Author Topic: No Confession At My Mass Center (Read 2976 times)

Änσnymσus · « **on:** August 24, 2015, 03:10:17 AM »

I attend the chapel of an independent priest who was ordained in the old rite.
For over a year now he has stopped hearing the Confessions of his faithful on the grounds that most are habitual sinners who do not show a firm purpose of amendment. He believes that he would be accountable before Heaven if he goes on absolving such penitents.

I mentioned to him that scripture says that wrong doers have to be forgiven seventy times seven - meaning, mercy should be shown when forgiveness is asked for. He said that does not apply to habitual sinners.

He has told us to seek priests " who give a Latin absolution" when hearing Confessions.

About 50 - 80 used to attend, but a recent bust-up over another issue has seen about 15 faithful depart.

Any comments on this priest's attitude?

Stubborn · « **Reply #1 on:** August 24, 2015, 05:20:32 AM »

Quote from: Guest

He believes that he would be accountable before Heaven if he goes on absolving such penitents.

I've never heard of such a thing but one thing is certain, he will be accountable before Heaven if he doesn't go on absolving such penitents.

He does not have to forgive the sinner in the confessional - it's up to him whether to "bind or to loose", but it is his duty to hear the confessions of such penitents.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #2 on:** August 24, 2015, 07:15:35 AM »

Quote from: Guest

I attend the chapel of an independent priest who was ordained in the old rite.
For over a year now he has stopped hearing the Confessions of his faithful on the grounds that most are habitual sinners who do not show a firm purpose of amendment. He believes that he would be accountable before Heaven if he goes on absolving such penitents.

I mentioned to him that scripture says that wrong doers have to be forgiven seventy times seven - meaning, mercy should be shown when forgiveness is asked for. He said that does not apply to habitual sinners.

He has told us to seek priests " who give a Latin absolution" when hearing Confessions.

About 50 - 80 used to attend, but a recent bust-up over another issue has seen about 15 faithful depart.

Any comments on this priest's attitude?

I must say, this is the first time I've heard of such a thing. And I have been a trad for a very long time.

Needless to say? The priest is totally in the wrong here. It is his duty to hear confessions. Most of the good a priest does to transform souls is done in the confessional. Remember, the Cure of Ars used to spend 18 hours a day in the confessional, and he was content to do so.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #3 on:** August 24, 2015, 09:22:13 AM »

Quote from: Guest

Quote from: Guest
I attend the chapel of an independent priest who was ordained in the old rite.
For over a year now he has stopped hearing the Confessions of his faithful on the grounds that most are habitual sinners who do not show a firm purpose of amendment. He believes that he would be accountable before Heaven if he goes on absolving such penitents.

I mentioned to him that scripture says that wrong doers have to be forgiven seventy times seven - meaning, mercy should be shown when forgiveness is asked for. He said that does not apply to habitual sinners.

He has told us to seek priests " who give a Latin absolution" when hearing Confessions.

About 50 - 80 used to attend, but a recent bust-up over another issue has seen about 15 faithful depart.

Any comments on this priest's attitude?

I must say, this is the first time I've heard of such a thing. And I have been a trad for a very long time.

Needless to say? The priest is totally in the wrong here. It is his duty to hear confessions. Most of the good a priest does to transform souls is done in the confessional. Remember, the Cure of Ars used to spend 18 hours a day in the confessional, and he was content to do so.

I'm the OP. Some years ago when I used to attend an SSPX chapel, the then priest who used to help out the SSPX refused absolution to a faithful. When two of us faithful heard about it we approached the priest, now deceased, and urged him to reconsider, which he did. I've also heard (from a penitent himself) that an SSPX priest, now with the Resistance, at another chapel in the district, had said he would no longer give him absolution.

I would have thought that given our fallen human nature, that most sins committed are habitual. Otherwise we would have to be living saints or commit different sins every week....

I doubt this priest I am now talking about will change. Nobody really dares to engage him in a discussion.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #4 on:** August 24, 2015, 11:41:19 AM »

Wow. How would he know that any given penitent was repeating the same sins unless he knew who was in the confessional and was keeping tabs? How does he know for sure that he isn't keeping grace from these penitents which will help them to cut back on sin?

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2015, 11:49:39 AM »

Sounds like priestly weakness to me. A worldly or falling priest would ask himself, "Who wants to spend hours in a box hearing people's sins?"

A good priest, that's who.

A priest without a good spritual outlook on life would not enjoy hearing confessions, just like any Novus Ordo priest. Remember the Novus Ordo doesn't like to mess with confessions either.

But a priest with the Faith knows what spiritual good is done in that box.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #6 on:** August 24, 2015, 12:32:53 PM »

A priest certainly has the authority to refuse to give absolution to specific individuals if the priest believes the confession to be insincere or if the priest believes that there is no firm purpose of amendment on the part of the penitent. However, to completely withhold the sacrament from an entire community based on generalized assumptions and beliefs is just, well, diabolical.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #7 on:** August 24, 2015, 01:52:19 PM »

So it is better to let a whole parish go to hell than to hear the confessions of weak sinners. If he doesn't hear their confessions then who will?

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #8 on:** August 24, 2015, 03:15:33 PM »

Maybe there is more to the story. Perhaps the "habitual sinners" is just the cover story and that the priest feels that he should not be hearing confessions without jurisdiction but fears he would fall out of favor if he said so openly. Perhaps he is tired of hearing confessions. Perhaps he is frustrated and lonely and feels that certain penitents are really not interested in making an amendment of their ways.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #9 on:** August 24, 2015, 05:52:24 PM »

Perhaps he is no priest at all?!

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #10 on:** August 24, 2015, 09:24:58 PM »

Quote from: Guest

Perhaps he is no priest at all?!

He is a valid priest ordained in the late sixties just before the new rite came into force. I'm glad to have read all these comments. Maybe he just finds hearing 30 to 40 Confessions before Sunday Mass just too much and has come out with this excuse. The sad thing is that he claims Heavenly inspirations for his actions.

poche · « **Reply #11 on:** August 24, 2015, 11:02:46 PM »

Quote from: Guest

I attend the chapel of an independent priest who was ordained in the old rite.
For over a year now he has stopped hearing the Confessions of his faithful on the grounds that most are habitual sinners who do not show a firm purpose of amendment. He believes that he would be accountable before Heaven if he goes on absolving such penitents.

I mentioned to him that scripture says that wrong doers have to be forgiven seventy times seven - meaning, mercy should be shown when forgiveness is asked for. He said that does not apply to habitual sinners.

He has told us to seek priests " who give a Latin absolution" when hearing Confessions.

About 50 - 80 used to attend, but a recent bust-up over another issue has seen about 15 faithful depart.

Any comments on this priest's attitude?

This sounds a lot like John Calvin.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2015, 10:49:19 AM »

Quote from: Guest

Maybe there is more to the story.

I'm sure there is, but I can't think of any further details that would justify this priest's actions.

Quote from: Guest

Perhaps the "habitual sinners" is just the cover story and that the priest feels that he should not be hearing confessions without jurisdiction but fears he would fall out of favor if he said so openly.

Then the priest is a liar, and perhaps a coward. Not exactly a better scenario.

Quote from: Guest

Perhaps he is tired of hearing confessions. Perhaps he is frustrated and lonely and feels that certain penitents are really not interested in making an amendment of their ways.

What a pitiful excuse. Do endanger souls because you are tired and frustrated. Do mothers and fathers get to stop being mothers and fathers because they are tired of their children and are frustrated with them?

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2015, 11:21:14 AM »

Quote from: Guest

Quote from: Guest
Perhaps he is no priest at all?!

He is a valid priest ordained in the late sixties just before the new rite came into force. I'm glad to have read all these comments. Maybe he just finds hearing 30 to 40 Confessions before Sunday Mass just too much and has come out with this excuse. The sad thing is that he claims Heavenly inspirations for his actions.

Are there any other options for the Tridentine Mass in your area?

Sounds like this priest is giving up. Stop hearing confessions? Heavenly inspiration?

Time to move on to another chapel, seriously.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2015, 11:57:28 AM »

Quote from: Guest

Perhaps he is no priest at all?!

Maybe it's Jimmy Hoffa in a disguise?

Author Topic: No Confession At My Mass Center (Read 2976 times)

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