What is the ECC+USAs position on confession? Is it the same as that of the Roman Catholic Church in that it is required to receive communion?
We each need to make our peace with Almighty God before receiving Holy Communion. However, sacramental Confession is not required (and, by the way, it is not required in the RCC unless the person has committed what the RCC considers a Mortal Sin). We include the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) as part of the penitential rite at the beginning of Mass. While the RCC rarely uses what is called General Absolution (that is, sacramental absolution without the individual telling his/her sins to a priest), we administer General Absolution as part of the beginning of Mass. While our priests can provide for the individual confession of sins followed by individual absolution, it is not the preferred option in our Church. Also, unlike the RCC we do not require that a person later make an individual confession of his/her sins to a priest after receiving General Absolution.
Related Questions
- Where do we record the names of the baptized Christians who enter into the full communion of the Roman Catholic Church?
- Are there special considerations for receiving Orthodox Christians into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church?
- How are baptized children of catechetical age received into the full communion of the Roman Catholic Church?
