Q: Then why did the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issue this doctrinal note in 2020?
A: I don’t think they understood what they were doing. Also, the Church can’t admit it made a mistake.
There could be thousands of laypeople affected, by even just a few priests. But ultimately God will take care of it all. Are these people going to hell? No. The Church says: “we can guarantee God works in the sacrament” but he can also work outside the sacraments. God can give his grace and fill you with his spirit any old time he wants.
The average liberal Catholic will shrug their shoulders and say this is a bunch of nonsense. The ones who will be hurt will be the very scrupulous Catholics who might worry. They might be concerned if their sins were really forgiven? I feel sorry for them. Most people will shake their heads and say: “What’s the big deal?”.....