Reply to Can a priest offer absolution for something that isn't considered a sin?

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[quote=Anonymous]Absolution is the forgiveness of sin by Christ’s power executed through his minister. Absent sin, no absolution is necessary and it might be sacrilege to attempt/simulate it.

In traditional moral theology, sin is determined objectively (“external forum,”) and subjectively (“internal forum,” taking account of all individual circumstances).  So breaking another person’s carwindow might objectively be a sin, but if one broke it to save the life of a child abandoned in a car on a hot day, there subjectively would be no sin.

There are people who are misinformed and think things are sins that are not.  The remedy in such cases would be instruction, not absolution. However, if the person believed pursuant to a well-formed conscience that something was a sin for them, they might well be bound by that and need to be absolved.

In the case of doubt, the minister should absolve the person.

Views differ on whether Episcopal priests have the power to absolve sins. The Episcopals (to the extent they have agreed-upon defined doctrines) obviously believe they do. Catholics believe Episcopals do not.  [/quote]

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