Confession

18 06, 2021

Excommunicated After Abortion?

By Father David Nix|2021-06-20T18:58:30+00:00June 18th, 2021|Theology|

This blog is a reference to this video and this podcast released the same day. Since Apostolic days (1 Jn 5:17) the Catholic Church has delineated between venial sin and mortal sin. In the category of mortal sin, there are four sins that cry to heaven for vengeance. A small percentage of mortal sins also carry the weight of ex-communication (being cut off from the Church.) Canonically speaking, latae sententiae (automatic) excommunications are divided into “reserved” and “unreserved.” The former are reserved to the Apostolic Penitentiary, while the unreserved (e.g. elective abortion) are under the jurisdiction of the local ordinary. Some canonists say a person must know he is doing an ex-communicable [...]

18 06, 2021

TCE 22: Lifting of Excommunication After Abortion
TCE 22: Lifting of Excommunication After Abortion

TCE 22: Lifting of Excommunication After Abortion

By Father David Nix|2021-06-18T16:39:44+00:00June 18th, 2021|Podcasts, Sermons, Talks|

Theology and Current Events 22 is on various types of excommunication. It also delves into how and why a priest can lift the excommunication incurred by abortion, but not other reserved sins. LATIN ABSOLUTION: "Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus, et, dimissis peccatis tuis perducat te ad vitam aeternam. Amen. Indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remissionem peccatorum tuorum, tribuat tibi omnipotens et misericors Dominus. Amen. Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat: et ego auctoritate ipsius te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis, suspensionis, et interdicti, in quantum possum, et tu indiges. Deinde ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis, in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen." ENGLISH ABSOLUTION: "God, the Father of mercies, through [...]

23 02, 2021

Scrupulous Conscience vs. Sensitive Conscience
Scrupulous Conscience vs. Sensitive Conscience

Scrupulous Conscience vs. Sensitive Conscience

By Father David Nix|2021-02-23T17:39:02+00:00February 23rd, 2021|Theology|

Imagine if St. Francis of Assisi were alive today. Imagine he walked into an average Catholic Church and confessed his sins. I fear the average priest would laugh at him and call him "scrupulous." But this would be a big mistake. A man's venial sins are a big deal in the eyes of God, and while no priest should be hard on people for their venial sins (nor mortal sins except extremely rare occasions) a priest should believe a penitent's accusations against herself. (A penitent is the person confessing her sins and the confessor is the priest hearing penitents' confessions, usually in a confessional box.) A priest should never [...]

19 08, 2018