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.