Communion for all? How about Confession for all!

JMJ

Why be selfish and share only Holy Communion with Adulterers and Protestants? We should also share the Sacrament of Penance!

SantCompostela25" by Georges Jansoone - Self-photographed. Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Commons.

The Synod of the Family is finally over and it appears that the Church has exchanged "Unity of Faith" for a combination of "Unity in Ambiguity" and "Unity in Diversity".

Following the Synod's quest for "Unity in Ambiguity", Pope Francis is reported as saying, "All the Divorced who ask will be admitted [to Communion]" (Rorate-Caeli).

Also, in the quest for "Unity in Diversity", the U.S Conference of Bishops committee on ecumenical and inter-religious affairs has issued an ecumenical declaration in which we find the following:

The conclusion invites the PCPCU and the LWF to create a process and timetable for addressing the remaining issues. It also suggests that the expansion of opportunities for Lutherans and Catholics to receive Holy Communion together would be a sign of the agreements already reached. The Declaration also seeks a commitment to deeper connection at the local level for Catholics and Lutherans. (USCCB)

What is curious is the single-mindedness of Church prelates in sharing only Our Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist. This ecumenical outreach, in all fairness, should extend to the proper preparation for and reception of other Sacraments, especially that which is essential to a Catholic's spiritual life, namely the Sacrament of Penance.

This Sacrament ...

... confers sanctifying grace by which are remitted the mortal sins and also the venial sins which we confess and for which we are sorry; it changes eternal punishment into temporal punishment, of which it even remits more or less according to our dispositions; it revives the merits of the good works done before committing mortal sin; it gives the soul aid in due time against falling into sin again, and it restores peace of conscience. (Catechism of Pope St. Pius X)

In sharing this Sacrament with our separated brethren all that is required is that they:

Be sorry for all their sins,
Confess these sins to a Catholic priest,
Submit themselves to the guidance and merciful judgement of the priest who sits in the place of Christ.
Accept and perform the penance prescribed
Recite an act of contrition

Of course, if the Protestant would like to sincerely approach the sacrament of penance in the Catholic Church they would need to make a Profession of Faith and Abjure the Protestant errors.

There is a common element in all of these requirements: Humility.

Is this not truly what is needed in the Church today, humble submission to the Laws of God and His Church?

In this age where man places himself above God and His Laws, if the lines to the confessional were longer than the lines for Communion, would that not be an indication of greater self knowledge, humility and charity?

A final and stronger argument can be made that, in one respect, the sharing of the Sacrament of Penance is superior to the reception of the Holy Eucharist: because one who receives this Sacrament in a state of mortal sin, is transformed and leaves in a state of grace.

Whereas, one who receives the Holy Eucharist in a state of mortal sin, remains at enmity with God as ...

... he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:29)

So would not the sharing of the Sacrament of Penance for all be truly merciful?

Relevant Links Courtesy of SSPX.ca:
de Mattei
Bishop Schneider
Failed Synody
Bishop Fellay's declaration
SSPX Synod Report

Regarding Post: Fr. Joseph Pfeiffer no longer ... now Bishop Joseph Pfeiffer (Can't see this being a problem...)

+ JMJ I've been watching the popularity of the post about Fr. Pfeiffer's attempted episcopal consecration and its continued top listing on the 'popular posts' list at the bottom of posts. After some thought, I decided that I don't want to be responsible for anyone joining Fr. Pfeiffer's 'group', however unlikely that would be at this time. So I have reverted the article to the draft state. If anyone wants it reinstated, I would ask that they comment on this post with a rationale for reinstatement. P^3

Auctorem Fidei

Can the SSPX be right about the Novus Ordo? Revision: Feb 11, 2013 On another web forum, I was engaged in a rather heated discussion about the documents of Vatican II.

What the heck is a congregation of "Pontifical Right"

+ JMJ In a discussion with a friend the question occurred to me that I didn't actually know was is involved in being a religious order of 'pontifical right'. I had a vague notion that this meant they reported to Rome as opposed to the local diocese. I'm also aware that, according to the accounts I have heard, the Archbishop received 'praise' and the written direction to incardinate priests directly into the SSPX. This is interesting because it implies that the SSPX priests were no longer required to incardinate in the local diocese but in the SSPX. This is something that belongs to an order of 'pontifical right'. Anyway here's some definitions: Di diritto pontificio is the Italian term for “of pontifical right” . It is given to the ecclesiastical institutions (the religious and secular institutes, societies of apostolic life) either created by the Holy See or approved by it with the formal decree, known by its Latin name, Decretu

Is it sinful to attend the Novus Ordo (New Mass) - Is it Sinful to Not Attend the Novus Ordo on Sunday?

+ JMJ A non-SSPX Catholic is upset over the SSPX statements on not attending the Novus Ordo Missae. Ladies and gentlemen, what the SSPX, or at least its website editor, is advocating is a mortal sin against the Third Commandment. Unless the priest deviates from the language of the Sacramentary, the consecration, and thus the rest of Mass is to be considered valid. No one may elect not to attend Mass simply because abuses are occurring therein. Might I suggest that such absenteeism is its own abuse? The Third Commandment binds under mortal sin. Father So-And-So from the SSPX has no authority whatsoever to excuse attendance at Mass, be that Mass ever so unpalatable. Source:Restore DC Catholicism Well, this is interesting. First why does the SSPX issue this statement? Because it is sinful to put your faith in danger by attending a protestant service. It is likewise dangerous to put your faith in danger by attending a protestantized mass (ie the Novus Ordo Missae

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

Tradicat

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