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Jennifer823
Member
| Joined: | Mon Feb 26th, 2007 |
| Location: | Florida USA |
| Posts: | 3 |
| First Name: | Jennifer | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | None, Lutheran, now in RCIA |
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Posted: Mon Sep 24th, 2007 10:10 am |
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My question is, basically, is confession in the Catholic church a totally private matter between God, the priest, and you, or is it something like A.A., where you have to right all the wrongs - by letting people know. Do I have to dig up the past?
Thanks.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4981 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon Sep 24th, 2007 11:47 am |
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Jennifer823 wrote: My question is, basically, is confession in the Catholic church a totally private matter between God, the priest, and you, or is it something like A.A., where you have to right all the wrongs - by letting people know. Do I have to dig up the past?
Jennifer, in some cases, depending on the nature of the offense, you may be told to make restitution. It is permitted for you to negotiate with the priest if you find the penance unduly burdensome.
For example, let's use an extreme. You embezzled a million dollars from your employer and used the money to pay for cancer treatment for your mother. You want to confess the sin and receive forgiveness, but you can't pay it back. If you go to your employer and tell him, you'll go to jail. No one has ever been convicted of the embezzlement, your employer absorbed the loss, no one was laid off because of it, no apparent cpntinuing harm was done.
What is a fair restitution? Maybe the priest will suggest that you pay what you can back to your employer anonymously. He might also recommend that you volunteer at a senior citizens home or some other worthwhile organization, and he will certainly recommend much time in prayer.
If, on the other hand, someone else was convicted of the crime and is serving time in jail, you have an obligation to confess to the crime so that person can be released.
So while the confession is between you and God (as represented by the priest), under certain extreme circumstances you might be compelled to "go public" as part of your penance.
The actual answer to your question is "it depends".
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Jennifer823
Member
| Joined: | Mon Feb 26th, 2007 |
| Location: | Florida USA |
| Posts: | 3 |
| First Name: | Jennifer | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | None, Lutheran, now in RCIA |
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Posted: Mon Sep 24th, 2007 12:50 pm |
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Thanks, this helps. 
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1212 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Sep 24th, 2007 01:41 pm |
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| I had just sat down to the computer to ask a question about this very subject! Amazing. My son and his girlfriend are both in A.A. They asked me last night if non-catholics are allowed to go to confession. I said I had heard that some priests (not all) will hear non-catholic confession, but they cannot give absolution. I gave a brief explanation of why priests have the authority to give absolution, the procedure of confession, etc. They said there is a step in the twelve step programs that involves confessing past wrongs to someone. Did I give them the right answer? Wouldn't this be a terrific introduction to the catholic church if they were able to do this? I am just astounded, Jennifer, that I read this question of yours as I logged on!
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4981 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon Sep 24th, 2007 02:47 pm |
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Credo Catholic wrote: They said there is a step in the twelve step programs that involves confessing past wrongs to someone. Did I give them the right answer? Wouldn't this be a terrific introduction to the catholic church if they were able to do this?
Yes, you gave the right answer, and it would indeed be an excellent introduction to the Church provided that they are not trying to avoid an apology by confessing to a priest.
There are many priests who have developed alcohol problems over the years. It can be a very lonely lifestyle and abuse issues are not uncommon. There may even be one in their AA group. My diocese has an alcohol abuse program and runs a halfway house for men, and AA meetings are held at several of our churches. If they would like to speak to a priest who has also dealt with addiction issues, a call to the diocese might provide that information. Of course, AA is an anonymous program so there are no guarantees, but it's possible.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1212 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Sep 24th, 2007 03:10 pm |
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| Thanks Rick, I'll pass that along.
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