What reasons would a priest not absolve you of your sins?

[Amy1965]

I recently went to confession and at which time I listed 3 sins that I committed. However, at the end the priest never used the phrase “I absolved you of your sins”

Instead he said (I’m paraphrasing) “certainly God wants to forgive your sins”.

Why would a priest say that to me or anyone for that? I was very sorry for what I did and I’m pretty sure I showed sincere remorse through my confession.

(Since I haven’t been really educated in the Catholic teachings growing and it’s only recently starting to learn more about the Catholic way of doing things, I didn’t catch that during confession.)

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

My guess is that this priest decided he would just make up his own words of absolution. This, of course, is not allowed and is invalid. I recommend finding another confessor.

To actually refuse absolution is a very serious matter:

Can. 980 If the confessor has no doubt about the disposition of the penitent, and the penitent seeks absolution, absolution is to be neither refused nor deferred.

There are very limited circumstances in which it is morally permissible to refuse absolution. The most obvious would be if the person makes known that he is not sorry for the sin.