In which cases can a priest give general absolution? A priest I know says that general absolution is valid only in cases of "emergency". Suppose there is a big crowd waiting for confession, and the pastor literally doesn't have the time for hearing them all, can he give general absolution? would that be an "emergency"?

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), February 28, 2000

Answers

Dear friend Enrique,

No, that would not be an emergency. Your question is well answered by these provisions from Canon Law:

Canon 961 -
--- '1. Absolution cannot be imparted in a general manner to a number of penitents at once without previous individual confession unless:
1) the danger of death is imminent and there is not time for the priest or priests to hear the confessions of the individual penitents;
2) a serious necessity exists, that is, when in light of the number of penitents a supply of confessors is not readily available rightly to hear the confessions of individuals within a suitable time so that the penitents are forced to be deprived of sacramental grace or holy communion for a long time through no fault of their own; it is not considered a necessity if confessors cannot be readily available only because of the great number of penitents, as can occur on the occasion of some great feast or pilgrimage.
--- '2. It is for the diocesan bishop to judge whether the conditions required in '1, n.2, are present; he can determine general cases of such necessity in the light of criteria agreed upon with other members of the conference of bishops."

"Canon 962 - --- '1. For a member of the Christian faithful validly to enjoy sacramental absolution given to many at one time, it is required that this person not only be suitably disposed but also at the same time intend to confess individually the serious sins which at present cannot be so confessed. --- '2. As much as can be done, the Christian faithful are to be instructed concerning the requirements specified in '1 on the occasion of receiving general absolution; an exhortation that each person take care to make an act of contrition is to precede general absolution, even in danger of death, if time is available.

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Enrique, in the U.S., the bishops have determined that the "long time" period (mentioned in canon 961, '1, n.2)is 30 days or longer. I don't know if the Mexican bishops have agreed on this point. Several regional "provinces" of bishops in the U.S. have issued statements and policies which take a very strict position regarding general absolution, making its use very rare in their dioceses. It would probably take a wartime situation or a pending plane crash to justify "general absolution" in most parts of the world.

In the situation you describe, the priest could do the following:
In place of the the first of the three forms of the Sacrament of Penance (full individual confession), he can celebrate the second form [which is not "General Absolution"]. Here is how paragraph 1482 of the Catechism describes (and recommends) this: "The Sacrament of Penance can also take place in the framework of a communal celebration in which we prepare ourselves together for confession and give thanks together for the forgiveness received. Here, the personal confession of sins and individual absolution are inserted into a liturgy of the Word of God with readings and a homily, an examination of conscience conducted in common, a communal request for forgiveness, the Our Father, and a thanksgiving in common. This communal celebration expresses more clearly the ecclesial character of penance."
What may not be clear from the above is that, after the reading, homily [very brief, if necessary], and prayers, the priest proceeds to hear individual confessions and to give individual absolutions. By doing certain things "in common" in this kind of service, the time for each individual confession/absolution is greatly reduced. The priest could perhaps, then, help your "big crowd." He might be tempted to shorten the time further by suggesting that only those remain who feel an "urgent" need for individual confession and absolution, but this may be a bad idea for two reasons: (1) those who do not remain will not have fully celebrated the Sacrament; and (2) those who do remain may unjustly be imagined by the others to be in a state of mortal sin.

God bless you. JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), February 28, 2000.