Zone1 Question For Catholics

[Road Runner]

Is this true? If somebody confesses a murder the priest isn't allowed to go to the police about it? No offense to OhPleaseJustQuit since I know that she's a practicing Catholic and all of the other Catholics on here but this comment is aimed towards the religion itself and I don't mean to offend anybody by it. People wonder why I'm not a part of this whacked out religion. I mean to each their own as you do you, but still!! Just not for me is all.

 

[gtopa1]

Is this true? If somebody confesses a murder the priest isn't allowed to go to the police about it? No offense to OhPleaseJustQuit since I know that she's a practicing Catholic and all of the other Catholics on here but this comment is aimed towards the religion itself and I don't mean to offend anybody by it. People wonder why I'm not a part of this whacked out religion. I mean to each their own as you do you, but still!! Just not for me is all.

Technically correct that NOTHING in the confessional can be taken outside but there is a larger picture. The Priest would emphasise that unless the person was truly penitent and atone for their sin they would NOT be forgiven for their serious sin by God. Part of that atonement would be to own up to their crime to the Lawful authority. Of course this beggars the question; they are INNOCENT until proved guilty in a Court of Law. So who judges their guilt or otherwise. Not even THEY can do that.

BUT unless you want to make the Church Judge, Jury and Executioner then those roles are up to the Police and Courts of Law.

Greg

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

Is this true? If somebody confesses a murder the priest isn't allowed to go to the police about it? No offense to OhPleaseJustQuit since I know that she's a practicing Catholic and all of the other Catholics on here but this comment is aimed towards the religion itself and I don't mean to offend anybody by it. People wonder why I'm not a part of this whacked out religion. I mean to each their own as you do you, but still!! Just not for me is all.

.

It's correct. It's called the seal of the confessional, and the priest can be excommunicated for breaking it.


.

 

[Innocynioc]

What if a nutcase told a priest in the confessional that he loved raping children and intended to continue doing that. Would the seal of the confessional prevent the priest from notifying the police of this?
That is the big problem with the catholic church trying to deal in absolutes such as the seal of the confessional.

 

[martybegan]

What if a nutcase told a priest in the confessional that he loved raping children and intended to continue doing that. Would the seal of the confessional prevent the priest from notifying the police of this?
That is the big problem with the catholic church trying to deal in absolutes such as the seal of the confessional.

I think telling the priest that the person is GOING TO DO an act isn't confessing to already doing one.

Thought I admit I am not sure what Catholic law says about it.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

I think telling the priest that the person is GOING TO DO an act isn't confessing to already doing one.

Thought I admit I am not sure what Catholic law says about it.

.

That's a really good point. I will have to address my spiritual guide and my priest about this. Thanks for making me think farther than I was thinking.


.

 

[Meriweather]

What if a nutcase told a priest in the confessional that he loved raping children and intended to continue doing that. Would the seal of the confessional prevent the priest from notifying the police of this?
That is the big problem with the catholic church trying to deal in absolutes such as the seal of the confessional.

Consider separation of Church and State.

Further, as an earlier post stated, in order to be forgiven the penitent would first have to turn himself in to the authorities.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

Consider separation of Church and State.

Further, as an earlier post stated, in order to be forgiven the penitent would first have to turn himself in to the authorities.

.

Well, there is a strong tendency in Catholics to trust authority. I don't recall which Commandment can be interpreted to mean "Thou Shalt Trust The Authorities". Another question I'll have to ask my priest.

At my first Confession, when I was through with the actual confession part, I asked the priest if speeding is a sin, as many believe it is -- as in disobeying civil authorities -- and that priest rolled his eyes, which confirmed my belief that speeding, as long as you are not endangering another, is not to be considered a sin.

But no, the priest is not likely to withhold absolution in the case of the penitent who has not turned himself in to the authorities. What might be more likely is that the priest could terminate the confession and boot the person out of the confessional before the penitent has the chance to perform the Act of Contrition -- a sincere Act of Contrition is necessary in order to merit absolution. The penitent must tell God how sorry he is for committing the sin and promise to make every effort not to sin again.

Also, it is up to the priest's discretion to withhold the Sacrament of the Eucharist -- Holy Communion -- from that penitent. If someone has every intention of going on committing a mortal sin, they are not in a fit state to receive the Sacrament.

PS -- I'm still a fairly new Catholic, and my opinion is certainly not to be taken as Catholic law.


.

 

[Road Runner]

.

It's correct. It's called the seal of the confessional, and the priest can be excommunicated for breaking it.


.

First of all thank you for not taking it personally about how I feel about the Catholic religion and second of all that's absurd! No offense again or anything, but if you don't say that somebody is guilty of a crime and you have prior knowledge about it then wouldn't you be just as guilty as the person who committed the crime if you didn't say anything about it? I would much rather lose my job than go to prison thank you very much.

 

[martybegan]

.

Well, there is a strong tendency in Catholics to trust authority. I don't recall which Commandment can be interpreted to mean "Thou Shalt Trust The Authorities". Another question I'll have to ask my priest.

At my first Confession, when I was through with the actual confession part, I asked the priest if speeding is a sin, as many believe it is -- as in disobeying civil authorities -- and that priest rolled his eyes, which confirmed my belief that speeding, as long as you are not endangering another, is not to be considered a sin.

But no, the priest is not likely to withhold absolution in the case of the penitent who has not turned himself in to the authorities. What might be more likely is that the priest could terminate the confession and boot the person out of the confessional before the penitent has the chance to perform the Act of Contrition -- a sincere Act of Contrition is necessary in order to merit absolution. The penitent must tell God how sorry he is for committing the sin and promise to make every effort to not sin again.

Also, it is up to the priest's discretion to withhold the Sacrament of the Eucharist -- Holy Communion -- from that penitent. If someone has every intention of going on committing a mortal sin, they are not in a fit state to receive the Sacrament.

PS -- I'm still a fairly new Catholic, and my opinion is certainly not to be taken as Catholic law.


.

It's not in the commandments, it's the whole "Render unto Caesar" thing, coupled with the fact that until the late 1800's the Church DID have political power as a State, via the Papal States.

 

[martybegan]

First of all thank you for not taking it personally about how I feel about the Catholic religion and second of all that's absurd! No offense again or anything, but if you don't say that somebody is guilty of a crime and you have prior knowledge about it then wouldn't you be just as guilty as the person who committed the crime if you didn't say anything about it? I would much rather lose my job than go to prison thank you very much.

The only reason some of these people confess is they know their confession can't be used in court. Also the Priests 99.99% of the time inform the person that for true forgiveness they need to accept responsibility for their actions, "render unto Ceasar" as it is, before they can have true absolution.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

First of all thank you for not taking it personally about how I feel about the Catholic religion and second of all that's absurd! No offense again or anything, but if you don't say that somebody is guilty of a crime and you have prior knowledge about it then wouldn't you be just as guilty as the person who committed the crime if you didn't say anything about it? I would much rather lose my job than go to prison thank you very much.

.

Well, you're entitled to your opinion.


.

 

[Road Runner]

.

Well, you're entitled to your opinion.


.

Well it's like how I am with gay people. I have absolutely no problems whatsoever with gays. I don't care for their lifestyle, but if they want to be gay then be gay I don't care. There are a couple of gay people on this website I like because they understand nobody gives a flying flip that they're gay! They don't force it down anybody's throat, demand special treatment, and leave the kids alone! So I couldn't care any less about it. So point being you be you.

 

[BreezeWood]

It's correct. It's called the seal of the confessional, and the priest can be excommunicated for breaking it.

there are people that confess sins to a priest ... what would be their reason the priest to sit there and listen to them.

to participate in mortal judgement is a sin in of itself.

 

[Road Runner]

to participate in mortal judgement is a sin in of itself.

Ohhh the irony.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

Ohhh the irony.

.

"participate in mortal judgment"?


.

 

[Road Runner]

.

"participate in mortal judgment"?


.

I just said that because they don't know the meaning of judge not less ye be judged.

 

[BreezeWood]

... what would be their reason the priest to sit there and listen to them.

how that ever came about is surly among the reasons for their demise as a religion to violate the spirit of an unsuspecting victim.

 

[Blackrook]

There are NO EXCEPTIONS to the seal of the confessional. ALSO, when a priest meets a person outside a confessional, he may not even HINT at what he's heard in the confessional. He may NOT go to the police with what's he's heard or discuss with ANYONE what he's heard. The rule is ABSOLUTE so that Catholics can know they can have ABSOLUTE FAITH in the SECRECY of their confessions. The State of Oregon tried to listen in on confessions and use what they'd learned in evidence and the United States Supreme Court SLAPPED THEM DOWN.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

There are NO EXCEPTIONS to the seal of the confessional. ALSO, when a priest meets a person outside a confessional, he may not even HINT at what he's heard in the confessional. He may NOT go to the police with what's he's heard or discuss with ANYONE what he's heard. The rule is ABSOLUTE so that Catholics can know they can have ABSOLUTE FAITH in the SECRECY of their confessions. The State of Oregon tried to listen in on confessions and use what they'd learned in evidence and the United States Supreme Court SLAPPED THEM DOWN.

.

In the case of the penitent that confessed the grave sin and stated that they have no intention to stop committing the sin, the priest can toss them out of the confessional before the Act of Contrition, and refuse to give absolution, thus negating the whole point of the sinner even bothering with confession.

But I'm fine with the Seal of the Confessional staying in place. It was there when I converted, and nobody forced my conversion. I have committed an act tantamount to abetting murder, when I worked for an abortionist, and the only person who needs to know this is my Lord.


.