If you were the priest?

Question

I am led to believe that priests will only give you absolution for,say murder, if you give yourself up?

When Von Stauffenberg went to confession, prior to the July plot, would you have absolved him of the deed which he was yet to carry out?

Yet it seems he did receive absolution and communion!
So was that priest wrong?

I agree Shevek!

Clive: The church might? but I am talking about an individual priest! I am not religious by the by.

Interesting Paulcyp! But what has that to do with the question?

Ernest: I take it then that you are incable of forgiving?
I think you have made it a conundrum because it goes way above your intelligence!

Answer 1

I'm definitely not a priest or even religious. But if I had been Von Stauffenberg's confessor, and knew what I know now about the Nazis, I may not have absolved him, especially before the sin of murder had been committed, but I certainly would have given him my blessing and hope that I would be brave enough to help him in any way I could. While Von Stauffenberg failed to kill Hitler he certainly deserves much more recognition than he gets. A truly brave C20th man.

Answer 2

Whether you regard Von Stauffenberg as a patriot or a traitor, there is something distasteful about getting advance clearance from a priest for an act which the Church presumably regarded as a sin. If this principle is accepted, Christianity begins to become too much like Islam.

Answer 3

There is no specific requirement that a person who confesses a crime must turn himself in to the civil authorities in order to receive absolution. However, what is necessary for absolution is evidence of true repentance. If someone who has committed a serious crime exhibits genuine remorse and repentance, a priest might grant such a person absolution. If the criminal does not exhibit such remorse and repentance the priest might withhold absolution. Jesus allowed for such discernment when He told the first priests, "whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven them; whose sins you hold retained, they are retained".

Generally speaking though, repentance for a sin which involves direct damage to another person necessarily involves undoing the damage to whatever degree is possible. If you have stolen something, absolution may be dependent upon your returning what you stole. If you have damaged a person's reputation by slander, absolution may depend upon your going to the people to whom you gave false information and telling them the truth. Of course in the case of murder, rape and such violent crimes, you cannot undo the damage inflicted.

Answer 4

Yes, because he would be guilty of the near occasion of sin! Sins lead to greater sins.

Like one sin can make the individual prone to sinning more often in in greater intensity. SO, the trick is to examine what leads to the smaller incidents and avoid these so they do not progress.

That is why we must work out our salvation everyday!
Mt: 10:22, MT 24:13, Mk 8:35

Answer 5

Only God can forgive.

Your question is either flawed or you are in the wrong section, try Philosophy in Arts & Hunanities.

They love those sort of conundrums. Here, we have the answers.

Answer 6

Yes no man or priest can give you absolution, only God can.

Answer 7

No of course not you can not ask forgivness for some evil you are planning. God will not forgive you unless you truely repent.

Answer 8

Why are you planning something?? You'll need more than a priest you know..

Answer 9

you cant forgive the unforgiveable. and no man as the power too