Retired Bishop Says He Would Break The Seal Of Confession

[the171]

I hope Taylor Swift never goes to confession with this bishop...

http://youtu.be/QUwxKWT6m7U

[Nihil Obstat]

Far be it from me to complain about lame stuff outside the lame board, but...

[elizabeth09]

Not surprise!!!

[Mark of the Cross]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1353120097' post='2511568']
Those statements by Bishop Robinson are incredibly irresponsible, and very very dangerous. No bishop has the authority to say such things. I hope that he is set right by his superiors.
[/quote]

Why am I not surprised. A priest that is being charged here in Australia is alleged to have claimed that God told him he could do it. I have heard of this before where victims claimed that the priest told them that because he is a priest it is not sinful and other such damaging rubbish.

Not wanting to start a debate here but I was always under the impression that a Priest cannot accept a confession unless he is reasonably certain that the person is repentant. I would expect a priest to advise that a person should not confess anything that they are not prepared to face the law for as they cannot be repentant and receive absolution unless they are willing to accept the punishment of the law by their own volition. Which is by the way Gods law.

[Mark of the Cross]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1353285635' post='2512573']
My former priest is going down to Australia to be the regional superior of the FSSP for the Southern Cross district. He is excellent. Australia and New Zealand is in good hands.
[/quote]
God knows we need it. The Church is currently under some duress here!
Even though many people have endorsed the call for a royal commission. If Ms Gillard was calling it for the purpose of improving popularity then it didn't work. People are waking up to the financial disaster that her government is creating.

Edited November 19, 2012 by Mark of the Cross

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Mark of the Cross' timestamp='1353362481' post='2513153']
Not wanting to start a debate here but I was always under the impression that a Priest cannot accept a confession unless he is reasonably certain that the person is repentant. I would expect a priest to advise that a person should not confess anything that they are not prepared to face the law for as they cannot be repentant and receive absolution unless they are willing to accept the punishment of the law by their own volition. Which is by the way Gods law.
[/quote]
If the confessor has very serious reason to believe that the penitent is not actually... well, penitent, then he can withhold absolution. But it's still covered by the Seal in that case.

Reference Canon 980 here:

Can. 980 If the confessor is in no doubt about the penitent's disposition and the penitent asks for absolution, it is not to be denied or delayed.


There are a couple other situations where absolution is withheld:


Can. 982 A person who confesses to having falsely denounced to ecclesiastical authority a confessor innocent of the crime of solicitation to a sin against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue, is not to be absolved unless that person has first formally withdrawn the false denunciation and is prepared to make good whatever harm may have been done.

[Spem in alium]

[quote name='Egidio' timestamp='1353285205' post='2512566']
Don't be discoraged. There are plenty of faithful bishops and priests here down under...(two of them are on Phatmass) !!!

Please, be sure that you all never forget to pray for priests... there are powers against us that can be overcome only by many prayers!

AVE MARIA!!!!!!!!
[/quote]

Thank you Father You are right, there are many faithful clergy in Oz. But it also seems there's a lot that could be improved there. Priests definitely need prayers - they have a lot to deal with these days.

[Mark of the Cross]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1353362839' post='2513157']
If the confessor has very serious reason to believe that the penitent is not actually... well, penitent, then he can withhold absolution. But it's still covered by the Seal in that case.


[/quote]
Yes I get that, but I think Robinson is correct that people won't confess if there is any risk that the seal may be broken. Which is why it can't under any circumstance be broken. But what I'm saying is that people should be told not to confess unless prepared to take it all the way. In which case no issue will arise. However I suppose some will still take it to confession and refuse to report. In this case the priest should advise that the confession is not accepted and deny absolution. But even though it is not a valid confession the seal must be kept.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Mark of the Cross' timestamp='1353363935' post='2513173']
Yes I get that, but I think Robinson is correct that people won't confess if there is any risk that the seal may be broken. Which is why it can't under any circumstance be broken. But what I'm saying is that people should be told not to confess unless prepared to take it all the way. In which case no issue will arise. However I suppose some will still take it to confession and refuse to report. In this case the priest should advise that the confession is not accepted and deny absolution. But even though it is not a valid confession the seal must be kept.
[/quote]
I think what Robinson is saying was more along the lines of "these people are so far gone already that they would not even go to confession".

The thing is that we have to encourage them to go to confession, even those who have committed the most grievous of sins.

However, I do not think, generally speaking, that a priest can require the penitent to turn himself in as a requirement for absolution. The canon I listed above is one exception, and perhaps the only one. We had a debate on the topic some time ago, and there was more or less a consensus among the people who know what they are talking about that it is not permitted.

[Mark of the Cross]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1353364181' post='2513175']
I think what Robinson is saying was more along the lines of "these people are so far gone already that they would not even go to confession".

The thing is that we have to encourage them to go to confession, even those who have committed the most grievous of sins.

However, I do not think, generally speaking, that a priest can require the penitent to turn himself in as a requirement for absolution. The canon I listed above is one exception, and perhaps the only one. We had a debate on the topic some time ago, and there was more or less a consensus among the people who know what they are talking about that it is not permitted.
[/quote]
Okay thanks! I Was just trying to get a better understanding of how it works or should work. I concede your point that people should be encouraged to confession not dissuaded.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Mark of the Cross' timestamp='1353362792' post='2513156']
God knows we need it. The Church is currently under some duress here!
Even though many people have endorsed the call for a royal commission. If Ms Gillard was calling it for the purpose of improving popularity then it didn't work. People are waking up to the financial disaster that her government is creating.
[/quote]
I get a daily email of Australian Catholic news and they are way out liberals of the National Catholic Distorter variety. You are definitely on my prayer list.