Group Absolutions

[Semperviva]

I know in war they are--- what about pilgrimage? or just any other circumstance...

[cmotherofpirl]

The only time I have seen it done legitimately was Three Mile Island.
I see no point doing it on a pilgramage, that is certainly not an emergency.

Edited August 10, 2005 by cmotherofpirl

[Cam42]

From the Catholic Almanac:

[quote]General absolution is reserved for special circumstances in which it is morally or physically impossible for persons to confess and be absolved individually.[/quote]

The Code of Canon Law states that general absolution should be used when:

[quote name='Can. 961']ß1 General absolution, without prior individual confession, cannot be given to a number of penitents together, unless:


1ƒ danger of death threatens and there is not time for the priest or priests to hear the confessions of the individual penitents;


2ƒ there exists a grave necessity, that is, given the number of penitents, there are not enough confessors available properly to hear the individual confessions within an appropriate time, so that without fault of their own the penitents are deprived of the sacramental grace or of holy communion for a lengthy period of time. A sufficient necessity is not, however, considered to exist when confessors cannot be available merely because of a great gathering of penitents, such as can occur on some major feast day or pilgrimage.

ß2 It is for the diocesan Bishop to judge whether the conditions required in ß1, n. 2 are present; mindful of the criteria agreed with the other members of the Episcopal Conference, he can determine the cases of such necessity. [/quote]

[quote name='Can. 962']ß1 For a member of Christ's faithful to benefit validly from a sacramental absolution given to a number of people simultaneously, it is required not only that he or she be properly disposed, but be also at the same time personally resolved to confess in due time each of the grave sins which cannot for the moment be thus confessed.

ß2 Christ's faithful are to be instructed about the requirements set out in ß1, as far as possible even on the occasion of general absolution being received. An exhortation that each person should make an act of contrition is to precede a general absolution, even in the case of danger of death if there is time. [/quote]

[quote name='Can. 963']Without prejudice to the obligation mentioned in can. 989, a person whose grave sins are forgiven by a general absolution, is as soon as possible, when the opportunity occurs, to make an individual confession before receiving another general absolution, unless a just reason intervenes.[/quote]

That is what the Church judiciously states.

[Era Might]

There was a priest on that plane that crashed recently in Canada. I'm sure he gave general absolution.

[cmotherofpirl]

We had a priest "retired" for doing regular general absolution.

[Semperviva]

say its done in an illegitimate reason--is one still absolved?

[cmotherofpirl]

I think it would be valid. Remember you still have to go to regular confession as soon as possible.