Will a past abortion keep me from joining the Church?

[PenitentConvert]

I am a candidate and will be coming into the Church this Easter. My problem is that I have yet to make my first confession, and I am very afraid of this because when I was 16 years old, I had an abortion. I have regretted it every moment ever since. At the time I felt I had no choice - I was terrified what my parents would do to me if they found out I was pregnant.

My fear is that when I confess this, will they still let me join the church at Easter?

Thank you for your help.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

I assume that you are already validly baptized and will need to go to Confession before you make your profession of faith at Confirmation. If you are actually going to be baptized, then all your sins will be wiped away with the reception of that sacrament.

If you do make your first Confession, you have nothing whatsoever
to fear, The priest is there to absolve you of your sins–not to condemn you. That sin will be forgiven and that’s that. Nothing that you say during your reception of the sacrament of Penance (as Confession is formally called) can be revealed in ANY way. We call this the seal of Confession. Any priest who would break that seal would be automatically excommunicated from the Church.

We rejoice with you at the most profound time in your life, You are in our prayers.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.