WHO SHOULD GO TO CONFESSION?

WHO SHOULD GO TO CONFESSION?
S

SNAP Latino

Registrant
When I was abused almost 25 yrs ago, I never thought about going to confession for what was done to me.
Should I have gone to confession then or should have the priest?
should I go now for what was done to me 25 years ago?
 
in my mind, we havent sinned, at least not as far as our abuse. we were the victim, and i see no reason to repent or confess. i know you are ashamed of what happened, so you feel this guilt and shame for it. it feels like you've sinned, but you havent. no, i dont think you need to confess. the sin was his.
 
snap (sorry, i could not recall your nic or your name :) ),
this is an area i feel confident about in responding because of the time i spent in the seminary studying theology. the sacrament of reconciliation is about reconciling self with the community of the faithful for willful, conscious behavior that one engages in that are contrary to the baptismal vow of the catholic christian life. in the eyes of God, you did not sin because you were a victim. we survivors struggle with so many things stemming from the abuse such as the confusion over the physiological arousal our bodies may have had that may have given credance to the lie that it was our choice because we responded. it was never our choice to be a victim, snap. the confusion is there because of the lies and the boundaries that our perps wantonly violated, but our Father understands far more than we do and he understands that we were not at fault. reconciliation is about acknowledging one's own willful transgressions against God and our faith community, it is not about reconciling guilt that was never ours. rest easy, my friend, and embrace your faith, for you are innocent of this evil.
 
Hell no you should not go to confession for what was a crime against you. The priest sinned mortally. If any sin saddens our God it is the abuse of his children.

The priest was 100% sinful--you were 100% a victim. Priests who sexually abuse a child abuse all one billion of us who are Catholics. No one can rape the Body of Christ and get by with it. The harm done to our Faith, to our youth, to our moral guidlines--all have been so harmed it will take at the least a generation before we get to a point where the spiritual harm does not drive people from God and the Church.

Have total serenity about that Tim. I can't imagine what a burden you have carried if you have felt that you were in the least responsible for your abuse.

Bob
 
Snap - the Perps should go to confession (as so few of them are locked up in jail).

I very much doubt that the Priest could issue them a suitable penance (and they are unlikely to wire the seat up to the mains).

You have nothing to confess - it is not your sin! I am not religious, but I know that!

Best wishes ..Rik
 
Snap - sorry - picked that up wrong there - didn't realise a 'priest' was your perp! Who would he confess to??

A priest either side of the confession box?

Still not your sin - nothing to confess!

Best wishes ..Rik
 
Johnny,

The only one that can confess for what has been done to you is the one that did it to you. You did not sin or do anything wrong, you were wronged and sinned upon.

If you feel the need to go to confession, go by all means and confess to the sins that you have committed, not those of others.

God Bless,
Bill
 
Good stuff Bill. If my neighbor teaches me to rob banks he needs to confess being a bank robber and teaching others. I can't blame him for every bank I rob. I need to sort through the bag of stuff that I drag around behind me. Doing this openly in the sight of a loving God, usually with a trusted nonjudgmental friend, is the only way I've been able to get free of anything. Does that make sense? Dan
 
I am Russian orthodox, so perhaps 'rules' are different. But it is my impression that 'confession' is simply that; for GUILTY people to confess their sins, and request atonement to be forgiven. Children who have been abused are not at all guilty of anything, therefore, confession is not for you, but for that person or persons who have harmed you.

leosha
 
Johnny,

I'm not a good Catholic, but I am one, and one of the basic beliefs I've always been taught was intent is the key to sin. Did you intend to commit the sin, and did you intend to inflict harm?

No to both.

Johnny, the others have it just right, YOU didn't do anything, therefore YOU are sinless in that regard. The piece of garbage who hides as a "man of God" should not only go to confession, but be consigned a million novenas and a direct confession to the law as his penance.

Even then, it will never be enough to cover HIS sin.

Johnny, you are blameless.

Peace and love,

Scot
 
Johnny,

I don't want to distract from the beautiful things that your brothers have said to you with regard to any guilt and shame that you may feel from being abused, but your Lead Line of, "Who Should Go To Confession," is a trigger for me.
You see, I'm the Lutheran kid who was abused by my 8th grade teacher and not long into that time of my life, he took me to Friday night confession. No, he didn't take me into the booth; I waited for him in the car in the parking lot. For all intents and purposes he was a good Catholic that night. What does that make of his priest? What is it,"Go, and sin no more." That one night has made me a brother eternal of SNAP. Do they EVER get jail time? Or is it a statute of limitations thing? Does God have a statute of limitation? How long of time is His?

Peace to you guys,

David
 
Snap
Should I have gone to confession then or should have the priest?
Click to expand...
No way should you go to confession for the sins of the priest,

When I was being raped in the basement of the Rectory the priest told me that GOD wanted me to do this for him, At that molment I knew that I beleived in a different God then Father Ryan. My God has help me through this long trip even through I do not beleive in the RC church. Tom
 
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