general absolution

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if a priest can do a general absolution,why can't I do a general confession for my brother? for eg, lets say i know that my bro lie alot or watch porno film, can I got to confession and at the same time tell the priesst "my bro has sinned " and i named the sin ?

-- james (james_how@hotmail.com), March 01, 2005

Answers

Response to general absulotion

Well I can think of at least 6 reasons off the top of my head:

1. Because any absolution, general or individual, can only occur after the sinner presents himself in person to the priest, personally expresses sorrow for his sins, and personally asks for forgiveness. YOU can't express HIS sorrow. Only he can.

2. From the sound of it your brother is continuing to commit these sins and doesn't wish to confess them himself, so he is obviously not sorry for them.

3. Because the Church allows general absolution only under rare circumstances (eg if there are hundreds of people wanting to confess who may die soon, and there is only one priest).

4. Because you've got no business naming someone else's sins in Confession. If it WERE your brother's confession, you would be guilty of breaking the seal of confession.

5. Because the priest has to personally give him his penance. You can't convey it to him.

6. Because your brother obviously needs spiritual advice.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), March 01, 2005.


Response to general absulotion

Steve, very good answer. But what about in Luke 5:20 where Jesus said, "And when he saw their faith he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you"? The paralyzed man did not ask for forgiveness.

-- Davis (Hello@There.com), March 02, 2005.

Response to general absulotion

Davis, unlike a parish priest today, Jesus was able to read the man's mind. Jesus knew what his sins were, and he could tell that the man was sorry for them.

Steve, another excellent post. Keep up the good work.

-- (coriolanus@lordstown.com), March 02, 2005.


Response to general absulotion

This man came before Jesus asking to be made whole. Jesus could read men's hearts. Certainly this man must have had a repentant heart, or the forgiveness Jesus offered him would have been meaningless. It was not necessary for the man to verbally express his desire either for physical healing or for spiritual healing, because his innermost desires and the state of his heart were already known to Jesus. This is not the case when one of us approaches a priest for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Also, Jesus was using this moment as an opportunity to do much more than forgive and heal one man. He was taking this opportunity to reveal to all present that He was in fact God.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), March 02, 2005.

James, sorry I omitted to look at the positive side to your question. It's great that you are concerned about your brother's spiritual welfare. What you CAN do is to 1. Pray for him and 2. TELL him you are concerned about the state of his soul and encourage him to repent of his sins and confess them. He may be waiting for someone to ask him.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), March 06, 2005.


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