Anonymity in Confession - how anonymous is it supposed to be?

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tee_eff_em said:
You are mistaken.

tee
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From Canon 964:
Ā§2 As far as the confessional is concerned, norms are to be issued by the Episcopal Conference, with the proviso however that confessionals, which the faithful who so wish may freely use, are located in an open place, and fitted with a fixed grille between the penitent and the confessor.
 
roadsend said:
From Canon 964:
Ā§2 As far as the confessional is concerned, norms are to be issued by the Episcopal Conference, with the proviso however that confessionals, which the faithful who so wish may freely use, are located in an open place, and fitted with a fixed grille between the penitent and the confessor.
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So, not all confessionals need to have fixed grills but yes, we should be able to confess anonymously if we want and there should be at least one fixed grille set-up in each church.

At a diocesan meeting, when the new safety protocols were being unveiled, the diocese was insisting that all reconciliation rooms were to have both penitent and priest in full view through glass doors - thereby removing the curtain/prie-dieu set up which now exists. I protested that that removed the anonymity which many people wanted. Immediately a younger priest insisted that anonymity was not good and that it was important that priests know who was confessing in order to counsel them properly. The bishop took the position that loss of anonymity was worth it if safety was increased. Personally, I figure safety is much better assured with traditional confessionals.

As for childrenā€™s confessions, in our parish childrenā€™s first confessions are celebrated in full view of everyone, with the pastor seated toward the back of the sanctuary and the people present invited to sit towards the back of the nave. That allows people to keep an eye on their young ones while still allowing the privacy that insures the childā€™s confession is unheard by anyone but the priest. With only the reconciliation room set-up, children rarely go back for a second confession.
 
roadsend said:
From Canon 964:
Ā§2 As far as the confessional is concerned, norms are to be issued by the Episcopal Conference, with the proviso however that confessionals, which the faithful who so wish may freely use, are located in an open place, and fitted with a fixed grille between the penitent and the confessor.
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I do not see any word or phrase to connote anonymity?
Can you point it out?

tee
 
Phemie said:
So, not all confessionals need to have fixed grills but yes, we should be able to confess anonymously if we want and there should be at least one fixed grille set-up in each church.

At a diocesan meeting, when the new safety protocols were being unveiled, the diocese was insisting that all reconciliation rooms were to have both penitent and priest in full view through glass doors - thereby removing the curtain/prie-dieu set up which now exists. I protested that that removed the anonymity which many people wanted. Immediately a younger priest insisted that anonymity was not good and that it was important that priests know who was confessing in order to counsel them properly. The bishop took the position that loss of anonymity was worth it if safety was increased. Personally, I figure safety is much better assured with traditional confessionals.

As for childrenā€™s confessions, in our parish childrenā€™s first confessions are celebrated in full view of everyone, with the pastor seated toward the back of the sanctuary and the people present invited to sit towards the back of the nave. That allows people to keep an eye on their young ones while still allowing the privacy that insures the childā€™s confession is unheard by anyone but the priest. With only the reconciliation room set-up, children rarely go back for a second confession.
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In a properly designed confessional, safety is not an issue. The confessionals in my parish are so designed that the priest and penitent have no physcial access to each other, but they can hear through the screen and grille. There is no need to have everyone in full view of everyone else.

Sometimes I go to confession at a nearby parish, which does not have standard confessionals. Instead, it has a reconciliation room. When one walks into the room, there is a screen and kneeler. If you kneel down there for confession, the priest will never see you. But a penitent can walk around the screen to a chair for a face to face confession. From what I have heard, everyone uses the kneeler; no one uses the chair. And a standard confessional would be better for anonymity and safety.
 
JimG said:
In a properly designed confessional, safety is not an issue. The confessionals in my parish are so designed that the priest and penitent have no physcial access to each other, but they can hear through the screen and grille. There is no need to have everyone in full view of everyone else.

Sometimes I go to confession at a nearby parish, which does not have standard confessionals. Instead, it has a reconciliation room. When one walks into the room, there is a screen and kneeler. If you kneel down there for confession, the priest will never see you. But a penitent can walk around the screen to a chair for a face to face confession. From what I have heard, everyone uses the kneeler; no one uses the chair. And a standard confessional would be better for anonymity and safety.
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I agree that the old type confessionals are far better for safety. The big glass windows that allow everyone to see the priest and penitent would make me uncomfortable. What if someone that could read lips was watching you? I know thatā€™s a long shot, but itā€™s what I would be thinking about. I would cover my mouth.
 
somone mentioned you canā€™t get to see facial expression etc which brought up something for me. I hate not being able to see a face when talking listening. I find it hard too when Iā€™ve automatically glanced their way they have their eyes tight shut. One priest was better as he sat at my side in the pew in confession and I found it was easier to talk on the questions he asked me. The current priest first time sat in front of me and it did kind of finish me when he lifted his hood up and placed the purple sash on. (dont know name of sash) Whether he picked up on it I will never know because the next time he kept his coat on and didnā€™t change into the white gown though he wasnā€™t about to do a service. He apologised for sticking to his coat for it was a cold day but I prefered that to the gown. But also sat in the pew in front of me but to one side. This meant I could see a bit of his face. Which mentally, I found easier to handle.
 
anp1215 said:
I agree that the old type confessionals are far better for safety. The big glass windows that allow everyone to see the priest and penitent would make me uncomfortable. What if someone that could read lips was watching you? I know thatā€™s a long shot, but itā€™s what I would be thinking about. I would cover my mouth.
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You should see *old type confessionals *in the Old World, eg at the Vatican. The confessor is enclosed ā€œin the boxā€ while penitents outside kneel at the fixed grilles in full public view!

tee
 
tee_eff_em said:
You should see *old type confessionals *in the Old World, eg at the Vatican. The confessor is enclosed ā€œin the boxā€ while penitents outside kneel at the fixed grilles in full public view!

tee
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I have seen that in pictures. Thatā€™s fine, I wouldnā€™t mind someone seeing my back. Itā€™s kind of like that in my parish anyway, because the door is glass.
 
tee_eff_em said:
You should see *old type confessionals *in the Old World, eg at the Vatican. The confessor is enclosed ā€œin the boxā€ while penitents outside kneel at the fixed grilles in full public view!

tee
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Thatā€™s an Italian thing. It Italy the women go behind the screen, but men stick their heard in the curtain where the priest is and goes face to face.
 
asd72 said:
I have only been with a grille. What do they use at your church instead?
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A white-walled room with mood lighting, a window with shades, and brown metal folding chairs. I kid you not. Itā€™s horrible.
 
YoungTradCath said:
A white-walled room with mood lighting, a window with shades, and brown metal folding chairs. I kid you not. Itā€™s horrible.
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Do they not have a screen they could put between the chairs for privacy? You can get a standing screen which could work.

I went to Westminster Cathedral for Confession, Iā€™ve not seen ours in our Parish, but the Cathedral is great for Confession, they are available several hours a day.
 
the_phoenix said:
Just donā€™t do what I did.

I was so nervous that I walked in on the priest through the wrong door. :eek:

No anonymity for me!

It turned out all right though. :o

ā€¦

:blessyou:
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I did that EXACT same thing the last time I confessed!

šŸ˜Š

ā€œOh, woops, Father, sorry!ā€

(TRJ goes into the right door, kneels down, ā€œSorry again, Father.ā€)(carries on with confession)
 
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