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ccgirl
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| First Name: | antoinette | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 07:46 pm |
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I was baptised and had my first communion but wasn't confirmed. I want to go back to church and get my confirmation but I have some questions on confession and excommunication. I want to confess my sins, but one of them I know is cause for excommunication. 1. Since I haven't been confirmed, can I be excommunicated? 2. How do you get recommunicated?
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Didi
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| First Name: | Didi | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic; almost left; Now an On-Fire Catholic! |
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 08:04 pm |
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Hi Antoinette --
Welcome to the forums!
I'm not an expert on excommunication, but I believe the only "unforgiveable" sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31) which, as I understand it, is a refusal of God's mercy. The footnotes of my Ignatius Bible calls this sin "a hardness of heart that precludes repentance."
Sounds like you are repentant and willing to accept God's mercy! I say, run to a priest and come on home!
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ccgirl
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 08:19 pm |
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To be frank, which I really didn't want get into since I am still battling with what I have done, I am talking about abortion.
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Didi
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| First Name: | Didi | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic; almost left; Now an On-Fire Catholic! |
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 08:39 pm |
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Oh, Antoinette, I am so sorry for your pain. Abortion is a forgivable sin! Please go see a priest and receive pardon and peace.
I am active in our parish's pro-life ministry. I know that even after you have gone to confession that this is a difficult trauma to overcome. Have you heard of Rachel's Vineyard ministry? It is a ministry to help women heal from abortion. Here's their website:
http://rachelsvineyard.org/
God knows your pain, God knows your heart. He is waiting for you to come back, to be forgiven and to be healed! May He surround you with His Love, His Mercy, and His Peace!
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TotusTuus
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| First Name: | Mark | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic (thanks Mom and Dad!) |
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 09:24 pm |
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Dear Antoinette,
God bless you for your courage in seeking reconciliation with God and the Church!
The way that excommunication works in regards to abortion is that it is incurred at the moment that the abortion is successfully accomplished. However, in order to incurr the excommunication, one needs to be aware AT THE TIME of the abortion, that it is an excommunicable offence.
The way the excommunication is lifted is that the Bishop gives certain priests faculties to do so. If a priest does not have faculties, then he makes a request to the Bishop to grant them. So, when you are ready to confess, mention to the confessor this offence against the 5th commandment and whether you were aware of the excommunication at the time of the abortion.
My guess is that every Pastor in your Diocese (if not every priest) already has faculties to lift this sentence. Also, any priest worth his salt would welcome you with open arms and be very understanding.
I pray that you will meet Jesus in the confessional!!
God bless!!
http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/abortio2.htm
____________________
TTM!
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SBC2RCC
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
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| First Name: | Monte | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | was Southern Baptist Minister, now Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Apr 10th, 2008 09:51 pm |
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Dear Antoinette,
The subject line of your post caught my attention. Confession, receiving the Sacrament of reconciliation is one of the mos twonderful things I've experienced since becoming Catholic!
The topic of confession is on my mind a lot lately because a friend of mine has had the blessing of a renewed commitment to going at least once a month. She wasn't avoiding it, but as many Catholics, did not go often. Then we had a penance service as part of the Lenten preparations. She went and WOW! God really worked through our priest, as it is supposed to work. Lots of wonderful stuff happened as she felt a load lifted. And it has continued as she has returned to see our priest again for this wonderful
Our former pastor was and is very involved with rachel's vineyard. I can only encourage you that this is a grand opportunity to find healing that our Lord Jesus wants to give you because HE LOVES YOU so much!
The Lord awaits you. May God grant you rich blessings for your desire to seek this sacrament of healing.
Monte
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In Christ,
Monte W
(Formerly on CHN Forum as "Pilgrim Paul"
Minima Maxima Sunt
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CajunRick
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Posted: Fri Apr 11th, 2008 12:17 am |
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ccgirl wrote: I want to confess my sins, but one of them I know is cause for excommunication.
In a way, every mortal sin is a form of "excommunication" because it removes us from communion with the Body of Christ. The answers you've received are correct. Thank God our Savior gave us the healing power of confession to reconcile us not only with God, but with our Church family.
Both God and our Church are reaching out to you to offer you healing and forgiveness and then to confirm you in your faith.
Jesus loves you, and so do we. Welcome to our forum. We're glad to have you here with us.
____________________
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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ccgirl
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Posted: Fri Apr 11th, 2008 12:56 am |
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I want to thank all of you for your replies. I feel a little more comfortable to go to confession and start going to church again.
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Pani Rose
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Posted: Fri Apr 11th, 2008 02:49 am |
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Remember CC it is not God whose is telling you that you cannot be forgiven. He is the one calling you home, praise God.
Jesus is always the embodiment of "grace and truth" (John 1:14). Jesus said of the sheep, "They know His voice. And a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him" (John 10:4-5).
Revelation 12:7-11 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them...
God, like the prodigal's father, catches sight of us sinners "still a long way off" and is moved not to condemnation but to compassion. Should we not then seek his forgiveness when we need it knowing is his delight to grant it? "Let us celebrate with a feast because this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found." http://www.catholicmissionleaflets.org/penance.htm
Run back to the waiting arms of our Lord Jesus Christ! Come home to our Eucharistic Lord through the healing sacrements of his church.
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Ali
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Posted: Fri Apr 11th, 2008 11:09 am |
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ccgirl wrote: To be frank, which I really didn't want get into since I am still battling with what I have done, I am talking about abortion.
{{{hugs}}}  for your pain, loss, and suffering.
You are on the right road to God's mercy and forgiveness. May he lessen your pain.
Ali
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Annie
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Posted: Fri Apr 11th, 2008 12:24 pm |
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Antionette, I am so sorry for your pain. Please have no fear, I have it on good authority that every priest in the US is authorized to offer absolution for women who have had abortions and they are very willing to do so. They want you in Church assisting at Mass, not outside the door crying.
This question came up in a question and answer column on the internet on a reputable web site (can't remember which one). It was answered by a conservative priest so I know it has to be correct.
Normally if you did something that actually caused excommunication only the Pope can remove the excommunication but in the case of abortion, it being so very commonplace nowadays, this exception was made.
No one should fear confession and priests know that too.
God bless you.
Pax,
____________________
Annie
Ora et labora
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TotusTuus
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Posted: Fri Apr 11th, 2008 01:23 pm |
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Annie,
You are correct that in the U.S. the bishops have given priests permission to lift the excommunication when they give absolution for the sin of abortion. So all one needs to do is go to Confession.
http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=167650
Thanks for clairifying that ...
Also, as I understand it, the reason for the latae sentenciae (or automatically incurred) excommunication is cautionary - to serve as a big red stop sign warning all participants about the seriousness of this action.
Peace to all!
____________________
TTM!
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True Image
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Posted: Fri Apr 11th, 2008 01:44 pm |
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Antoinette,
There will much rejoicing when you make your Confession and come back to Christ in the Catholic Church! The angels rejoice when we turn back to God and receive his forgiveness, mercy and healing through the Sacrament of Confession. Read Luke 15 for three powerful parables that tell us how heaven rejoices over one lost sheep that is found again.
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke15.htm
Project Rachel is an excellent healing ministry for women who have had abortions.
Welcome back! 
Anne
Edited to add link
Last edited on Fri Apr 11th, 2008 01:47 pm by True Image
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CajunRick
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Posted: Fri Apr 11th, 2008 05:21 pm |
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Annie wrote: Normally if you did something that actually caused excommunication only the Pope can remove the excommunication but in the case of abortion, it being so very commonplace nowadays, this exception was made.
In the case of a formal excommunication (one with official notification, etc.), the person imposing the sentence can lift it. For example, if a bishop notifies a pro-abortion politician of an excommunication, that same bishop can lift it. If the bishop should die, his successor can lift it, but a priest or another bishop cannot except if the excommunicated person is in danger of death.
For automatic excommunications, such as is the case for a woman who procures an abortion, there is a possibility that mitigating circumstances such as parental pressure, emtional distress, or other factors may reduce the culpability, but in any case, it is not an issue reserved to the Holy See. There are a few types of excommunications that only the pope can lift. I don't have Canon Law available, but I think heresy is one, a bishop ordaining another bishop illicitly, a priest getting married without prior permission, etc. Personal, non-clerical acts are seldom reserved to the Vatican. Bishops would always have the authority to lift all but the most severe excommunications, which would include actions such as those of bishops who have flaunted Vatican discipline to ordain married men or women to the priesthood, or formed separate congregations as did Abp. Lefevre.
And if a person is in danger of death, any priest can lift any excommunication, even one imposed directly by the Vatican.
____________________
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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