Posted on 08/18/2011 7:18:16 AM PDT by marshmallow
So why is the seal of confession inviolable? Why does the seal bind under such a grave obligation that the Church excommunicates any confessor who directly violates it? (See: The seal of confession: some basics)
There are two principal reasons why the priest must preserve the seal: the virtue of justice and the virtue of religion. The motive of justice is evident because the penitent, by the very fact of entering the confessional, or asking the priest to hear his confession (we’ll deal with “reconciliation rooms” another day) rightly expects that the priest will observe the seal. This is a contract entered into by the fact of the priest agreeing to hear a person’s confession. To mandate the violation of the seal is in effect to prohibit the celebration of the sacrament of Penance.
Much more grave than the obligation of justice towards the penitent is the obligation of religion due to the sacrament. The Catholic Encyclopaedia gives a brief explanation of the virtue of religion which essentially summarises the teaching of St Thomas Aquinas. (Summa Theologica 2a 2ae q.81) Religion is a moral virtue by which we give to God what is His due; it is, as St Thomas says, a part of justice. In the case of the sacrament of Penance, instituted by Christ, Fr Felix Cappello explains things well [my translation]:
By the very fact that Christ permitted, nay ordered, that all baptised sinners should use the sacrament and consequently make a secret confession, he granted an absolutely inviolable right, transcending the order of natural justice, to use this remedy. Therefore the knowledge which was their own before confession, after the communication made in confession, remains their own for every non-sacramental use, and that by a power altogether sacred, which no contrary human law can strike out, since every human law is of an inferior order: whence this right cannot be taken away or overridden by any means, or any pretext, or any motive.
The penitent confesses his sins to God through the priest. If the seal were to be broken under some circumstances, it would put people off the sacrament and thereby prevent them from receiving the grace that they need in order to repent and amend their lives. It would also, and far more importantly, obstruct the will of God for sinners to make use of the sacrament of Penance and thereby enjoy eternal life. The grace of the sacrament is absolutely necessary for anyone who commits a mortal sin. To mandate the violation of the seal is in effect to prohibit the practice of the Catholic faith. Some secular commentators have spoken of the seal of confession as being somehow a right or privilege of the priest. That is a preposterous misrepresentation: it is a sacred and inviolable duty that the priest must fulfil for the sake of the penitent and for the sake of God's will to redeem sinners.
A possibly misleading phrase in this context is where theologians say that the penitent is confessing his sins as if to God "ut Deo." (You can easily imagine secularists deriding the idea that the priest makes himself to be a god etc.) In truth, the penitent is confessing his sins before God. The priest acts as the minister of Christ in a sacred trust which he may not violate for any cause - precisely because he is not in fact God. By virtue of the penitent’s confession ut Deo, the priest absolves the penitent and, if mortal sin is involved, thereby readmits him to Holy Communion.
There will be more to follow on the sacrament of confession. As I mentioned in my previous post, this series is not intended as a guide for making a devout confession but rather as an introduction to some canonical and theological questions regarding the sacrament which have become important recently. (For a leaflet on how to make a good confession, see my parish website.)
I have been told that the threat in Ireland to introduce a law compelling priests to violate the seal of confession has been withdrawn, at least for the time being. Nevertheless, I will continue with these posts because I think that the Irish proposal will be picked up by other secularists and may pose a problem for us. Further posts will look at the proper place, time and vesture for hearing confessions, one or two more particular crimes in canon law, the question of jurisdiction and the much misused expression “Ecclesia supplet”, and, of course, what to do if the civil authority tries to compel a priest to break the seal.
So you tell me what you think Jesus meant and I will tell you if I agree with you or not...
“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.”
James 3:1
How do you determine if a person has the gift of teaching???
Have you ever noticed that without any mention of Paul or his epistles, the Bible is one continual Book of Prophecy concerning Israel, their Messiah, and their being a kingdom of priests to the nations (gentiles)? Only in Romans through Philemon do things change, a Body is formed, and Grace and the free gift of God is told. His writings are called The Mystery, hid in God since the beginning of the world. Meaning no one knew these things until they were revealed to Paul by the risen Christ.
Is that some of that God ordained logic???
Did I claim it to be?
Jas 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
Jas 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
So which is it??? We may receive greater condemnation, OR, we receive no condemnation???
Are you trying to teach the bible???
I am close to your assessment. The consuming Fire in 1 Peter is at the end of the millennium correct?
But like I said, what a book...There is not another on the face of the earth like it...
No you're not. A lot of Born Again Christians understand there are different dispensations, or economies. The easiest example to understand is the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Understanding that different books were written to people on different sides of an economy is not that hard to see.
BTW thanks for your informative posts and the Scripture you quote.
It is probably easier to determine who doesn't.
Now that’s interesting. How do you determine who doesn’t have the gift of teaching, Judith Anne? What criteria do you use in order to make that determination?
It is actually those who truly follow Christ that are the ones who really get mocked in this world - they have Christian humility within them to pray for those who do not listen to be given ears to listen rather than saying they deserve to be mocked
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:10
Yes...
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Sorry, I’m not interested in game playing.
Since I’m Catholic and since I consider the magisterium to be the teaching authority of the Catholic Church, perhaps you can deduce how I determine who does and does not have the gift of teaching. Did you expect me to say something else? If you did not, why did you ask?
Other than that, I’m not playing your silly games.
They knew exactly what was happening and what would happen next. "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh..." Acts 2:16-21.
The Spirit had been poured out and they were awaiting the next part of the prophecy to be fulfilled: that "great and notable day of the Lord." His return. But that did not happen.
And in Hebrews we once again pick up where the 12 left off, Israel looking for Messiah to return. Especially in 2 Peter.
What happened during this parenthesis in God's prophecy? Paul. The Church the Body of Christ. The Dispensation of the Grace of God. The One New Man. The Mystery hid in God since the foundation of the world. The heavenly position of believers.
It's just so beautifully laid out. For anyone who cares to study, it's there.
Your posts continue proclaiming your theology while decrying theology, and making errors distinguishing it from philosophy.
It is a nonsensical approach.
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