Questions tagged [confession]
Sacrament of Penance and confession of sins in general.
116
questions
4
votes
1
answer
375
views
+400
How does general confession work when ordinary confession absolves you of all your past sins?
During confession, if I mention (in passing or in reference to) a sin I've committed in the distant past, the priest usually asks if I had confessed it before. If I say yes, he says it has been ...
6
votes
1
answer
150
views
How should I report a priest for promoting sin?
Last summer I was traveling and I stopped for mass in another state. Throughout mass I was rather uncomfortable due the celebrant's demeanor/conduct, but I brushed it off as "just a bad case of ...
2
votes
5
answers
569
views
Lords Prayer. Asking for Forgiveness
For those who beleive in the doctrine of Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS). How does one reconcile our need to not only confess our sins, but to ask God for forgiveness for those sins?
Forgive us ...
11
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Why don't most Protestants consider confession to be a sacrament?
Most Protestants recognise only two sacraments, saying something like this (from the Anglican 39 Articles):
There are two sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel,
that is to say, ...
1
vote
1
answer
68
views
Why are indulgences ever needed for oneself?
Like crimes in legal systems, sins have two consequences: they make me guilty (the conviction) of trespassing God's law, and they involve a punishment (the sentence) for such trespassing. In the ...
0
votes
3
answers
70
views
Did my post baptism absolve my sin of abortion? [closed]
In my 20’s, my mom made me abort a child. Later, I was baptized Protestant. I went through RCIA. Did my baptism absolve my sin or must I confess?
2
votes
2
answers
224
views
Did St. Augustine, as a priest, listen to people's confessions of sin?
Today, in some Christian churches, there is the practice of confession.
The penitent – person who feels remorse for sins – goes to a priest, to whom one confesses one's sins, and the priest might ...
5
votes
5
answers
864
views
What is the biblical basis that we no longer need to confess and repent?
Joseph Prince (Worldwide speaker and author of Destined to Reign) and Andrew Wommack (Andrew Wommack Ministries and author of many books) teaches this with the Grace (hyperGrace) message, as does my ...
4
votes
0
answers
119
views
Absolution without confession is valid or not?
Being a Syrian Orthodox, I have a doubt...
Will my sind be forgiven if I get HUSOYO/(absolution prayer only with no confession) instead of confession of sins?
I usually confess once in a month but the ...
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
If and When a Catholic Priest May Reveal Something from a Penitent's Confession
This question is motivated by one of the answers given here for the question Is religious confession legally privileged.
I am under the impression, correct me if I am wrong, that if a Catholic priest ...
7
votes
4
answers
11k
views
Protestant rejection of the Catholic implementation of confession
(Pardon the length - my original post was more concise, but wasn't clearly conveying my question.)
Background:
I am currently studying the Spiritual Disciplines at a Protestant seminary. For those ...
1
vote
1
answer
289
views
Is Reconciliation the most powerful sacrament for Catholics?
Baptism is the gateway to all other sacraments and it forgives all sins, but it can only be performed once in a lifetime. The Eucharist is the source and summit of Catholic faith, but only forgives ...
2
votes
2
answers
471
views
Is the absolution from priests still valid if the priest breaks the seal of confession?
Suppose a sinner confesses his sins to a priest, receives absolution, completes the penance, but the priest talks about his confessed sins with others. Is the absolution still valid?
1
vote
3
answers
917
views
According to the Catholic Church, when can a priest refuse to grant absolution in confession?
We see Jesus authorizing St. Peter in Mtt 18:18:
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
But, we also see ...
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Do I need to confess the sins I committed before becoming Catholic?
I am currently going through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in order to join the Catholic Church. Do I need to confess the sins I committed before becoming Catholic?
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
The Curé of Ars on Dancing
I am looking for the exact quote (French O.K.) and source of a quote from St. John Vianney, which I vaguely recall is:
A dancer leaves their Guardian Angel at the door, and soon there are as many ...
1
vote
1
answer
141
views
Is going to confession considered "good work" in the faith vs. work distinction in justification?
A comment by a Catholic in a discussion with a Protestant about faith vs. good works startled me:
Catholics would consider going to Confession to be a work. It's a specific act you need to do. We don'...
2
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How do Protestants Receive forgiveness for post-Baptismal Sins?
Several questions have dealt with Protestants' rejection of the Catholic sacrament of confession. This question seeks information about how Protestants receive forgiveness or absolution.
At baptism, ...
6
votes
3
answers
19k
views
Can a Catholic Priest report a murderer's confession?
This is merely a hypothetical, and I realize how unlikely this is, but if a person who committed murder confessed it to a Catholic priest, is the priest then allowed to go report the crime to the ...
1
vote
3
answers
3k
views
Must you have completed your confirmation to be able to go to confession?
Is somebody who was christened a Catholic but didn't complete their Confirmation/First Holy Communion still allowed to go to confession with a Catholic priest to confess a sin, repent and ask for ...
3
votes
1
answer
906
views
Can a baptized Protestant (but not confirmed as Catholic) receive absolution from a Catholic priest?
Let'say I was baptized in a Protestant church (for example, Presbyterian) that is in the list of churches whose baptism is recognized by the Catholic church (such as this list). But let's say I'm ...
3
votes
2
answers
354
views
Did Jesus hear people's confessions while He was living on the Earth?
I am curious to know if the Bible mentions anything about Jesus listening to people's confessions and forgiving their sins when He was living on the Earth.
For example, did He ever visit people who ...
2
votes
2
answers
256
views
If you do something that the Roman Catholic teaches is a grave matter, but you don't agree it is a grave matter, do you have to confess it?
If you are conscious of having done something which the Roman Catholic Church teaches is grave matter, but you don't agree it is, in fact, grave matter; do you have to confess it? For instance, if you ...
2
votes
0
answers
33
views
Can a Catholic priest hearing a person's confession recall the content of earlier confessions? [duplicate]
In answer to my question on situations where a priest hearing the confession can deny absolution, a few answers say that denial can be done if the person confessing is not ready to refine his life. ...
2
votes
1
answer
158
views
Has the Catholic Church changed which sins incur excommunication?
In light of modern technological progress, has the Catholic Church changed which sins incur excommunication?
2
votes
1
answer
310
views
In Catholicism, after receiving absolution from mortal sin, how do we regain the effects of the sacraments of baptism & confirmation?
In Catholicism we are given certain sacramental character and effects after we receive the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation:
Res Et Sacramentum: the abiding purpose, the sacramental character:
...
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Is participation in the near occasion of mortal sin and openness to the possibility of sin, mortal itself?
For example:
An alcoholic decides to go to an event with an open bar (participates in near occasion of sin).
The alcoholic decides that he will not directly go to the bar and request a drink (avoids ...
4
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What is the Protestant view of John 20:23 and the disciples ability to forgive sins?
Besides the Anglican Church (as far as I'm aware) no Protestant Church practices confession.
John 20:23 (ESV) says:
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold ...
1
vote
1
answer
644
views
Did St. Paul confess his sins in person?
I was reading a bit of an except from a conversation between John MacArthur and John Piper:
John MacArthur: I think he dealt with it. In Romans 7 he said, “I do what I don’t want to do and I don’t do ...
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Can Catholic priests disclose the fact that someone has seen him for confession?
I recently spoke to one of my (catholic) highschool teachers who was then not a priest but is now a priest.
We were talking, and he mentioned he knew one of my professors during my graduate studies.
I ...
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What penances do priests do for sins they absolve?
I watched this video by Fr. Mike Schmitz, near the end he says that after a long time of not going, he made a general confession and was given one Hail Mary as penance and the priest said that he was ...
1
vote
2
answers
128
views
How do people who believe in the act of confession understand 1 John 1:9?
1 John 1:9:
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)
In places like Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Church, there is ...
3
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How does the Catholic Church tell us to do reparation for our sins according to Church teachings?
Pope John Paul II in his apostolic letter Misericordia Dei (Mercy of God), he wrote:
Ordinaries are to remind all the ministers of the Sacrament of Penance that the universal law of the Church, ...
0
votes
1
answer
70
views
According to Catholicism, if we sin and become repentant will our sins be forgiven too like St. Peter?
At the catechism class we learned that as Peter was repentant after betraying Jesus his sin was forgiven.
If we sin, become repentant and do confessions will our sins be forgiven too? Or do we have to ...
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Under what circumstances is a priest supposed to deny forgiveness to a person?
As I understand it, in Roman Catholic practice, people regularly confess their sins to a priest, who then instructs them what they must do in order to be forgiven. However, it is apparently possible ...
5
votes
1
answer
209
views
Under what circumstances, if any, can audio assistive technology be used in confession?
This recent answer mentions that it is not permitted to use the internet or cellular communications (i.e., phone) in (private) confession. It also mentions a story of a certain catacomb with ...
1
vote
0
answers
31
views
According to the Catholic Church, can a priest hear a confession over a phone? [duplicate]
The Sacrament of Confession is central to Catholic practice, being closely tied to the Sacrament of Holy Communion. During a time of Covid-related lock-down measures and mandates restricting when, ...
3
votes
1
answer
151
views
Can Only A Priest Give Confession?
Or can someone who has been blessed by a priest do so? What if someone were stranded on an island and unable to hear confession?
1
vote
4
answers
603
views
Why don't Reformed Christians consider it necessary to confess to a priest?
Reformed Christians, like Presbyterians differ from the Catholic and Orthodox Church in their understanding of forgiveness of ones' sins. One way in which they differ is not having the sacrament of ...
7
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Can a church pastor prohibit sacraments to people for any reason, other than mortal sin?
A friend of ours alerted us to an example (maybe there are more) of a Catholic Church (took a little checking to make sure it was really a Catholic Church) that is only allowing people who are ...
6
votes
2
answers
990
views
Are priests who committed a sin together able to validly administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to each other?
The Vatican recently released a report about the Holy See's knowledge and involvement in former cardinal Theodore McCarrick's rise to prominence despite allegations of sexual misconduct. The report ...
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Can a priest act on a confession of molestation?
What, if any, ability does a priest or bishop have in order to stop a brother priest who has confessed to molestation of minors, according to Canon Law?
Very often I hear, and am personally aware of ...
-2
votes
1
answer
190
views
About praying for the dead and anointing of the sick
If a someone is dying you give him the anointing of the sick in the catholic church and all his sins are forgiven. Let's assume a person X dies in a mortal sin like skipping mass. Or any mortal that ...
3
votes
2
answers
153
views
How does the Catholic doctrine of free will reconcile with peccability?
In the Penitential Act at Mass, all present confess that they have sinned and ask for God's forgiveness. The implication seems to be that everyone present has sinned since the last time they made such ...
3
votes
0
answers
79
views
Proof of sacramental absolution required for marriage in France during the French Revolution?
Proof of sacramental absolution required for marriage in France during the French Revolution?
I remember reading an ecclesiastical works of how the Catholic Church had suffered during the French ...
15
votes
7
answers
15k
views
Are non-Catholics allowed to go to confession?
As an Episcopalian, we technically have the rite of Confession and Reconciliation as one of the things we are supposed to do, but I've never seen it done in actual practice.
In contrast, I know that ...
2
votes
5
answers
903
views
According to the Catholic Church, can having ideations to sin ever be mortally sinful?
In the Catholic Church, is having ideations to sin a mortal sin? In other words, would a faithful Catholic have to repent during Confession for having ideations to sin or having attempted, but failed, ...
10
votes
4
answers
1k
views
What makes a confession sacramental?
In the Catholic tradition, confession to a priest is treated with special protection as a sacred rite. The priest is charged with maintaining the confidential nature of the confession, something they ...
3
votes
2
answers
628
views
If a priest makes a major mistake during confession, can he later talk to the person to correct themselves?
Say that a person comes to confession and the priest gives bad advice or otherwise makes a major mistake during confession. To give a very clear example, say that a confession went like this:
...
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Does the seal of confession apply even when the sin is intended and there is no desire to repent?
Forgive me if this is too basic, I am no theologian, and I was puzzled by a scene from a popular TV series about a crime-busting priest. In it, the villain goes into the confessional and informs the ...