Does a Roman Catholic priest have to intellectually understand a confession in order to grant absolution?
score:4
There are several aspects to be considered here. The first situation is the general obligation of confessing grave sins. This is addressed in Canon Law, No. 960:
"Individual and integral confession and absolution constitute the only ordinary means by which a member of the faithful conscious of grave sin is reconciled with God and the Church. Only physical or moral impossibility excuses from confession of this type; in such a case reconciliation can be obtained by other means."
The lack of a common language between penitent and confessor would enter into the category of a "physical or moral impossibility" which would excuse either the obligation of confession or its integrity, and allow for reconciliation to be obtained by other means.
In the present case we would be dealing with the confessor making a prudential judgment that the penitent is excused in virtue of a physical and moral impossibility and presuming the latter's sincerity in manifesting those sins confessed in his native language.
Thus in this particular situation the sacrament would be valid.
However, canon law does foresee the possibility of confessing by using an interpreter, although the penitent may not be obliged to do so. To wit: "Canon 990: No one is prohibited from confessing through an interpreter as long as abuses and scandals are avoided and without prejudice to the prescript of can. 983, ยง2."
Canon 983, ยง2, requires absolute secrecy on the part of the interpreter analogous to the priest's sacramental seal: "The interpreter, if there is one, and all others who in any way have knowledge of sins from confession are also obliged to observe secrecy."
The violation of the secrecy of confession by an interpreter may be punished by the imposition of a canonical penalty not excluding excommunication (see Canon 1388, ยง2).
An interpreter need have only a sufficient command of the two languages involved and requires no official certificates of competence.
You can read more here.
More post
- ๐ What is the role and significance of Zion in Christianity?
- ๐ What is the difference between Baptism and Confirmation in the Catholic Church?
- ๐ What is the earliest example of the concept of Total Depravity?
- ๐ How do the rites for a first and second marriage (after death of a spouse) differ in the Orthodox Church?
- ๐ What is the earliest extrabiblical teaching of baptism using a trinitarian formula?
- ๐ Is there biblical basis for the claim that Pilate had no choice?
- ๐ What insights can be derived from the Protoevangelium regarding God's plan of Salvation, specifically in relation to the concept of election?
- ๐ C.S. Lewis's petitionary prayer paradox
- ๐ What is the significance of the names of the 4 rivers in the Garden of Eden?
- ๐ What's is the case for premarital sex being an instance of ฯฮฟฯฮฝฮตฮฏฮฑ (p**neia)?
- ๐ Are there legitimate saints not documented in western hagiology?
- ๐ 1 Thessalonians 1:4, how is the chronological order according to Calvinism?
- ๐ Was there ever a version of the Apostles creed that had the words "Holy Christian Church" in it?
- ๐ Why does the Messiah have to be God?
- ๐ John 1:18 - "No one has ever seen God" - How do Trinitarians reconcile this scripture with the belief that the Lord Jesus Christ is God?
- ๐ What did Mary and Joseph do with the gold, frankincense, and myrrh?
- ๐ Israel without spears and the value of a shekel
- ๐ How do young earth creationists reconcile the age of the universe with the speed of light, and visible distant objects?
- ๐ How long was Jesus's ministry?
- ๐ When were Protestants first called 'Protestants' and what were they, originally, protesting about?
- ๐ Are (or were) sacraments necessary for salvation in the Catholic religion?
- ๐ How is excommunication handled during an interregnum?
- ๐ Why does the Fifth Ode (Prayer of Isaiah) begin at verse 9 and end at verse 20?
- ๐ Which medieval theologian said fornication with a more beautiful woman is less sinful?
- ๐ Does the Catholic Church allow annulments in the case of infertility?
- ๐ Clarifications on "Temporal Predestination"
- ๐ Is the Hypostatic Union a contradiction?
- ๐ What is the basis for seeing Christ's words in the Gospels as part of the New Covenant?
- ๐ How can a non-Catholic get into state of grace as understood by the Catholic Church?
- ๐ What are the biblical arguments that if you sin you lose your salvation as soon as you sin?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- ๐ Does a Roman Catholic priest have to intellectually understand a confession in order to grant absolution?
- ๐ Does a Catholic have recourse if a priest gives a ridiculously harsh or impossible penance?
- ๐ Does the Roman Catholic Church have a daily Bible reading?
- ๐ According to Roman Catholic doctrine, why does Mary refer to God as her Savior if she was born without sin?
- ๐ What does the Roman Catholic church teach about those who die having never heard of Christ?
- ๐ When did Mary and Joseph learn that they were never supposed to have marital relations, according to Roman Catholic doctrine?
- ๐ Does Catholic doctrine teach that the Incarnation would have taken place regardless of Adam's decision?
- ๐ Why does the Roman Catholic Church not hold to the perspicuity of Scripture?
- ๐ How does the Catholic Church understand the priesthood of all believers?
- ๐ How does a Roman Catholic reconcile a preference for purely procreative sex with the Song of Solomon?
- ๐ Where does the Catholic tradition that Mary did not have pain giving birth to Jesus come from?
- ๐ Does the priest have the power to forgive sins?
- ๐ Why does the Roman Catholic Church consider beatification of the pope?
- ๐ Does the Roman Catholic church recognize marriages outside of the church?
- ๐ Does one have to admit to not being a virgin when preparing for a Catholic wedding?
- ๐ Why does only the priest receive Communion under both kinds at a Catholic Mass?
- ๐ According to Roman Catholic doctrine, does the incorruptible body possess blood?
- ๐ Does the Roman Catholic church consider HIPAA to be an unjust law?
- ๐ Does Roman Catholic doctrine recognize a moral distinction or difference between abortion and birth control?
- ๐ From the perspective of Roman Catholicism, what do Orthodox churches have to do to become "Eastern Catholic Churches"?
- ๐ Does Roman Catholic Church recognize some Eastern Orthodox Saints?
- ๐ How does Swedenborgianism understand Amos 3:2, "You only have I known of all the families of the earth"?
- ๐ Eating of which non-fish animals does not go against the dietery law of the Roman Catholic Church?
- ๐ According to Roman Catholic Doctrine, what things have the power to decrease a person's time in purgatory?
- ๐ What impact did Karl Barth have on Roman Catholic theology?
- ๐ Apart from Milan is there any other Roman Catholic place where Lent does not start on Ash Wednesday?
- ๐ Does the Catholic Church have a contingency plan for the case that the pope and all cardinals are dead?
- ๐ According to Catholic doctrine, what effect does the Last Judgment have on those who are already in heaven?
- ๐ According to Roman Catholic Doctrine, does everyone spend time in purgatory?
- ๐ How does a person become a godparent in the Roman Catholic Church?