Okay just going to put it out there: What if a spouse cheats on the other spouse. I feel that the wronged spouse needs to know. If the two are to become one, how can they 'hide' from each other like that where the right hand is unaware of what the left hand does. Adultery isn't between the adulterer and God, it is between the adulterer, God and the other spouse. Even if you disagree with that 'the two shall become one' so by that very nature and union it extends to the wronged spouse. Also if a woman has an abortion and confesses the priest doesn't just end confession and say your penance is three Hail Marys. The priest and the woman talk about it very seriously as it is a grave issue. Now, bearing in mind that is okay because abortion involves the woman's body and a life within her which has been murdered. There is no 'chance' or option for the woman to sit down and ask for forgiveness from her murdered child. However in adultery there is. But the main point is: if the two are to be one how can an adulterer only keep it between them and God and not the wronged spouse? and wouldnt it be a sin to not tell the other spouse about it even if its been confessed because you're still hiding behind a lie- in the same way that confessing you killed someone doesnt bring them back to life and make everything alright. Please respond and I look forward to the answer. Its a lot to think about. Lastly, should you chose to respond please state where you have received your answer from as in which part of the Church's teachings, where they can be found etc. I always discredit responses that neglect to include concrete evidence because those responses are just as good as protestants living their faith through their opinion and how they feel on certain issues.
+Abe Reagan You need to understand the most basic premise of the seal. If their is no absolute seal, no one will confess. If your priest goes and tells your wife you cheated on them, then who is going to confess that sin? People, even non Catholics, go to confession because its the one guy in town you can tell and wont say anything. However, what did jesus do? Jesus let go the adulterous woman who was going to be stoned, but then he said "go, and leave your life of sin". so yes, he did not run and tell her husband, but he also didn't just let her off scott free. Similarly, going to confession doesn't get you off scott free. If you do something wrong, you need to fix it. if I steal a cake from you, You know what the priest will say? I owe you a cake. We call this "penance". Its self inflicted punishment. If i don't fix the wrong, then guess what? Gods going to know. If you hurt your spouse by cheating on them, then your priest likely will tell you to find a way to tell them. Confession has never existed to free those who have wronged society, loved ones, or most importantly, god. Its a place for them to go, accept guilt, probably the biggest hurdle, and then fix the problem. Whether that be something simple like praying a few our fathers (standard for small, venial sins) Or reporting yourself to the police for murder or rape. The seal does not let people go, free, It gives them a way out of their own walls they put around themselves to keep from accepting they did something wrong, excuses, ignoring the problem, etc, and to fix the problem. The priest, for the catholic in sin, is often the one who gets them to come out. People might be sent there back in the medieval period, and the priest would get them to confess. And as for sources, I'm getting it from one, experience, (sinner), I've went through penance before, and the sacrament of penances mere existence. Any man woman or child can be forgiven, but they must seek pardon, not on their own terms, but gods. www.newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm
The seal is upon the confessor, not the confessee
Okay just going to put it out there:
What if a spouse cheats on the other spouse.
I feel that the wronged spouse needs to know. If the two are to become one, how can they 'hide' from each other like that where the right hand is unaware of what the left hand does.
Adultery isn't between the adulterer and God, it is between the adulterer, God and the other spouse. Even if you disagree with that 'the two shall become one' so by that very nature and union it extends to the wronged spouse.
Also if a woman has an abortion and confesses the priest doesn't just end confession and say your penance is three Hail Marys. The priest and the woman talk about it very seriously as it is a grave issue.
Now, bearing in mind that is okay because abortion involves the woman's body and a life within her which has been murdered. There is no 'chance' or option for the woman to sit down and ask for forgiveness from her murdered child.
However in adultery there is.
But the main point is: if the two are to be one how can an adulterer only keep it between them and God and not the wronged spouse? and wouldnt it be a sin to not tell the other spouse about it even if its been confessed because you're still hiding behind a lie- in the same way that confessing you killed someone doesnt bring them back to life and make everything alright. Please respond and I look forward to the answer. Its a lot to think about.
Lastly, should you chose to respond please state where you have received your answer from as in which part of the Church's teachings, where they can be found etc. I always discredit responses that neglect to include concrete evidence because those responses are just as good as protestants living their faith through their opinion and how they feel on certain issues.
+Abe Reagan You need to understand the most basic premise of the seal. If their is no absolute seal, no one will confess. If your priest goes and tells your wife you cheated on them, then who is going to confess that sin? People, even non Catholics, go to confession because its the one guy in town you can tell and wont say anything. However, what did jesus do? Jesus let go the adulterous woman who was going to be stoned, but then he said "go, and leave your life of sin". so yes, he did not run and tell her husband, but he also didn't just let her off scott free. Similarly, going to confession doesn't get you off scott free. If you do something wrong, you need to fix it. if I steal a cake from you, You know what the priest will say? I owe you a cake. We call this "penance". Its self inflicted punishment. If i don't fix the wrong, then guess what? Gods going to know. If you hurt your spouse by cheating on them, then your priest likely will tell you to find a way to tell them. Confession has never existed to free those who have wronged society, loved ones, or most importantly, god. Its a place for them to go, accept guilt, probably the biggest hurdle, and then fix the problem. Whether that be something simple like praying a few our fathers (standard for small, venial sins) Or reporting yourself to the police for murder or rape. The seal does not let people go, free, It gives them a way out of their own walls they put around themselves to keep from accepting they did something wrong, excuses, ignoring the problem, etc, and to fix the problem. The priest, for the catholic in sin, is often the one who gets them to come out. People might be sent there back in the medieval period, and the priest would get them to confess. And as for sources, I'm getting it from one, experience, (sinner), I've went through penance before, and the sacrament of penances mere existence. Any man woman or child can be forgiven, but they must seek pardon, not on their own terms, but gods.
www.newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm