Catholic confessions not therapy, Vatican warns

  • Thread starter Thread starter OnlyAmbrose
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
O

OnlyAmbrose

Guest
guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/03/confession-vatican-catholics-therapy-sin

Notable excerpt:
But, according to the Vatican, real life confessions are in danger of turning into cosy counselling sessions, which is why priests are to be issued with a handbook instructing them to give their flocks a sharp reminder of what sin is all about.
Explaining the initiative, an official at the Vatican office on clergy told Vatican Radio that the declining number of churchgoers who went to confession were confusing it with “a psychiatrist’s couch”. “An ever decreasing number of people see a clear difference between good and evil, between truth and lies and between sin and virtue, and therefore fewer are taking confession,” said Archbishop Mauro Piacenza.
Piacenza said priests would also need to spend more time in the booth. “It’s not always easy to find a priest ready to listen to the confessions of the faithful for hours,” he said.
Deo gratias 🙂
 
This is great! 👍

As I recently learned, confession can also get confused with spiritual direction. Our priest is great, but I actually go to a different parish for confession because of availability and because the line moves a little quicker. Brevity is key. There is nothing wrong, of course, with instruction from the priest on how to avoid particular sin in the future, but Dubay teaches to go though your sins in a quick, matter-of-fact way. For venial sins, no quantifying or details are needed (e.g. I gossiped, cursed in anger, etc.). For mortal sins, list the quantity (e.g. I missed Mass twice). The priest may ask you for clarification (e.g. was it intentional? Were you sick? Etc.), at which time you can clarify. (from: Seeking Spiritual Direction )

The priests I have been to with the most expeditious lines give brief instruction, penance instructions and absolution. It works! Hopefully, we’ll see more confession times and penitents going to confession more regularly with this new instruction. 👍
 
I know some priests that try to do this and some who take advantage of it. I cannot fathom a confession taking 15 minutes like I have seen in some cases.

I have had this only happen to me once and the priest tried to get me to come see him outside the confessional. He also tried to make me do the confession face to face which I refused.

For me, it is in, out and anonymous.
 
I don’t find it odd that confessions often take a lot of time.

consider how infrequently most US catholics actually GO! If somebody finally breaks and goes to confession after 15 years or so, odds are that they need some talking to in order to believe that they are forgiven.

My request to priests: Change the regular time! The middle of the day on Saturday seems almost designed to get few takers. Try 7:00 pm on Mondays! Offer it half an hour before the earliest Sunday morning mass. Offer it at noon if your parish is near a lot of office buildings. You get the idea!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top