Sts. Peter and Paul Catechism Ministry banner
 
HOME ABOUT US ARTICLES FREE CATHOLIC BOOKS CATHOLIC Q&A DEBATES
CONVERSION STORIES VIDEOS PRAYERS USEFUL LINKS FEEDBACK
 
 Catholic Answer Box  | 
Catholic Answer Box
Our Sponsors:
   

<<<<<I want to know that is it valid and permissible to make a confession over the phone with your priest or confessor who knows you personally? >>>>

No, this is not normally permissible because Confession is meant to be a personal Sacrament. That is, it is meant to be performed in person, with the priest standing-in for Jesus. However, I would think that the Church may make an exception in an emergency situation. Let's say, for example, there was a man in a submarine that was trapped at the bottom of the ocean, and there was no way to rescue this man, but he could communicate by radio with people on the surface of the ocean. In this emergency situation, the Church would likely permit a special dispensation and allow this man to Confess to a priest over the radio, since it would be totally impossible to do in person. But, if it is possible for someone to go to Confession in person, then the Church expects Confession to be in person.

<<<<Okay what about if a person has committed a grave sin and he wants to confess it immediately, instead of waiting for Saturdays where it is the official time for most Parishes in Ghana to hear confessions. >>>>

No, that would still not be an "emergency" situation. If one feels the need to go to Confession before Sunday, then one should go to the church and make a special appointment with the priest, and go to Confession in person. Also, if someone is struggling with serious sin, in this case, it is good to have what's called a spiritual advisor --that is, a priest who knows you and who can work with you to overcome a certain sin or sinful inclination. 
 
<<<<<So I guess the confession I did over phones are invalid? >>>>
 
Well, .... If your priest approved of it, then it is not necessarily invalid, but it is illicit (that is, illegal). There is a distinction. For example, if you meet a Muslim who asks you to Baptize him into the Catholic Faith, you could, technically speaking, take this Muslim down to the river and baptize him yourself. And, if you did that, the Baptism would be valid (it would be a true Baptism), but it would not be licit --that is, you would have violated the Church's canon law; because, according to our canon law, the normal way to bring someone into the Church is to bring the convert to a priest or deacon, and have them Baptize the convert in a public ceremony. Laymen are only supposed to Baptize in emergency situations or when there is no Church minister (priest or deacon) to do the Baptizing. In the same way, if your parish priest gave you Confession over the phone, it may be valid, but it is definitely not licit --that is, the priest was not supposed to do this; especially if he could meet you in person. But, just as with the Muslim in my example above --just as his Baptism would be valid if it was administered by you (a layman) ...because it was not his fault that it was done is an extraordinary way (rather than the normal way called for by canon law), so, if this priest gave you Confession over the phone, his illicit administration of the Sacrament was not your fault, and so your Confession would be considered valid. But, again, this is not the normal way to receive this Sacrament. If you can go to Confession in person, you should go in person (not over the phone). And while I would not worry about being in mortal sin (since you meant well and you did confess your sin to a priest), you should also re-confess this sin next time you go to Confession in person, just to be faithful to canon law. So, do not worry about anything. God is not displeased with you. But, we should observe the Sacraments as the Church directs us to.

Mark Bonocore,
The Catholic Legate

 


St. Mary, St. Joseph, Sts. Peter and Paul, St. Michael, the Archangel, St. Gabriel, the Archangel, St. Raphael, the Archangel, St. Joan of Arc, St. Juan Diego, St. James the Greater, St. Jude, St. Christopher, St. John of Damascus, Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Luke, St. Matthew, St. Anthony the Abbot, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Jerome, St. Valentine, St. Dominic, St. Nicholas, St. Padre Pio, St. Monica, St. Thomas Becket, St. Roque de Santa Cruz, St. Rose of Lima, St. Philomena, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Bernadette, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Josemaria de Balaguer, St. Martin de Porres, St. Martin of Tours, St. Lucy, St. Ambrose, St. John the Baptist, St. Clare, St. Rita, St. John the Apostle, St. Victoria, St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Angela Merici, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Thomas More, St. Leo the Great, St. Hilary of Poitiers,St. Francis de Sales, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Ignatius Loyola, St. John Berchmans, St. Philip Neri, St. John Bosco, St. Robert Bellarmine, St. John Mary Vianney, St. Polycarp, St. Irenaeus of Lyons, All you Saints and Martyrs Pray for us

Pros Apologian – Towards a defense. Sts. Peter and Paul Catechism Ministry is all about Apologetics, Christian Apologetics, Catholic Apologetics, Catholic Theology, Catholic Doctrines, Catholic Debates, Catholic Dialogues, Catholic Discussions, Catholic Arguments, Catholic Answers, Catholic Quizzes, Catholic FAQs, Catholic Gospel, Catholic Traditions, Catholic Websites, Catholic Links, Catholic Pages, Catholic Downloads, Catholic Leaflets, Catholic Booklets, Catholic PDF, Catholic EBooks, Catholic Defense, Catholic Ministries, Catholic Churches, Catholic Articles, Catholic Essays, Catholic Term papers, Catholic Facts, Catholic Lectures, Catholic MP3, Catholic Reviews, Catholic News, Catholic Affairs, Catholic People, Catholic Activities, Catholic Files, Catholic Papers, Catholic Matters, Catholic Groups, Catholic Youth, Catholic Advice, Catholic Suggestions, Catholic Names, Catholic Mass, Catholic Icons, Catholic Images, Catholic Rosary, Catholic Converts, Catholic Popes, Catholic Cardinals, Catholic Patriarchs, Catholic Archbishops, Catholic Bishops, Catholic Priests, Catholic Deacons, Catholic Community, Oriental Catholic Churches, Catholic Exegetes, Catholic Theologians, Catholic Philosophers, Catholic Exorcists, Catholic Catechists, Catholic Apologists, Catholic Canon Lawyers, Catholic Martyrs, Catholic Scribes, Catholic Legates, Catholic Writers, Catholic Scholars, Catholic Faithful, Catholic Fathers, Catholic Mothers, Catholic Sisters, Catholic Brothers, Catholic Monks, Catholic Nuns, Catholic Doctors, Africa Cardinals, Africa Archbishops and Bishops, Africa Priests and Religious, Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, Ghana Catholic Churches, Ghana Catholic Priests and Religious, Ghanaian Theologians and Apologists, Ghanaian Evangelists and Ministers, Catholic Apologetics, Catholic Evangelization, Christian, Christian Books, Christian Apologetics, Christian Evangelization, Catholic Information, Catholic Info, Catholic Answers, Christian Answers, Orthodox Catholic, Orthodox Christian, Catholic pamphlets, Catholic tracts, Catholic Apologetics, Catholic Evangelization, Catholic Tracts, Bible & Theology, Catholic Church History, Catholic Church Fathers, Blessed Virgin Mary, Catholic Saints, Catholic Spirituality, Catholic Prayer, Catholic Practice, Catholic Faith, Catholic Conversions, Catholic Testimonies. Pros Apologian – Towards a defense
Catholic Apologetics Guide 101

Catholic Apologetics Guide 101

Scriptural Reference for Catholic Apologetics

by Adadzie, Godwin Delali
This is a little book for those seeking a right understanding of Apologetics in the context of Catholicism. It is written in a simple and friendly manner. It is an attempt to look at some Catholic positions in a Biblical perspective. It is hoped that this book should appeal to the Catholic as well as to the non-Catholic readers. It is not written in a "scholarly" way, but as a plain "theological" statement with the hope of carrying conviction.

This book does not pretend to be exhaustive. The field which it covers is too vast to admit of minute analysis. A good number of Catholics leave the Church every year due to poor understanding of the Faith and also the efforts of anti-Catholic groups and churches. Realizing that misrepresentation and misunderstanding are the chief sources of error; this book serves as a quick guide to remove some of these errors.
Download book here or here


| The Holy See | Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference | Catholic Encyclopedia (1908) | Catechism of the Catholic Church | Church Fathers | Catholic Answers | Catholic Legate | Scripture Catholic |
Online Users
www.amen.co.nr and www.kepha.co.cc © 2007-2008 Sts. Peter and Paul Catechism Ministry - Ghana. Design by Godwin A. Delali GADEL
Feedback