Why aren't non-Catholic Christians allowed to attend our Confession?

[Lief_Erikson]

Why aren’t non-Catholic Christians allowed to attend our Confession? Some Protestants believe in the special power of Christ to save through Confession. Shouldn’t they be allowed to join us there, if they wish?

 

[katy]

Why aren’t non-Catholic Christians allowed to attend our Confession? Some Protestants believe in the special power of Christ to save through Confession. Shouldn’t they be allowed to join us there, if they wish?

Among other reasons, priest has to have jurisdiction, which can’t be if the person isn’t even Catholic. Some priests will, however, hear the person out and give them a blessing.

 

[puzzleannie]

Why aren’t non-Catholic Christians allowed to attend our Confession? Some Protestants believe in the special power of Christ to save through Confession. Shouldn’t they be allowed to join us there, if they wish?

If they wish to join us, then they have to join us. simple as that. not just drop in for a sacrament here and there, but join us. If they believed in the power of the sacrament of confession they would have to believe, by definition in the power of the Eucharist, from which the grace of all the other sacraments flows. If they believe that, they have to believe in the authority by which the Eucharist is confected. If they believe that, they have to believe in the authority of the Catholic Church as established by Christ. So they should join us.

 

[EasterJoy]

Among other reasons, priest has to have jurisdiction, which can’t be if the person isn’t even Catholic. Some priests will, however, hear the person out and give them a blessing.

Exactly. I think a lot of priests would be glad to hear a Protestant’s confession as a fellow Christian, and as one who will observe the seal as if the sacrament itself had been celebrated. Sadly, as with Eucharist, the remaining reality of our division only allows so much.

By the way, canon law does allow for non-Catholics to receive the sacrament under some circumstances:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=2414

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Why aren’t non-Catholic Christians allowed to attend our Confession? Some Protestants believe in the special power of Christ to save through Confession. Shouldn’t they be allowed to join us there, if they wish?

A person either accepts the whole Christ or they don’t. Baptized Christians have access to the Sacraments when they are in full communion and in good standing with the Catholic Church. Most non-Catholic Christians choose to remain separated from the Catholic Church and therefore from the Sacraments.

 

[Paul2274]

A person either accepts the whole Christ or they don’t. Baptized Christians have access to the Sacraments when they are in full communion and in good standing with the Catholic Church. Most non-Catholic Christians choose to remain separated from the Catholic Church and therefore from the Sacraments.

Excellantly said:thumbsup:

Paul

 

[Thunderbird]

Besides, most non-catholics don’t believe that a Priest has that kind of ‘power’ anyway… so if they don’t believe, why would they WANT to?

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Thanks for all the replies, everyone . I’m still not sure I completely understand, though.

A person has to accept the whole Christ or cannot accept any . . . Why is that?

The priestly jurisdiction explanation makes some sense to me, though it might help me if someone elaborated on this too.

I don’t really understand, still.

 

[puzzleannie]

Only Catholics can receive the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Only the Catholic Church (and Orthodox, through apostolic succession) have authority from Christ to administer the sacraments. If someone refuses to join the Catholic Church, obviously they refuse the sacraments, and they refuse the authority by which the sacraments remit grace. It is illogical to say “I reject the sacramental system of the Catholic Church” and in the next breath to say “Why am I not allowed to receive Catholic sacraments?” By the way, those baptized in another denomination DO make their first confession before, and in preparation for, their formal reception into the Catholic Church through Confirmation and First Communion. They do this after attesting their intention to complete their Christian initiation, and being prepared for confession.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Only Catholics can receive the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Only the Catholic Church (and Orthodox, through apostolic succession) have authority from Christ to administer the sacraments. If someone refuses to join the Catholic Church, obviously they refuse the sacraments, and they refuse the authority by which the sacraments remit grace. It is illogical to say “I reject the sacramental system of the Catholic Church” and in the next breath to say “Why am I not allowed to receive Catholic sacraments?”

Okay, put like that it makes a lot more sense to me . Rejection of the Church entails rejection of the authority through which the sacraments come.

Thank-you, everyone!

By the way, those baptized in another denomination DO make their first confession before, and in preparation for, their formal reception into the Catholic Church through Confirmation and First Communion. They do this after attesting their intention to complete their Christian initiation, and being prepared for confession.

Yes, I know. I just recently did this .

 

[Fone_Bone_2001]

There are conditions under which Canon Law permits validly baptized Protestants to receive the Sacrament of Penance.

I don’t wish to imply, however, that it’s not somewhat rare for those conditions to be met.

 

[puzzleannie]

There are conditions under which Canon Law permits validly baptized Protestants to receive the Sacrament of Penance.

I don’t wish to imply, however, that it’s not somewhat rare for those conditions to be met.

one of those conditions is that the individual accept the authority of the Church through which the sacrament receives its efficacy from the action of Christ.