I wonder if they have a double-secret-probation-style super-duper mortal sin category for presenting oneself to receive Communion while in a state of mortal sin./s
Did I use the “/s” correctly? I wanted to convey the fact that I don’t really wonder that.
Looks like that’s true of the sacrament of reconciliation too.
Again, who has said that? A subsent of the USCCB (not a doctrinal body) has put on the agenda for future discussion a policy that might bar Biden from Communion. It’s not going to happen, for reasons that have been explained in this and other threads.
It has not been claimed that raping children is not a sin. It has not been said that “[r]epeatedly and purposely sheltering and transferring people have and continue to rape children” is not a sin.
You want a serious explanation, open a thread outside the Pit. And I’ll be happy to reply, to the best of my ability. I’m not exactly an authority on this stuff, just an ordinary Catholic, with some Catholic education. And there are (infrequent) posters here at SDMB who explain this stuff way better than I can, so you might get a helpful answer.
I will say that it’s not as simple as “say ten Hail Marys and you’re off the hook for everything.” Certainly that’s a penance that might be given to a child, but absolution is not given in the absence of real repentance and a real intent to correct and make up for one’s sinful behavior. Or at least it shouldn’t be, and isn’t, in my (obviously limited) experience.
I’m genuinely ignorant about these things, and am looking for clarity. I think this is how it goes - please correct my mistakes.
If a priest rapes a child, that’s a mortal sin, and he can be denied communion if anyone finds out.
If the priest goes to confession, confesses his sin of rape, and then undertakes the required sacrament of penance, he may then take communion. I think probably he must swear to never do such a thing again.
If he rapes again, he must do the penance again and then swear (again) that he will never do such a thing again.
If he does it again, see above.
If he does it again, see above.
If he does it again, see above.
It seems that this is what has occurred in the past…
That seems to have worked well, considering the many serial abusers who committed the same mortal sins again and again, and were forgiven by the Church again and again.
And here’s the thing. Biden never had an abortion. As far as I know, he never counselled any woman to have an abortion. He never performed an abortion.
But these guy are saying, literally, that believing in a woman’s right to make that decision for herself is far worse that raping children.
You found two stories about the same priest, who sounds like a moron to me, and another about another priest who would deny communion to politicians who work for legal abortion but does not, apparently, to laicized priests who were child abusers, or to a bishop being investigated for child sexual abuse.
Where in those stories does anyone make the claim that child sexual abuse is not a mortal sin? It is. I’m hardly claiming otherwise. If you can find an actual cite of someone (or at least someone whose opinion counts) saying that child sexual abuse is not a mortal sin, well, I’ll be astounded. I don’t think you can. Because nobody sane is saying that.
Note that, in cases where a sin is also a crime, the required penance for the sin in the Sacrament of Reconciliation typically includes the sinner turning himself in to the civil authorities.
Here’s where I’m confused. If nobody finds out, he can still take communion. He’s not denied it. If he goes ahead and does it anyway… Yes, he’s committing more sin. sort of sin piled on sin… And THEN if he’s found out, undertakes the required sacrament of penance, he may then take communion.
And again.
And again.
And again.
There does not seem to be a whole lot of consequences for him. Even if he “gets away” with the rapes and the sin of taking communion while not in grace, then he just needs to do a deathbed confession and penance and he’s good to go.