abortion and euthanasia.

Secondly, at least here on CAF, those who are most outspokenly pro-life are often the ones saying, “Oh, but not if I have to sacrifice attending Mass to protect others’ lives.”

 

[JulianN]

This is false. At least as far as I have seen.

Some pro-like Catholics (like myself and others) have said we can do BOTH (save lives AND have Mass and the Sacraments).

Some have said that. Some have suggested saying Mass and still allowing the reception of the Eucharist, but have not stated how to do that without getting within six feet of the priest.

Others have suggested that we should be willing to sacrifice our lives for the Mass—but ignore the fact that would endanger others.

There is a reason that every single bishop in this country suspended Masses—and it is a combination of compassion and common sense.

 

[Cathoholic]

Others have suggested that we should be willing to sacrifice our lives for the Mass—but ignore the fact that would endanger others.

Yet others have suggested that we should be willing to sacrifice our lives for the hardware store, or the day care center, or the liquor store—but ignore the fact that would endanger others.

There is a reason that every single bishop in Poland has not suspended Masses—and it is a combination of compassion and common sense.

It is a matter of prorities for some.

I think we can do them all.