A response to: Confession Before Baptism
I gasped when I heard the pastor’s response regarding having a catechumen go to confession, that he had in fact told her to go to confession even though she had not been baptized because «I would not have had the time to hear her confession before the Easter.» Our Diocese is undergoing catechist certification to ensure that all catechists correctly understand and teach the theology within their curriculum. But it seems to me that dioceses need to test their priests as well. This pastor in Ontario is one of them. And this is a basic understanding.
We also know of other priests not remaining faithful to Catholic teaching such as abortion. What message do our bishops send when priests who do not act in accordance with Catholic teaching? And maybe the priests were not properly taught which is why they are errantly teaching. But then that is why they should have these exams.
Before I was ordained, I had to sign an oath that I would be obedient to my bishop and his successors and that I would teach the orthodox Catholic teachings. If only all dioceses required this and tested their candidates for priesthood as well as their lay catechists! Rev. John M. Zimmerman
Florence, South Carolina
