VATICAN CITY (CNS): Pope John Paul II has told bishops to clamp down on the incorrect use of general or communal absolution in the Sacrament of Penance.
In a new apostolic letter calling for a “vigorous revitalisation” of the sacrament, the Pope calls on bishops to adopt a strict line on Church law’s “grave necessity” condition for general absolution.
The 15-page letter, “Misericordia Dei” (Mercy of God), also asks bishops’ conferences to submit national norms on general absolution to the Vatican for approval “as soon as possible”.
The document was released at a Vatican press conference on May 2 by the top Vatican officials for doctrine, sacraments and canon law.
‘It is a question of ensuring an ever more faithful, and thus more fruitful, celebration’ of the sacrament, he said.
The Holy Father said the letter seemed especially necessary because ‘in some places there has been a tendency to abandon individual confession and wrongly to resort to ‘general’ or ‘communal’ absolution’.
At the press conference, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who is prefect of the doctrinal congregation, said the duty to personally confess one’s sins was instituted by Christ himself, “and even obligates the Pope”.
For the full apostolic letter go to:http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/motu_proprio/documents/hf_jp-ii_motu-proprio_20020502_misericordia-dei_en.html
