"No to General Absolution," Except Rarely, Says Cardinal Re

Zenit News Agency ^ | October 6, 2005

[NYer]

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 6, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The bishop is the "custodian" of the Eucharist and the one who must ensure that "general absolutions" do not take place except in very special cases, says a Vatican official.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, emphasized that point in an address today in the Synod of Bishops' new hall.

The cardinal spoke about a bishop's responsibility as the one who must ensure the "decorum and good celebration" of the Mass.

"The very way the bishop celebrates the Eucharist nourishes the faith of the priests and people," said Cardinal Re. "It is important to dedicate special attention to the faithful's participation in Sunday Mass and to see that Eucharistic celebrations are always proper and beautiful."

Cardinal Re called for a recovery of "the pedagogy of conversion that stems from the Eucharist" and added that the bishop must defend "frequent recourse to individual confession."

Thus bishops must see to it that general or collective absolutions not be carried out except for very justified exceptions, as contemplated in Pope John Paul II's letter "Misericordia Dei," the Vatican prefect said.

"The bishop has the obligation not to allow in his diocese abusive recourse to general or collective absolution," he stressed.

Legionary of Christ Father John Bartunek, an English-speaking reporter for the synod, said that Cardinal Re explained that "many dioceses have introduced general absolution and have seen that this has only caused harm to the spiritual life and a loss of the sense of sin."

According to Father Bartunek, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops added that "the faithful themselves realize that this practice does not move them to conversion."

[NYer]

Giovanni Battista Cardinal Re (born January 30, 1934 in Brescia, Italy) is a priest of the Roman Catholic Church whose service has been primarily limited to the Roman Curia. He was elevated to the rank of archbishop and later honored in consistory by being named a cardinal by Pope John Paul II.

Born in Brescia and ordained a priest there in 1957, since 1963 he has been a member of the Roman Curia. He became a monsignor in 1964 and served in various diplomatic positions before being named a bishop and Secretary of the Congregation for Bishops in 1987, under its then Prefect, Bernardin Cardinal Gantin. John Paul II personally consecrated him a bishop.

In December 1989 he was transferred to become Sostituto for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, one of the key positions under the Cardinal Secretary of State. In this position he became known as one of the most influential men at the Vatican, though his position was of too low rank for him to be named a Cardinal; there was (unfounded) speculation that he was one of the two men named secretly (in pectore) as Cardinals in the consistory of 1998.

In September 2000 he was named to head the Congregation for Bishops, a position always held by a Cardinal, and became a Cardinal in the consistory held the following February, named first among all those elevated. The next year he was named a Cardinal Bishop when a vacancy arose in that order. This is an unusually fast advancement for a Cardinal but the head of the Congregation for Bishops is usually a Cardinal Bishop (and it was exceptional for someone not already a Cardinal to be named Prefect of the Congregation).

He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI; Re himself was considered a papabile successor to John Paul.

[fortunecookie]

"The bishop has the obligation not to allow in his diocese abusive recourse to general or collective absolution," he stressed.

This is good news. It's good to hear someone speak out and admonish Bishops not to abuse it.

This is my third year on parish council and several times every year this issue comes up. Most members ask when it will be 'brought back', as a dissenting Priest used general absolution for years. They loved it and miss it. My first year, I was one of only 2 members who opposed it. Luckily our new pastor will have none of it. I'm still amazed that this issue comes up, considering the late Holy Father's urgings for monthly confession as a 'remedy for the west', but it does and I know there will be rumblings in our Diocese about this issue.

[DBeers]

Another link (maybe more permanent)

"No to General Absolution," Except Rarely, Says Cardinal Re

hmmm... I have debated others on this topic and it is my understanding that in some parishes general absolution is the norm rather than the exception...

[AnAmericanMother]

Stand firm.

FWIW, coming as I do from the Episcopal Church, where general confession is the norm, I can tell you that it's just plain no good and worthless.

Occurring as it does in the middle of the Mass, there's no time for an examination of conscience, no time to think about one's individual sins, and no opportunity to form true contrition or a purpose of amendment.

So it's really a "feel-good" waste of time, that's all. (And you can tell your dissenting parish council members that, from me. I've told the occasional loon in our parish -- they are few and far between, and they mostly keep quiet for fear of Monsignor's wrath, which is pretty impressive. Guess they thought I would lend a sympathetic ear, being an ex-Piskie and all. Boy were they disabused of THAT notion! < g > )

[SaltyJoe]

"So it's really a "feel-good" waste of time, that's all"

Another detail often missed is that one who's received General Absolution (for example a soldier prior to a battle), must go to individual Confession upon surviving the grave situation to receive a proper Reconciliation.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Im4LifeandLiberty]

I'm an ex-Piskie and no fan of general absolution as well. "Piskie" is a great term, and kind of cute. I have long wondered what a good nickname for Episcopalians would be, and you have provided me with one. Thanks!

[AnAmericanMother]

You are absolutely correct.

Can. 962 (1) For a member of the Christian faithful validly to receive sacramental absolution given to many at one time, it is required not only that the person is properly disposed but also at the same time intends to confess within a suitable period of time each grave sin which at the present time cannot be so confessed.

(2) Insofar as it can be done even on the occasion of the reception of general absolution, the Christian faithful are to be instructed about the requirements of the norm of (1). An exhortation that each person take care to make an act of contrition is to precede general absolution even in the case of danger of death, if there is time.

Can. 963 Without prejudice to the obligation mentioned in Can. 989, a person whose grave sins are remitted by general absolution is to approach individual confession as soon as possible, given the opportunity, before receiving another general absolution, unless a just cause intervenes.

[Coleus]

our old bishop allowed it and the new bishop put a stop to it within a couple of months, his first pastoral letter.

[AnAmericanMother]

I'll tell you a joke (stop me if you've heard it < LOL > ):

There were three little boys who were pals, but the other kids in the neighborhood wouldn't play with them because they weren't baptized. So they set out to find a church to get baptized in.

First church they came to, they walked right in. Nobody was there but the janitor, but they didn't know that. They asked him if he could baptize them, and he said sure, and took them to the washroom and dunked their heads in the toilet.

Kids come out, they're walking along, and they realize they never asked what kind of church it was. "Well, it wasn't the Baptists, because they dunk," said one. "And it wasn't the Methodists, because they sprinkle," said the second. "Well," said the third, "did you smell that water? It had to be the 'Piscopalians."

[marshmallow]

The really crucial aspect of individual confession (and the main reason so many people have a problem with it) which is completely by-passed by general absolution, is accusing yourself aloud in a detailed and specific manner in front of another human being. Paradoxically, it is precisely this aspect of confession which produces its greatest benefit.

It generates humility and self-awareness like nothing else when done properly. By this I mean a genuine examination of conscience and a full and truthful confession. It has a truly purifying and painful aspect to it which is entirely absent from the general absolution rite.

Any rogue can say "I'm a sinner" in the general sense. It's virtually meaningless. Very few people, however, can sit or kneel in front of another and specify precisely when, where and how they sinned and approximately how many times.

This from someone who has a long and sorry history of assaulting the ears of confessors with the most lurid sins.

[fortunecookie]

Thank you, quite an interesting perspective. I have a friend who left the Roman Catholic church for the Episcopal Church, claiming it was 'easier' and the people were 'friendlier' (I told her to join a club if she wanted new friends, that's what her particular church reminded me of).

So far, I have stood firm and 2 new members are also baffled by this push for general absolution. Our current pastor is opposed. Ironically, or not, 2 members who still push for it are educators in the Catholic school system, one of whom worked with me with kids making their First Reconciliation.

Occurring as it does in the middle of the Mass, there's no time for an examination of conscience, no time to think about one's individual sins, and no opportunity to form true contrition or a purpose of amendment.

I will point this out at the upcoming meeting. One of the dissenting priests had a 'special' prayer service outside of Mass to try to get around this, it had a huge turn out.

So it's really a "feel-good" waste of time, that's all.

BTTT! That really sums it up.

You are lucky to be in a parish where these issues and those who raise them are few and far between and you have the support of a Monsignor who runs a tight ship. My Bishop has quietly looked the other way, tacitly approving. He has been 'called to Rome' in the past to explain himself and to be told in person to stop. It quiets him for awhile...

[Im4LifeandLiberty]

hahahaha! No, I had not heard that one before. :-) Episcopal jokes crack me up... During my last year and a half as a Piskie, I hung around with some traditional-leaning seminarians who told joke after joke about their denomination. One sem said that seminary life and the ordination process was like a soap opera: The Gays of Our Lives.

[nanetteclaret]

As another ex-ECUSA who is presently "Crossing the Tiber" I prefer the term Episcopagan. It pretty well sums up the whole church, seeing as how the Archbishop of Canterbury is also a practicing Druid. The other day someone posted a picture of a t-shirt with words which were something to the effect "The Episcopal Church As Diverse as Hell." AAM, do you remember that one? I think it was on the same thread you posted the "Tiber Swim Team" picture.

[arkady_renko]

What form is this taking in parishes that use it? I've got to say that I have not encountered it here in Peoria except for at a Charismatic event led by Fr. Michael Scanlon from Stuebenville. He led people in a mass confession ritual and then told them it was "good enough..." that their sins were forgiven. Pretty crazy 'Catholic' event in any case.

A_R

[fortunecookie]

Charismatic event led by Fr. Michael Scanlon from Stuebenville. He led people in a mass confession ritual and then told them it was "good enough..."

Oh, no, I'm a little shocked to hear this. I thought that Fr. Scanlon and Steubenville were less 'out there'.

What form is this taking in parishes that use it?

My parish hasn't used it in more than a few years, it was used a lot, especially at Christmas and Easter, by a pastor and 3 or 4 priests who are no longer in our area. They would hold a communal prayer service, calling it a Penance service, in the evening. It was separate from Mass. And then general absolution would be given to all, and yes, one priest in particular would say it's 'good enough'. Some in the parish complained, the Bishop was called to Rome, and then the priests started offering private confessions after the communal service, but few went. Our current pastor halted the practice. Hence the constant requests to renew it. One prominent, wealthy lady in our parish 'vows' to use her power to bring it back. (eyeroll)

Ironically, we have just one priest in our parish at this time, as one priest is away. We are told we will be having only one in the near future. At the time of the 'communal penances', there were 3 priests available at each of the local parishes.

Pretty crazy 'Catholic' event in any case.

I agree. -FC

;-)

[AnAmericanMother]

I have a friend who left the Roman Catholic church for the Episcopal Church, claiming it was 'easier'

. . . yeah, it's always easier to have no standards.

. . . and the people were 'friendlier'

. . . with friends like that . . .

[AnAmericanMother]

BEFORE I read your post, I went looking for it. See above.

I use "Episcopagan" too . . . just depends on my mood!

[Im4LifeandLiberty]

Welcome home (to the other side of the Tiber), Nanetteclaret.
As for "Episcopagan," I often just say "pagan." "Child-hating Communist" and other terms referring to Left-Wing depravity are also fitting of the Episcopalian hierarchy, heh-heh.
Less derisive terms are occasionally necessary for reference to members of the few remaining high-church, rosary-praying, conservative Anglo-Catholic parishes. Those churches are great, and seem to belong in communion with Rome. It seems like more and more of the Christian ECUSA parishes are moving towards Rome, and I heard that the Traditional Anglican Communion is in discussions with the Vatican. Episcopal apostasy may actually be a step toward Christian unity, considering these developments.