Ask A Catholic II

[Jehoshua]

If this was removed, was Jesus then just a symbolic man? Thus never felt the same way we do nor could understand us truly? At what point was He made sin for us?

Could you rephrase that, what do you mean by this question. I was talking about Mary and now you've come up with a question about Christ, please explain your question.

So it has to be face to face . . . just cuz? It is what it is?

It has to be face to face because sacraments cannot be done long distance. It would be the equivalent of takign communion over the internet, its impossible. Also for confession there is a requirement for it to be in person because otherwise the impact and mental state required for confession to be licit is absent.

One must be physically present with the confessor to ensure that its a true confession, its much harder to confess in person to a priest acting as the instrument of God's forgiveness than to simply confess in your mind to God and say your sorry. The contact ensures the confession must be genuine and that the reality that you are confessing is absolutely immanently there.

Also due to the seal of confession all other means other than one on one contact are forbidden due to the potential for third parties to hack into a confession. Absolute confidentiality is important in confession. In fact if a priest were to reveal a confession he would be automatically excommunicated.

 

[civ_king]

It has to be face to face because sacraments cannot be done long distance. It would be the equivalent of takign communion over the internet, its impossible. Also for confession there is a requirement for it to be in person because otherwise the impact and mental state required for confession to be licit is absent.

One must be physically present with the confessor to ensure that its a true confession, its much harder to confess in person to a priest acting as the instrument of God's forgiveness than to simply confess in your mind to God and say your sorry. The contact ensures the confession must be genuine and that the reality that you are confessing is absolutely immanently there.

Also due to the seal of confession all other means other than one on one contact are forbidden due to the potential for third parties to hack into a confession. Absolute confidentiality is important in confession. In fact if a priest were to reveal a confession he would be automatically excommunicated.

Addendum to this, you can't release a priest you confessed to from the Seal of Confession, and the Seal holds even after death of the person who confessed, but you can talk about it with the priest after confession

 

[Arakhor]

So what happens if a priest witnesses a murder and then the same man comes to the priest to confess? Is he obliged to hear the murderer's confession and what about his legal obligations afterwards?

 

[Butterball]

So what happens if a priest witnesses a murder and then the same man comes to the priest to confess? Is he obliged to hear the murderer's confession and what about his legal obligations afterwards?

Interesting question.

 

[timtofly]

Could you rephrase that, what do you mean by this question. I was talking about Mary and now you've come up with a question about Christ, please explain your question.

If Mary was half human, then it seems to me that Jesus was not. Can you explain this?

 

[Jehoshua]

If Mary was half human, then it seems to me that Jesus was not. Can you explain this?

Don't be ridiculous Mary was as human as you or I, seems to me you have little understanding of what I was talking about.

 

[johndroberts]

Can anyone administer Baptism or does it have to be a priest?
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[Jehoshua]

Can anyone administer Baptism or does it have to be a priest?

The ordinary minister of Baptism is a priest but technically anyone can administer baptism if they have the right intent (to initiate someone as a christian) and so laymen in extraordinary circumstances have the ability to baptise licitly.

 

[timtofly]

Don't be ridiculous Mary was as human as you or I, seems to me you have little understanding of what I was talking about.

Nevermind, I looked it up myself. It seems Islam also teaches this in the Quran. Evelution was corrected in Mary.

 

[Takhisis]

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Moderator Action: ?????? You may want to clarify your question, please.

 

[ParkCungHee]

So what happens if a priest witnesses a murder and then the same man comes to the priest to confess? Is he obliged to hear the murderer's confession and what about his legal obligations afterwards?

He's of course obligated to take the confession, as with all sins.
He could, and should testify that he witnessed the murder, but not that the murderer confessed to him.

 

[Jehoshua]

Furthermore the priest is obliged to suggest to the murderer that he reveal himself to the appropriate authorities. However generally a priest is not obliged to reveal his confession according to secular law in the courts as most states acknowledge and respect the seal of confession. Priests have actually been imprisoned or martyred for refusing to reveal confessions in the past.

 

[Butterball]

He's of course obligated to take the confession, as with all sins.
He could, and should testify that he witnessed the murder, but not that the murderer confessed to him.

Does this mean that the Priest should identify the murderer as a witness?

 

[GhostWriter16]

Wait a second, WHY shouldn't the priest turn the murder in?

I mean, saying his confession should be heard I can sympathize with, but then hiding it from the law? Unless the law is particularly cruel, this seems ridiculous.

 

[Takhisis]

the confession cannot be repeated to anyone, but what the priest saw with his own eyes isn't covered by the secret of confessional.

 

[ParkCungHee]

Does this mean that the Priest should identify the murderer as a witness?

Yes. He should say "I saw this man murder someone with my own eyes." He should not say "That man later confessed it to me."

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Isn't it hearsay anyways? Do I not understand what hearsay is?

 

[GhostWriter16]

So, I misunderstand, a Priest can't report a murderer who confesses to him, even though he can be a potential danger?

It seems to me that reporting it and disobeying the Catholic Law would be the better thing to do here...

 

[Takhisis]

You really are obtuse, Domination. I have already stated that what a priest sees with his own eyes is NOT covered by confessional, he simply can't tell about the confession itself.

Moderator Action: Please don't call other posters obtuse.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[GhostWriter16]

You really are obtuse, Domination. I have already stated that what a priest sees with his own eyes is NOT covered by confessional, he simply can't tell about the confession itself.

No, I'm just not explaining myself well. I was saying even if the only reason he knows is because of the confession, he should be able to report it because the murderer logically deserves justice.