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Andrew wrote:

Hi, guys —

  • What happens of someone goes to Confession and instead of a priest hearing your Confession, someone who was not a priest, like a Deacon, heard your Confession?

If that happened, your Confession wouldn't be valid and those sins wouldn't have been forgiven even if you thought they were.

  • How does the Church deal with this problem?

Andrew
  { How does the Church deal with someone hearing a Confession who is not authorized to do so? }

Bob replied:

Andrew,

Even if you weren't formally absolved, but believed you were, you would still have a clear conscience, which is what you hope for when you come to face the Lord.

In any case, the sins will be formally absolved at the next Confession even if they are not explicitly mentioned, the priest's absolution forgives all sins on the soul.

Peace,

Bob Kirby
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