dimond

answers given by Father Carl Pulvermacher

A. Under normal circumstances a Catholic may not ask the Sacraments from a schismatic, heretical, or censured cleric (c. 822). In grave necessity (danger of death) one may ask such a one for Baptism or Absolution, if there is no other priest available.

The Sacrament of Confession is notable in that it needs both power of Orders and power of Jurisdiction. One who says the New Order Mass is at least a material heretic, and heretics or apostates have no jurisdiction over members of the Mystical Body of Christ. Therefore I say the Catholic penitent may not go to Confession to a New Order Mass priest because he is at least a material heretic and has lost his jurisdiction.

But who is to judge each case as to moral guilt? Who knows the internal dispositions of the new order priest or the poor penitent? I believe people and priests today are so often totally confused that the all wise God will be the judge. It also looks like time will solve this problem. In Holland where Vatican II practices are so far ahead of other places, the practice of Confession is almost non-existent. One can scarcely find a priest there who will hear confessions. Even in our beloved country confession is becoming Jess common. Perhaps a few more years of updating and continued Vatican II progress will have our confessionals relegated to dusty museums.

So what can one do? The Catholic penitent must go to a lawfully ordained priest who has jurisdiction to absolve. For valid absolution there must be Divine authorization and right intention. For Jurisdiction there must be permission to administer the Sacraments granted by lawful Church authority. In cases of Common Error and Doubt of Law or Fact, the Church supplies jurisdiction (c. 209). The only thing a Catholic can do is to abstain from mortal sin, or in case of a slip, find a priest who has not compromised his faith. A priest who thinks nothing of giving a fake new order mass on Sunday—what can you expect from him in the Confessional on Saturday night?

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