John Paul II just made a statement saying that no Catholic may recieve Communion in a state of mortal sin. But Canon law says that we may recieve communion, even if we are in a state of mortal sin, as long as we make a promise to go to confession as soon as possible. Cc 962?

-- dern (dern@nothanks.com), March 14, 2005

Answers

Bump and sin no more.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), March 14, 2005.

No, Dern. You couldn't be more wrong.

Canon 962 concerns the extremely rare form of Reconciliation called "General Absolution," something that probably none of us visiting this forum will ever witness or licitly receive.

Moreover, we can never pit Pope John Paul II's teachings and directives against Canon Law. He was the one who promulgated the Law in 1983, and he is the Church's "Supreme Legislator," meaning that he can change or define a canon in any way he wishes, whenever he wishes.

For interested parties, here is Canon 962:
Section 1 -- For a member of Christ's faithful to benefit validly from a sacramental absolution given to a number of people simultaneously, it is required not only that he or she be properly disposed, but be also at the same time personally resolved to confess in due time each of the grave sins which cannot for the moment be thus confessed.
Section 2 -- Christ's faithful are to be instructed about the requirements set out in Section 1, as far as possible even on the occasion of general absolution being received. An exhortation that each person should make an act of contrition is to precede a general absolution, even in the case of danger of death if there is time.

-- (ashes@to.ashes), March 14, 2005.

Bump and sin no more.

Zarove, that is a good one! LOL

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), March 14, 2005.