I know that we are to go to confession so our sins are forgiving, yet my question is this: What if a "catholic" is so used to doing this as he/she grows up that it's just a "thing" you yo to be forgiven? Anotherwords here is one who is a baptised Catholic, and understands that in order to be "forgiven" they have to go to confession, yet inside they are not TRULY sorry and are not repentive only they fool the priest into believing this so they may hear the words "you are forgive" only for a good conscience and soon after return to the old sin?

That seems to me that God would not be forgiving them through the priest because of the hidden unrepentive heart.

I also am wondering if a practicing Catholic who goes to confessions for mortal sins, commits one and attempts to go to confession but before he/she is there dies in a car accident? Is he/she still forgiving if he/she was truly sorry and was seeking penace?

-- Jason (Enchantedfire5@yahoo.com), December 31, 2004

Answers

> "That seems to me that God would not be forgiving them through the priest because of the hidden unrepentive heart".

A: That is correct. Repentence is necessary for the forgiveness of serious sin. Going through the motions of confession does not result in absolution in the absence of true repentence.

> "I also am wondering if a practicing Catholic who goes to confessions for mortal sins, commits one and attempts to go to confession but before he/she is there dies in a car accident? Is he/she still forgiven if he/she was truly sorry and was seeking penace?"

A: Yes, he is, if he has true repentence and is taking specific steps to confess. Not only in the case you mentioned, where he is killed while on the way to the church, but also if he has made a firm commitment to go to confession tomorrow during the normal hours the Sacrament is administered, but dies in his sleep. We do have to be careful about relying on this principle though. Maybe a friend calls with free tickets to a big game for tomorrow, so I decide to go to confession next saturday instead. I still feel sorry for my sins and I still have full intent to confess, but procrastination or giving other things a higher priority than confession of serious sin is a dangerous practice. Am I still forgiven if I go to the game tomorrow, but fully intend to confess the following week, but die before then? I don't know. That's why it is dangerous.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), December 31, 2004.

Thanks Paul M.

-- Jason (Enchantedfire5@yahoo.com), January 01, 2005.