This photo illustrates a telephone message about governmental restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic. In the United States, restrictions include keeping priests from visiting patients in hospitals. CNS photo/Russell Boyce, Reuters

Because of hospital coronavirus restrictions, a suburban Portland priest March 22 was not allowed to meet with a Catholic patient dying of COVID-19.

Msgr. John Cihak, pastor of Christ the King Parish in Milwaukie, did make telephone contact and because of a provision in church law was able to lead him through the process of an act of contrition and a prayer for forgiveness.

“This may become a common occurrence given restrictions placed by hospitals,” said a March 23 memo to western Oregon priests from Msgr. Gerard O’Connor, director of the Office of Divine Worship of the Archdiocese of Portland.

Although the sacraments of reconciliation and anointing of the sick cannot be administered over the telephone, a Vatican tribunal’s March 19 indulgence offers another possibility.

“Where the individual faithful find themselves in the painful impossibility of receiving sacramental absolution, it should be remembered that perfect contrition, coming from the love of God, beloved above all things, expressed by a sincere request for forgiveness (that which the penitent is at present able to express) and accompanied by ‘votum confessionis,’ that is, by the firm resolution to have recourse, as soon as possible, to sacramental confession, obtains forgiveness of sins, even mortal ones,” said the Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary, reaffirming long-standing church law regarding forgiveness when confession is not possible.

On the evening of March 22, Msgr. Cihak received a call from Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center in Milwaukie. The family wanted last rites for the man, but hospital regulations barred the priest from entering the unit.

The patient, on a respirator, was not able to respond but had the phone put to his ear. Msgr. Cihak helped him through the process of an act of contrition and a prayer for forgiveness. “God has tied his grace to the sacraments but he himself is not bound by them,” Msgr. Cihak said, explaining that God offers mercy to those who, through no fault of their own, cannot get to the sacraments.

“It felt a little strange,” said Msgr. Cihak, who served as a master of ceremonies for Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis before returning to Oregon. “You can’t help but feel a little like you are letting the person down.”

Msgr. Cihak said he is able to visit other patients in the hospital, but not those in isolation because of COVID-19.

On March 27, the Archdiocese of Portland’s Office of Divine Worship issued guidelines on forgiveness of sins when a priest is not available.

The church recognizes sins are forgiven when a penitent:

  • Expresses true sorrow and detestation of sins with sincere love of God (a “perfect contrition”).
  • Makes a sincere request of God for forgiveness.
  • Resolves to go to confession at the first opportunity.

The archdiocese’s guidelines, really a reminder of established church law, said the current health crisis means it may be impossible to go to a sacramental confession.

“By devoutly and sincerely performing these actions, one can obtain forgiveness of all sins,” the instruction said. “Those who come before Almighty God with sincere contrition for their sins and a fervent desire for forgiveness can be confident of God’s mercy.”

Langlois is managing editor of the Catholic Sentinel, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Portland.