Pope unleashes 'super confessors' to tackle special sins

Yahoo News ^ | 10 Feb 16 | Ella Ide

[SkyPilot]

Dubbed 'super confessors', for one year only they can absolve sins usually only pardoned by the pope himself.

And on Wednesday over 1,000 of these "missionaries of mercy", handpicked by Pope Francis, were sent forth to win back the hearts of those who have left the Catholic Church and open the door to repentant sinners across the world.

There are certain evils the Vatican ranks above other sins, from attempting to assassinate the pope to defiling the Eucharist -- the rite of consuming consecrated bread and wine in Church -- by spitting it out or using it in a Satanic ritual.

Since the 12th century, those guilty of these so-called "reserved sins" had their cases evaluated by a secret tribunal in the tiny Vatican city state before they were sent before the pope, who would determine an appropriate penance.

Now, 1,142 priests and monks from around the world have be given the power, for the Vatican's Jubilee Year, to forgive sinners in their flocks -- and possibly fellow priests as one of the special sins is breaking the seal of confession.

Maltese Franciscan Marcello Ghirlando, 53, told AFP he thought giving the 'super confessors' authority usually reserved for the man in white was "a symbolic gesture" to show people the Church is ready to wipe slates clean.

"I think the pope wants to insist that 'listen, God is always going to forgive us if we turn to him with a clean heart, with a repentant heart'," he said with a grin, adding that he was relishing the challenge of bringing people back to church.

[naturalman1975]

Thank you.

Yes, I have noticed some interesting attitudes concerning the Catholic Church here at times - and concerning the Church of England too. Personally, I feel we are all Christians together regardless of which Church we are part of, or even if we stand outside any Church - and I am disappointed to see people attacking others who share the fundamental belief in God the Father, and Christ the Son and Saviour. I was happy in the Church of England - and spiritually still would be, but it’s a very political Church, connected to secular politics and I can’t deal with some of the secular positions it is taking. The Catholic Church matches my faith, and gives me a structure that I find helps me to live with God - without political baggage I find too problematic.

But I regard people of any denomination as my Brothers and Sisters in Christ - and wish that they could see that too. God loves us all.

[DH]

Do you know of any religion where money is not involved?

Members of a religion are “ customers “. They pay MONEY to the church for various reasons. Without the money most churches would not exist.

How did the Catholic church become the richest church on earth? I guess most non-catholics can figure out how.