No of course not. The seal of the confessional protects the repentant.There are these conversion stories of like ex-gang members who left that life and embraced the catholic faith. Usually, in their previous lives they were involved in all sorts of illegal activity. My question: Does Church teaching require them to come forward for their crimes in order to be fully forgiven? I guess, on a larger scale, one could ask, does the Church generally require its faithful to turn themseves in if their sins happen to be crimes, too?
That never happens. A confessor can never require the penitent to reveal his sins.There may be exceptions. It is possible, for example, if the only way to undo the harm is by confession to law enforcement, and the penitent has failed to do so, that the failure can be taken by the priest confessor as an indication that they are perhaps not truly contrite. In such cases absolution can be refused, but cannot be made conditional on confession to law enforcement.
To require that someone turn himself in to the police would be to require him to reveal his confession to a third party… And if the absolution is essentially conditional upon this requirement it would seem to also violate canon 980. If someone is not sufficiently contrite the confessor can simply withhold absolution. If the penitent is sufficiently contrite the priest can most certainly encourage him to turn himself in to the police but to require someone to reveal their confession to another would violate canon law.
no, the church cannot require it. however, in certain situations, it would probably be the most moral course of actionThere are these conversion stories of like ex-gang members who left that life and embraced the catholic faith. Usually, in their previous lives they were involved in all sorts of illegal activity. My question: Does Church teaching require them to come forward for their crimes in order to be fully forgiven? I guess, on a larger scale, one could ask, does the Church generally require its faithful to turn themseves in if their sins happen to be crimes, too?
I agree, and said as much. He may not REQUIRE it. He may, however, refuse absolution in cases where it is not done.That never happens. A confessor can never require the penitent to reveal his sins.
As the Confiteor at Mass reminds us, we sin by what we fail to do as much as by what we do.no, the church cannot require it. however, in certain situations, it would probably be the most moral course of action
that being said, if another person is receiving punishment ofr a crime you commited, one really needs to think about why you would not turn yourself in. i.e. someone else is incarcerated or about to receive the death penalty for something they didn’t do.
that may be a new sin on its own though, but I am not sure
If they are going to confession and seeking absolution for these crimes, it seems they have indeed come forward.But can absolution be withheld because the culprit has not come forward?
ICXC NIKA
It all depends on what they did, but more serious crimes like; rape, torture, murder, etc. - should send people straight to the stakes to be burned alive.There are these conversion stories of like ex-gang members who left that life and embraced the catholic faith. Usually, in their previous lives they were involved in all sorts of illegal activity. My question: Does Church teaching require them to come forward for their crimes in order to be fully forgiven? I guess, on a larger scale, one could ask, does the Church generally require its faithful to turn themseves in if their sins happen to be crimes, too?
I hope you are joking.It all depends on what they did, but more serious crimes like; rape, torture, murder, etc. - should send people straight to the stakes to be burned alive.
Thank you for beating me to it.I hope you are joking.
Unfortunately this sentiment is all too popular today, it seems once someone is even accused of doing one of these things, (not even been convicted), many people want blood, right away. I see this all the time on news articles in the comments section, when someone is ‘accused’, 98% of comments are calling for them to die in terrible ways.
It also shows an alarming trend of people siding with authority versus their fellow citizen, that is really scary imo.
I’m talking about convicted people. It’s only fair to seek justice, especially if someone you loved were the victim of some sick crime.I hope you are joking.
Unfortunately this sentiment is all too popular today, it seems once someone is even accused of doing one of these things, (not even been convicted), many people want blood, right away. I see this all the time on news articles in the comments section, when someone is ‘accused’, 98% of comments are calling for them to die in terrible ways.
It also shows an alarming trend of people siding with authority versus their fellow citizen, that is really scary imo.
I can’t speak on Catholic teaching, but it seems very uncharitable to assume that because someone opposes the death penalty then that means they’re “pro-criminal.”I’m talking about convicted people. It’s only fair to seek justice, especially if someone you loved were the victim of some sick crime.
But I see you rather support criminals.
Are you familiar with the teachings of Christ? The concepts of repentance, sanctity, of life? Etc.I’m talking about convicted people. It’s only fair to seek justice, especially if someone you loved were the victim of some sick crime.
But I see you rather support criminals.
Clearly I’m more aware of what the Bible actually says than you. People these days tend to pick what they like to hear (in this case, the Bible).Are you familiar with the teachings of Christ? The concepts of repentance, sanctity, of life? Etc.
Convicted by which state or government? The US? Saudi Arabia? North Korea?
Oh, I’m sorry, I thought we were being serious.Clearly I’m more aware of what the Bible actually says than you. People these days tend to pick what they like to hear (in this case, the Bible).
Was the Catholic Church wrong in its teachings before the Second Vatican Council?
Are you actually okay with people having done severe crimes to be let loose?