<p>I ask this question 3/4 serioiusly. I am feeling “guilt” about something and need foregiveness. I started thinkng about confession and, of course, ultimately realized that the foregiveness I seek can only come from within. Nonetheless, I was left wondering about the posted question.</p>
<p>Yes. Confession in the Catholic Church is really the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which one must be Catholic in order to receive. Exceptions are made in emergency situations, such as when one is close to death, but that’s not relevant here. Feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Instead of some priest, why don’t you ask forgiveness from whomever you have wronged?</p>
<p>Yes, if you are asking about confession in a Roman Catholic church.</p>
<p>While you need to be Catholic to go to confession, you do not need to be Catholic to talk to a priest or to any other clergyman. You may not get absolution, but you may feel better and gain clarity so that you can either ask forgiveness of whomever you’ve wronged, and/or can avoid reporting the error.</p>
<p>Most clergy of any denomination will, however, be happy to talk to you about whatever is bothering you.</p>
<p>ETA: cross-posted with Chedva, who probably meant to say ‘avoid repeating the error.’ :)</p>
<p>Yup, that’s what I meant! Thanks, Booklady. Just washed my hands & can’t do a thing with them! ;)</p>
<p>Great post from Chedva (and funny typo, too!).</p>
<p>Thanks, all. I went to my former therapist last week, which helped immensely on the psychological/emotional front. Just wondered if there was something more (which sounds silly since I am Jewish and quite agnositc).</p>
<p>They don’t check your pedigree at the door.</p>
<p>Just wondering, RE52 – is it guilt, or is it shame? There’s a difference.</p>
<p>I think it’s better if you go to the person you wronged (note here that I don’t know the details of the situation) and ask forgiveness. If that’s the case.</p>
<p>If your need is mostly for a feeling of forgiveness and you need some formality for this, there is nothing to prohibit you from praying at a church and “talking” to God. I say this as a catholic who does not go to confession or to church regularly. I have gone to the church to pray though in times of duress when there is no service going on. The quiet and surroundings can make you feel closer to God and may give you some relief. If you were brought up in the Jewish religion would going to temple alone give you any peace and/or is that an option?</p>
<p>You do not need to be Catholic to go to confession. Other Christians also have confession as a sacrament of the church.</p>
<p>I presume your sin was against a fellow human being, not against a supreme being who you are not sure exists. If you talked to your therapist but still feel there should be “something more,” likely what you are missing is this:</p>
<p>The Jewish view is you should go to the person you wronged and ask forgiveness, and try to make amends, if possible.</p>
<p>If that is not possible at this time, then think of something positive you can do to counteract the harm you have done. You will feel better, and the world will be a better place!</p>
<p>I can add this persons(me) secular point of view here. I also agree to seek the wronged party and to try to make amends is step 1. I’m not sure how you can be both Jewish and agnostic, but that’s not for me to understand. If you’re seeking confort a priest might give you without giving your best effort to amend the wrong to the wronged party, then you are fooling yourself.</p>
<p>In the Episcopal church, there is a similar rite, generally called the rite of reconciliation I quote:
"In this rite, one is given the opportunity to name all that weighs on the conscience and receive counsel, direction, instruction, and comfort, as well as absolution. For some, it is a regular discipline, for others, it is a resource in particular need. It is available to all, but required of no one. "
It is generally done face to face, and not offered at all churches. I think if you called or spoke to the clergy at most Episp. churches, they would help you out.
And, yes, certainly clergy at most churches should be happy to talk to you as well.
I think, strictly, Catholic confession is only for those who are baptized (which many Catholics would take to mean baptized in a RC church), but as others have noted, nobody checks your credentials.</p>
<p>
The Catholic Church recognizes the validity of any Trinitarian baptism, which includes most Protestant denominations. </p>
<p>Though the OP and any other person would be welcome to attend Catholic Mass or talk to a priest, it would not be possible to receive Catholic Penance. Even if a non-Catholic managed to muddle through Confession (which could be difficult), I do not think the person would be in the requisite state to receive absolution. If there’s a priest or someone on here feel free to correct me on that.</p>
<p>agree w/corranged. A person would need training to have a priest hear his/her confession in the usual manner and not suspect that the confessor was not Catholic. A major part of the Catholic rite is an acceptance and belief on the part of the Catholic that the priest is literally a man of God and can absolve the sinner of his/her sins.</p>
<p>A priest would, however, certainly be willing to sit with a non-Catholic and listen to his informal “confession” and try to offer some words of comfort or advice.</p>
<p>I’d expect any religiously-ordained person to be willing to help you, so the specific faith is not important.</p>