Can a priest force you to confess your crimes to the police? How about your parents? Or your teachers? Or your spouse? Or the IRS?
What should you do if a priest doesn't say "I absolve you" in confession? How should you handle cases of doubtful absolution? What should you say to the bishop?
Is it possible to be reconciled with God without going to confession? What about Protestants who commit mortal sins? When is general absolution warranted? And what about the dying who can't confess?
These are among the questions we explore in this week's episode of the Jimmy Akin Podcast!
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SHOW NOTES:
JIMMY AKIN PODCAST EPISODE 020 (11/12/11)
* DANIEL FROM PHILADELPHIA ASKS IF A PRIEST CAN WITHHOLD ABSOLUTION TO FORCE A MURDERER TO TURN HIMSELF INTO THE POLICE
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1447
Code of Canon Law 983-984
* TONY ASKS IF A PARTICULAR FORMULA OF ABSOLUTION IS VALID
http://www.ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur243.htm
* FRANK FROM SCOTLAND ASKS ABOUT RECONCILIATION APART FROM THE SACRAMENT
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1451-1453, 1483-1484, 1532
James 5:14-15
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Today’s Music: West Is Wild (JewelBeat.Com)
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Hello,Jimmy i’m trying to read 2 essays you wrote last year, but the urls seem to be missing. I can get them from google cache. One of them Linked Here: http://bit.ly/uchHJL
“Theological Connections II: the foundation stone” is available but will soon dissappear from google cache, and the first one is not available. Do you know whats going on with these?
Hi Jimmy,
Great podcast on confession!
I have a couple of question regarding confession. At our local parish we have long lines for confession possibly because we have Hispanic priests which are a natural magnet for Hispanic Catholics who travel for miles to get their confession heard. I suppose one positive aspect of this is that at least Hispanic Catholics take the sacraments seriously!
The wait is routinely long and on one occasion the priest came out of the confessional and told all of us waiting that he could not hear our confession. On another occasion the line was so long that after waiting about one hour I just left in frustration. I see other people come and they see the long line ups and just leave.
Another reason is that people are taking a lot longer than in the past and this is inconsiderate to others waiting outside. Confessions seem to have turned into counselling sessions. Shouldn’t these people who need counselling book private appointments with priests so they can have more time without inconveniencing other parishioners?
What should be done about situations like these? Should I contact the Archbishop and let him know that there is a serious problem and that due to the large numbers of Hispanic Catholics that we need more assistance with confession?
Growing up, I remember priests used to make more of an effort to hear confessions before mass. Now it’s only once a week. It seems to me that the sacrament of reconciliation is one of the most important sacrements but today’s church seems to not take it very seriously nor do they even encourage it as it would make more work for priests. Priests also seem to be much busier today. Parishes have become like country clubs with all sorts of activities that are going on. Shouldn’t the celebration of the sacraments be the top priority of our churches?
Also, if a Catholic makes a serious effort to go to confession and is turned away through no fault of their own, if that person were to suddenly die with mortal signs on their soul, would God and Jesus forgive them as they made the effort and had the intention to confess their sins?
Thank you and God bless you for all the great work you do Jimmy!
Alexander: I’m with you. Why the lack of confessors? You can go to http://www.masstimes.org and a majority of the parishes offer the Sacrament for only 1 hour per week!?!