Can a priest hear confessions while driving?

[Gerard_Adubato]

Two men take a yearly roadtrip together to see the sights of this wonderful country, One of the men is a priest. During the week long trip, the layman asks his friend to hear his confession. Can the priest hear his buddy’s confession anytime during the trip, even while driving?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Sacramental confession is a serious activity, requiring concentration from both the priest and the penitent. A priest with the appropriate faculties can hear confession outside of the confessional, but it doesn’t seem prudent for him to do so while he is driving. Also, just like doctors shouldn’t treat their own families, a priest ordinarily should not be hearing the confessions of family and close friends. All in all, it would be better for the layman to go to confession to a different priest who can give him objective counsel before he and his priest-friend take off on their trip.