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Parag
Purohit wrote: |
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Hi, guys —
I came across your site while looking for
some help.
To give you some background, I'm a twenty-five
year old Indian man who currently resides
in the USA; I'm Hindu by religion.
- I want to know if someone like me can
confess his sins to a Father or a priest.
Frankly, I don't know much about the religious
aspect of Christianity. What I have found, says that I cannot, unless I am a follower of Christianity.
Let me share with you the reasoning behind
my question. I believe we can all confess
our sins directly to God, but sometimes we
need some help and assistance. I feel that
God is one universal identity.
Although I
would not be communicating with
God, I would be able to confess to Father and therefore communicate with someone
who is wise enough to guide me and tell me
what is exactly happening in my life.
Please don't advise me to see some psychiatrist,
because I know there are moral issues involved
which cannot be answered by those means. It's
not about sins that I have to confess, but
the fact that I see myself getting morally
corrupted to an extent that is just unbearable.
I hope you understand my problem and that
my reasoning will not offend you in any manner.
I would be glad to hear from you.
Parag
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| { Can a Hindu confess his sins to a priest, not to communicate with God, but for moral guidance? } |
Eric
replied:
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Thanks for your question, Parag.
You are correct: you must be a Christian
to formally receive the sacrament
of Reconciliation. However, nothing
prevents you from talking to a priest
and getting some counseling and advice.
The only thing the priest cannot
do is provide "absolution" or
(sacramental forgiveness) of sins.
I recommend finding your local Catholic
parish and calling them to make an
appointment to see the priest.
Explain
that you are not a Christian but
that you earnestly value a priest's
spiritual advice. He should be able
to help you, since it is moral corruption
that Christ came to set us free from — to
transform us so that we will do what
is morally right, to give us the
ability to be good.
That's the whole meaning — the
Good News — of Christianity.
Eric Ewanco
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Parag
replied:
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Hello Eric,
I am glad to hear that.
At present, I live in New York City
and have quite a few Churches
in the area where I live.
- Can you help me figure out
how I can approach a priest?
I am not sure if I can find the
information through the Internet.
- Can I just visit a Catholic parish and
speak to a priest?
Thanks,
Parag
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Eric
replied:
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Hi, Parag —
For each county, an array of various Catholic parishes that are in that county will be displayed below along with the pastor, phone number, and website.
When you click on each parish on the left, the Google map on the right will adjust to show you the parish's location and address information.
Call them and explain that you would
like to speak to a priest. He will
probably have to call you back; as
it's unlikely one will be immediately
available. When he calls back (or
answers) you might say something
like,
"Hello Father, thanks for
returning my phone call. I find
myself in a difficult moral position,
and I really need some help and
advice. I am not a Christian,
but I respect your judgment as
a priest. I spoke to some Catholics
I met, and they assured me you'd
be willing to sit down with me
and give me some guidance.
- Can we schedule a time to meet?"
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Side note:
For others interested
in locating, in the United States, the Catholic diocese (and their parishes)
nearest to them, try:
Hope this helps, and let us know
how it turns out.
Eric
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