Can a Priest show physical affection to comfort a parishioner?

[JerryZ]

So this happened to me today at work. A person that was going through our facility had a medical emergency. A female coworker was there and was the last person to speak to this man. The paramedics came but could help. My coworker was obviously distraught by this. She needed a hug. Another coworker was there and they hugged and cried together.
We humans need interaction with other human beings. We are not islands. And those that close in on themselves typically suffer from some psychological issues.
My coworker spoke to me and related her pain, I said something and we touched hands. I felt for her pain, it is called empathy. If we had more empathy for our fellow men/women perhaps the world would be a better place for all.

 

[NHeath]

Perhaps this is how he was raised at home and he just extends empathy, compassion and concern. Don’t forget… when you are in confession, Jesus is also in that space and you are confessing to Jesus, not to “just another human”
So perhaps Jesus was moved to compassion by your sincerity and the Holy Spirit used the priest as a puppet and it was really Jesus holding your hand

If you remember Jesus is in there with you, it takes the ‘awkward feeling’ away

 

[Michael_Anthony]

Fr. Larry Richards says that if he is face to face with someone in confession he always ends with a hug (to be comforting, accepting, show patience, and that they are not unlovable/dirty/unworthy of any attention type thing). On a side note, I feel like sometimes society is very over-reactive to physical contact, in this day you (or guys that is, girls always seem to be incapable of such things in the law’s eyes) can get charged with sexual assault for something as simple as a hug (or perhaps even situations as described in the OP).