ST Suppl., q. 8
Of the Minister of Confession
Supplement — compiled posthumously from Aquinas's early Sentences commentary
We must now consider the minister of confession, under which head there are seven points of inquiry:
(1) Whether it is necessary to confess to a priest?
(2) Whether it is ever lawful to confess to another than a priest?
(3) Whether outside a case of necessity one who is not a priest can hear the confession of venial sins?
(4) Whether it is necessary for a man to confess to his own priest?
(5) Whether it is lawful for anyone to confess to another than his own priest, in virtue of a privilege or of the command of a superior?
(6) Whether a penitent, in danger of death can be absolved by any priest?
(7) Whether the temporal punishment should be enjoined in proportion to the sin?
Articles
- a. 1Whether it is necessary to confess to a priest?
- a. 2Whether it is ever lawful to confess to another than a priest?
- a. 3Whether, outside a case of necessity, anyone who is not a priest may hear the confession of venial sins?
- a. 4Whether it is necessary for one to confess to one's own priest?
- a. 5Whether it is lawful for anyone to confess to another than his own priest, in virtue of a privilege or a command given by a superior?
- a. 6Whether a penitent, at the point of death, can be absolved by any priest?
- a. 7Whether the temporal punishment is imposed according to the degree of the fault?