Oh, a tough guy. Are you going to scratch our eyes out?
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.
Many times.
Galatians 1: 11...Galatians 2
I understand that this is what Paul says here to the Galatians. Remember that Paul cannot get the account of his conversion consistent either.
And please provide any Scriptural or historical evidence that Peter ever went to Rome.
Right after you show me the Scriptural or historical evidence that Paul spent the majority of his time evangelizing the Gentiles, that he converted the first Gentile, or was the first Apostle to cure sickness or raise someone from the dead.
Act 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
OK Sun Day school teacher...Tell us what it means...
Tell you what: I will let http://www.searchgodsword.org/desk/?query=ac+24:14&translation=nsn&st=1&new=1&sr=1 do the translating for me:
The NAS Strong's Version
Book of Acts
Chapter 24 - Read Chapter
24:14 - [In Context|Original Greek] "But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;
I don't know if you read misleading translations of the Bible and then wandered on over to the heresies that you post regularly, or were taught heresy and then selected misleading translations in order to support them. Can you fill us in on the details?
You wrote:
“So we, along with Jesus are just going to float around the universe for eternity, eh???”
Nope, nor did I suggest anything like that. Care to distort more of what I said? It’s what you usually do anyway.
“I don’t buy it...Jesus says he is going, to prepare a place for us...He certainly doesn’t have to prepare,,,nothing...”
I never said anything in this thread about “nothing”. It just isn’t a physical place. There won’t be a big mansion.
Oh, a tough guy. Are you going to scratch our eyes out?
No doubt God is retaining you as supervising architect.
D00d! That happens to me too. Like, when I see myself in a mirror...
Distinguo: There’s coming FROM, and there’s coming THROUGH.
God’s Word is the FINAL AUTHORITY.
I love the juxtaposition of your two statements. I gave 5 quotations from Scripture. I guess that we cannot take anything else that you say seriously either.
If you don’t believe that - it’s not wise to use it to suite your own agenda.
I don't see you in a position to advise anyone about Christianity - you ought to be Christian first.
Post your catechism - that’s where the RCC’s beliefs come from.
I occasionally do when the lies about Catholicism mount. However, I overwhelmingly post Scripture. In context, not just snippets. I am not Paulian. I am Christian.
Interested in joining up?
The Catholics are different from you and me.
Yeah. That’s why the triduum properly begins on Thu evening, “that last night”.
Lame beyond measure... nothing justifies or excuses those comments....n-o-t-h-i-n-g!
Jesus rises sometime Saturday night, the time is not specified, and the women come to the tomb on Sunday morning, the first day of the Jewish week, with the spices they prepared on what we consider Friday, the day between the Passover Sabbath (Thursday), and the regular weekly Sabbath (Saturday).
Wow, just wow. I knew that you guys had departed from Christianity, but I did not realize how far. Well, I will post the link http://www.letusreason.org/doct10.htm which explains the whole deal as to days and nights and so on from the Jewish perspective.
It is the magnitude of departure that so often surprises me. Almost to the extent that Mormonism departs...
Oh, okay. Thanks, Judge Caww.
We have the extended version and the kids watch it regularly. It's funny to hear them quote it - they are very astute and quote it as a commentary or adjunct to the current conversation. God has blessed me with the most wonderful children and the best wife in the world, even though I am definitely undeserving of them.
That's accurate but that's not heaven...The state of being is changed before one sets one foot in heaven...
The first must occur previous to the second. Since Heaven is out of time, there is no duration while in Heaven (sounds weird). Eternity is, well, eternal. For us, now, there is a succession of time because that is how we were created. The saved become new beings in Christ. No sin may enter Heaven. The sin must be eradicated or burned up as if by fire. Then we step into Eternity.
Pro 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
Then He must delight in my little contributions. You have repeatedly claimed that that it is in Paul that we find Christianity, not the Gospels.
Let’s just review:
Metmom states she will never be Catholic, Catholics may not even be Christians, Catholics mistreated her the whole time she was growing up, she has no love for the Catholic Church, because when she was a little girl, some Catholics offended her. Not only that, she goes into great detail about how all things Catholic are wrong theologically, scripturally, and personally.
I say, I’m glad she’s not Catholic, and I hope she never becomes one, because I wouldn’t want to prepare and serve the meals for the poor with her, and somehow, that’s bad of ME?
Well, kinda, sorta. Our Judgement will not depend on anyone's actions or inactions but our own.
At my church 25% of our congregation are former RC's. In the end most say it was the teaching of a different gospel that got them to leave.At my church its over 70% former Catholics.
Christians will not stay where heresy is taught. Look at your own experience, as you began to realize that the RCC teaches a different gospel and it's doctrines were not consistent with Scripture you ultimately felt compelled to leave.BINGO!
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