historic anglican understanding of confession

Discussion in 'Sacraments, Sacred Rites, and Holy Orders' started by mark fisher, Feb 24, 2023.

  1. mark fisher

    mark fisher Member Anglican

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    i was reading the book of homilies lately and ive notice is the sermon about repetance it semis to condem privet confession to a priest but in the bcp they offer a form for it
     
  2. JonahAF

    JonahAF Moderator Staff Member Typist Anglican

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    We distinguish between private Absolution and public Absolution. Rome has conflated them and believes there is only private; whereas the Church Fathers only had public Absolution and no private.

    We swung back to the public understanding of Absolution at the Reformation, following the church fathers; because we saw how much abuse proceeded from private absolution in the Middle Ages (and even today’s Rome!). That’s what you read in the Homilies. However we do allow and even encourage private confession, but we do not mandate it, to avoid abuse.

    But yes we strongly teach the doctrine of absolution and Apostolic Keys granted to the church:
    https://www.anglican.net/works/lancelot-andrewes-on-the-power-of-the-keys-and-absolution-1600/
     
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  3. mark fisher

    mark fisher Member Anglican

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    i see