BLOG POST | Hey Deacon!

Can someone who is not Catholic go to Confession?

Two weekends ago I was with 15 young men (along with three priests, another deacon, and Bishop Rice) who visited Conception Abbey Seminary College. These young men were open to learning more about college seminarian life and the possibility that God might be calling them to the priesthood. On our road trip back, we had a few faith questions, one being if a non-Catholic can go to a priest for confession.

It was good to listen to the dialogue between these young men. I jumped into the conversation and asked them first to explain the sacrament. Collectively they agreed that the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession, Penance) is a sacrament of healing and mercy. And while many non-Catholics may disagree with Catholic teaching on the need to confess their sins to a priest, there are those who struggle with guilt, shame, and/or distress. They desire to speak with a priest for guidance and spiritual direction.

That begs the questions, “What about the Seal of Confession? Does it exist between a priest and a non-Catholic? Can a priest offer them absolution?”

Whether a penitent is Catholic or not, a priest cannot break the Seal of Confession. A priest-penitent confidentiality privilege forbids a priest from making known the sins he hears in Confession. If a priest does expose the sins of a penitent by word, sign, or any other matter, he would be immediately excommunicated and can only be brought back into communion with the Church by the pope himself. So even if the person going to Confession is not Catholic, what he or she says remains completely confidential.

When it comes to a priest offering absolution, sacramental grace can only be given to Catholics. The reason why is because the non-Catholic confessor does not have a covenant relationship with the Church through baptism and holy communion. The point of going to Confession is not just about the forgiveness and absolution of sins, but the reintegration of the person into communion with the Church. If a person is not Catholic and does not desire to be Catholic, they do not desire this integrated communion with the Church. (There is the exception when a non-Catholic is in danger of death or in a serious situation. It is in these instances that a priest can offer absolution, but this is rare.)

In summary, a non-Catholic cannot be absolved of their sins because he/she is not in a full covenant relationship with the Catholic Church. A non-Catholic can go to Confession for the spiritual counseling they seek and that in itself is a good thing.




Author Bio:
Deacon Dan Vaughn