Synod: No to "general absolution"

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re has spoken out against the practice of General Absolution.

Thus bishops must see to it that general or collective absolutions not be carried out except for very justified exceptions, as contemplated in Pope John Paul II's letter "Misericordia Dei," the Vatican prefect said. "The bishop has the obligation not to allow in his diocese abusive recourse to general or collective absolution," he stressed.

Legionary of Christ Father John Bartunek, an English-speaking reporter for the synod, said that Cardinal Re explained that "many dioceses have introduced general absolution and have seen that this has only caused harm to the spiritual life and a loss of the sense of sin."

According to Father Bartunek, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops added that "the faithful themselves realize that this practice does not move them to conversion."

My opinion isn't quite equal to the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, but I concur anyway. Now that there is weight behind this opinion, I will try to convince our parish to drop these "community" events.