The Seal of Confession and The Virtue of Religion

The Hermeneutic of Continuity ^ | 8/17/11 | Fr. Tim Finnigan

[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.

[Iscool]

“I shall give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.”

What are the keys to the kingdom of heaven???

[Iscool]

“I shall give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.”

What are the keys to the kingdom of heaven???

[Natural Law]

"Oh! Extremely well played!"

Just seeking, a little wistfully, for the dramatic turbulence of some irrecoverable football game.

[Iscool]

As Jesus also says, “that the gates of hell shall not prevail” Does that sound to you that the keys were given to Peter to keep for himself, or to be passed down.

Peter wasn't given the keys to hell...Don't you read the bible??? Peter and the disciples were given the keys to the kingdom of God...

And what, you think the keys are literal keys??? Does the kingdom of heaven had a padlock on it???

Keys represent an office, founded by Christ, with Peter as the first.

It is not...Your catechism even tells you that Jesus built his church on a rock and your catechism defines this rock as the profession of Peter, not Peter himself...

So now the office of Peter opens the gates of hell???

Why would he not act in accordance to God’s wishes? Your argument as it boils down to, is that Christ gave this power to the Apostles, and the Apostles only. Why would he do that?

It's far better than your argument...Jesus said he would forgive all who will come to him...Why would Jesus give anyone the authority to refuse to forgive someone when Jesus will forgive all...

It just doesn't seem to occur to you guys that your religion's private interpretation of the verses could be wrong...But Jesus show us that you are...

[bkaycee]

“I shall give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.”

What are the keys to the kingdom of heaven???

The Key to the Kingdom IS the GOSPEL of GRACE, that opens the door to heaven for anyone who believes!

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

[Alex Murphy]

there is no need to try to trash an entire group, boatbums, all of the protestants are apparently taking responsibility for the inflammatory keywords since the one who did it is keeping silent.

There's no need, IOW, because it's already being done.

[MarkBsnr]

I find it ironic beyond belief that a Catholic would put the words of Paul above the words of Jesus for just this one situation, considering the scathing indictment of Paul by the Catholics on this forum and how they make a hierarchy of Scripture, elevating the words of Jesus above all else.

Let us see what Jesus said in:

Luke 24:45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.x 46* And he said to them,y “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day

Without good interpretation of Scripture, how can you tell what apparent discrepencies mean? Answer: whatever Luther's any milkmaid can dream up.

[Quix]

Soooooooooo,

RC's don't believe in a literal

NEW JERUSALEM

COMING DOWN TO EARTH roughly 1500 miles square?

NOR A LITERAL HEAVEN?

I guess they just believe in a literal Ishtar Mary Goddess figure's lap along with rubberized 'bibles' and daffynitionaries?

Sigh.

The cubic version's size is all outta whack--not 1500 miles square/cubic. Nevertheless, it's an interesting illustration. I suspecct the hovering aspect may well turn out to be true. Time will tell. And evidently not that much more of it.

This is not a pyramid form yet certainly the pyramid form would also fit the Scriptural description. Yet, the idea that the New Jerusalem will be cubic from the Holy of Holies is a reasonable inference.

Then there's all the pagan pyramids. Are they copying something of God's or is God hostile to such? We shall see.

As Randy Alcorn illustrates in 400 pages or more in his HEAVEN . . . those who fail to believe in a literal Heaven coming down to a cleansed earth simply do NOT BELIEVE SCRIPTURE.

The very clear Scriptures and the very plain logic are rock solid and plentiful.

[Quix]

Forgiveness

vs recognizing satanic error and forsaking the latter

are TWO VERY DIFFERENT things.

[Quix]

SAVING THAT TREASURE.

And what awesome faith to address it as you did.

[MarkBsnr]

If you think God delights in that, you're in for a big surprise...

Speaking for God again?

Is that what you teach those Sun Day School kids as well???

We teach them Christianity. And for that, when do we see an Iscool blanket condemnation regarding the overwhelming majority of Protestants who attend Sunday service?

Nicea really bugs you, doesn't it?

[metmom]

As Jesus also says, “that the gates of hell shall not prevail” Does that sound to you that the keys were given to Peter to keep for himself, or to be passed down.

Don't read too much into it. If it's not there it can't be presumed to be implied.

God overrides some fallible human priest. The verses the Catholic church keeps appealing to do not justify their doctrinal position.

I don't need a man to whom I am obligated to confess to to tell me what I can read in the plain and clear reading of Scripture.

I am forgiven in Christ. In Christ I am adopted into God's family, becoming His child FOREVER. God has imputed to me Christ's righteousness so that He can not charge me with sin.

The problem the Catholic church has is that if they teach the forgiveness that is ours in Christ by going to Him alone, there is no need for the priesthood. Their whole reason for existence comes crumbling down.

They have no control over people who know they are free in Christ.

[BenKenobi]

“Peter wasn’t given the keys to hell...Don’t you read the bible? Peter and the disciples were given the keys to the kingdom of God.”

Yes, sure was.

“And what, you think the keys are literal keys??? Does the kingdom of heaven had a padlock on it?”

Well I believe that Jesus said so, no? I am the door?

“It is not”

Yes it is. That’s what a key means.

“Your catechism even tells you that Jesus built his church on a rock”

Yes, on a rock, petros.

“and your catechism defines this rock as the profession of Peter, not Peter himself”

Uh, no. Not my catechism.

“So now the office of Peter opens the gates of hell??”

Isn’t that what binding and loosing means?

“It’s far better than your argument. Jesus said he would forgive all who will come to him. Why would Jesus give anyone the authority to refuse to forgive someone when Jesus will forgive all.”

Uh yeah, those who come to him. Those who reject him go to hell, no?

“It just doesn’t seem to occur to you guys that your religion’s private interpretation”

Uh, it’s not private. It’s been this way forever. Your intepretation is both novel and private, though.

“But Jesus show us that you are.”

Not according to what Jesus says in the bible.

[BenKenobi]

“Don’t read too much into it. If it’s not there it can’t be presumed to be implied.”

Yeah, it’s pretty directly stated. Christ built his church and his church was there in the beginning, and it still here now. Or was Jesus a liar?

“God overrides some fallible human priest.”

Indeed, the sacrament administered is effective even if the priest is not. However, the power of the sacrament still works through the priest.

“The verses the Catholic church keeps appealing to do not justify their doctrinal position.”

According to whom? You?

“I don’t need a man”

Last I checked Jesus was a man.

“I am forgiven in Christ. In Christ I am adopted into God’s family, becoming His child FOREVER. God has imputed to me Christ’s righteousness so that He can not charge me with sin.”

So once saved, always saved? Interesting. Sadly, not a scriptural position, as Paul says himself.

“The problem the Catholic church has is that if they teach the forgiveness that is ours in Christ by going to Him alone, there is no need for the priesthood. Their whole reason for existence comes crumbling down.”

Quite nonsense. That Christ has entrusted them with the office of confession, is reason enough to exist. If the people do not themselves conform to the will of God, that says what? That the priests are not necessary? Or that the people have turned their eyes away from God.

“They have no control over people who know they are free in Christ.”

Nor over those who are alive in sin.

[count-your-change]

Amongst the many virtues of the AV, precision of meaning is not always found.
By way of example I give you John 5:28 where the AV uses the unmodified term “grave” whereas the greater sense is of a memorial, something erected to keep the memory or the departed hence a more useful and enlightening translation of the Greek would be something reflecting that nuance as “memorial tomb” or”remembrance grave or tomb”.

So I repeat: The AV have the tenses off as shown by subsequent events in Acts.

[stfassisi]

RC's don't believe in a literal NEW JERUSALEM

Wrong ,we know the New Jerusalem is the Catholic Church that will remain until the Kingdom is fully achieved

from the Catechism...

763 It was the Son's task to accomplish the Father's plan of salvation in the fullness of time. Its accomplishment was the reason for his being sent.160 "The Lord Jesus inaugurated his Church by preaching the Good News, that is, the coming of the Reign of God, promised over the ages in the scriptures."161 To fulfill the Father's will, Christ ushered in the Kingdom of heaven on earth. The Church "is the Reign of Christ already present in mystery."162

764 "This Kingdom shines out before men in the word, in the works and in the presence of Christ."163 To welcome Jesus' word is to welcome "the Kingdom itself."164 The seed and beginning of the Kingdom are the "little flock" of those whom Jesus came to gather around him, the flock whose shepherd he is.165 They form Jesus' true family.166 To those whom he thus gathered around him, he taught a new "way of acting" and a prayer of their own.167

765 The Lord Jesus endowed his community with a structure that will remain until the Kingdom is fully achieved. Before all else there is the choice of the Twelve with Peter as their head.168 Representing the twelve tribes of Israel, they are the foundation stones of the new Jerusalem.169 The Twelve and the other disciples share in Christ's mission and his power, but also in his lot.170 By all his actions, Christ prepares and builds his Church.

877 Likewise, it belongs to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry that it have a collegial character. In fact, from the beginning of his ministry, the Lord Jesus instituted the Twelve as "the seeds of the new Israel and the beginning of the sacred hierarchy."

From This Rock Article...http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9902chap.asp

Catholics acknowledge that the Church is spiritual Israel or, in Catholic parlance, the "new Israel" (cf. CCC 877). This too is indicated in Paul’s writings: In Romans 9:6 he says that "not all who are of Israel are Israel." This indicates the existence of two Israels. One—"all who are of Israel"—indicates the ethnic people, not all of whom believe in Jesus. The other Israel, the context reveals, does not include those who have rejected the Messiah. This new Israel, founded by Messiah, exists in spiritual continuity with the Old Testament saints and so counts as a "spiritual Israel." It includes Gentiles who believe in the Messiah and so through baptism are spiritually circumcised (Col. 2:11–12) and are reckoned as spiritual Jews (Rom. 2:26–29).

In his letter to the Ephesians Paul is even more explicit about the Gentiles’ spiritual inclusion when he states that "you Gentiles in the flesh . . . were [once] separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel . . . But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near . . . So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints" (2:11–13, 19).

Thus the Catholic Church, not being constrained by the new theological systems of dispensationalism and covenant theology, is able to avoid the extremes of both while it acknowledges the truths both contain—as it has since before either was invented.

[stfassisi]

Sorry,I meant to ping you and pinged the wrong person

[metmom]

Wrong ,we know the New Jerusalem is the Catholic Church that will remain until the Kingdom is fully achieved

Based on what? Certainly not Scripture.

Wishful thinking doesn't make it so.

[Quix]

GOODNESS!

I didn’t realize the RC’s were THAT far removed from Biblical truth.

Sheesh.

[Cronos]

Actually the ones against Biblical truth are your group that believes in 9/11 conspiracies, Raelian worship etc.