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Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

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Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

Philosophy/religion

Question to practing Catholics

40 replies

smoothie · 23/10/2008 10:07

This is a very hard question for me to ask, but I'm going to ask anyway.
I was raised a catholic when I was younger, went to catholic school etc. I am now 32 and have recently started going back to church. But at the moment I feel haunted with an abortion I had when I
was sixteen and I was wondering what would be the outcome if I went to confession to confess to a priest? Would he tell me to get lost, would I be Excommunicated?

OP posts:

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MorticiaAnnSpookington · 23/10/2008 10:09

I am certain you wouldn't get excommunicated or told to get lost - I would imagine he would talk to you about it and take it from there...

Neenztwinz · 23/10/2008 10:10

No you wouldn't!!! If the priest did do that then find another church. The priest is not God.

God forgives you.

Sorry for your pain. Do not feel haunted. We all do things that are against God's will, against what he believes and what he wants for us, that is cos we are all human. God made us that way. He did not make us perfect.

I would not even confess to the priest. Make your peace with God.

Good to hear you are going back to church.

smoothie · 23/10/2008 10:10

Sorry, ment to type practising Catholics!

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MorticiaAnnSpookington · 23/10/2008 10:11

what Neenztwinz says is sensible - I am a very lapsed Catholic btw

SqueakyPop · 23/10/2008 10:11

You could be excommunicated, but probably have one of the many extenuating circumstances that means you will simply be forgiven by the RCC.

smoothie · 23/10/2008 10:16

Neenztwinz, I feel like I've made my peace with God (almost). But I thought in order to recieve the Eucharist again, do I not have to confess my sin to the priest?

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smoothie · 23/10/2008 10:19

Really concerned because my DS goes to this church, so really don't want to be in trouble!!

OP posts:

smoothie · 23/10/2008 10:19

Really concerned because my DS goes to this church, so really don't want to be in trouble!!

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SqueakyPop · 23/10/2008 10:21

Have a look at this page

Tortington · 23/10/2008 10:22

got to another church for confession - i thnk that is what i would do

Neenztwinz · 23/10/2008 11:49

I am so glad you have almost made your peace with God, that is great. You can be sure you are forgiven.

I have to admit I am Church of England not Catholic so don't know the ins and outs of taking communion in the RC church. But yes I think that traditionally unless you have been to confession you cannot take communion... but is that still the case with today's Catholics? (I doubt it).

I agree with HellMouth, confess your sin to a priest outside of your normal church if you feel you have to do that in order to take communion.

I always ask myself 'what would Jesus do?' Did he ask all his disciples to confess their sins before taking the bread and wine at the last supper? I know it is not as simple as that in the RC church, but in my mind it is that simple.

But I know the God I believe in would not care whether you have said the words out loud to a priest, you have said them to Him.

Bride1 · 23/10/2008 12:04

If you want to take Communion you are supposed to go to confession. It is different for Catholics than for Anglicans.

bamboostalks · 23/10/2008 12:09

I think that you will feel better if you confessed so find a church and confess. There are also some catholic abortion helplines that could assist you. God forgives and so does the church.

SqueakyPop · 23/10/2008 14:50

Bride, Anglicans confess before communion too.

Lauriefairycake · 23/10/2008 14:53

If you're practising Catholicism now then yes, you need to confess.

As a fellow Christian I also remind you that God already forgives you. Maybe you need to forgive yourself - I appreciate that's much harder to do.

Rhubarb · 23/10/2008 14:56

Confession is anonymous and the priest is forbidden to repeat anything he hears in the confessional box, even if it's a murder.

If you feel happy to confess, then by all means do so. And remember, Moses murdered somebody but was forgiven and became a great prophet! God forgives. You also need to forgive yourself and confession is a great way to start doing that.

Bride1 · 24/10/2008 10:47

Sorry, my post should have read 'for Protestants' not Anglicans. My husband is a Protestant (presbyterian) but doesn't got to confession ever.

SqueakyPop · 24/10/2008 11:09

Anglican is protestant.

Presbyterians do confess. It is biblical.

Neenztwinz · 24/10/2008 11:22

Doesn't the catholic mass include confession as the Anglican service does... 'I confess that I have sinned, in thought word and deed etc'

SqueakyPop · 24/10/2008 11:25

Catholic liturgy is derived from the Book of Common Prayer, so yes, does include confession.

Neenztwinz · 24/10/2008 12:01

Is that not enough to satisfy the need the confess before communion?

smoothie · 24/10/2008 13:34

No, I think catholics have to confess to priest. I'm not 100% though.

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smoothie · 24/10/2008 13:34

No, I think catholics have to confess to priest. I'm not 100% though.

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Rhubarb · 24/10/2008 13:41

You have a general absolution in Mass in preparation for receiving Holy Communion. But it's considered better to confess to a priest and take responsibility for the deeds you have done.

SqueakyPop · 24/10/2008 13:52

I guess confessing in the presence of God just isn't enough!

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