If a person sinned and is truly sorry for his/her offense, but is fearful of confession and being possibly not forgiven, and this person dies without confessing to a priest, but has confessed directly to God through prayer, will their soul go to hell?

Dear Darlene,

I don't know for sure but your question seems to indicate the concern of a Catholic who has married outside of the Church, has had an abortion, or has committed some other serious sin. Such a person finds it difficult to confess their sin to a priest because of fear that they will be refused absolution. For the condition of getting absolution is to repent of the sin. In the case of a marriage outside of the Church the person would have to rectify the situation. That would involve one's partner in some way. That would be hard, especially if the partner were not concerned or would resent the implication that there was something wrong with the marriage. It would seem easier, then, to get forgiveness from God directly and skip confession. In that way the problem would be between the individual and God. It would not involve the mate or the children. But the truth is that marrying outside of the Church is a public act which involves the mate and the children. The act is no private act just involving the individual. To repent of it as if it is a matter just between the individual and God is not being real. There are consequences in the real world to our acts. The obligation to confess them to a man acting in the name of Christ reminds us of this basic truth. We have to do something, thus making our repentance a hard thing to do. Real repentance demands a public fixing up of a public act done. I suggest that a person caught in this difficulty speak to some friend who is a solid Catholic or to a priest. Repentance is quite possible BUT ONLY WITH THE GRACE OF GOD. Let the grace of God lead the way. If the person in question is not yourself but someone else, then see what the Catechism says and tell them what you know or refer them to someone better informed. May Christ and his Blessed Mother be with you.

Dr. Geraghty

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