Children of Eastern Catholic priests

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adamhovey1988

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Just out of curiosity (as I have met a few married Eastern priests), would it not be a conflict of interest for the child of a priest to go to him for confession? I am not saying the Sacrament would not be valid (it would be very much valid!), but I’m just curious how that would work. I do imagine that they’d probably go to another priest for confession. I’d be really curious if the children of Eastern Catholic priests would be involved in this thread to tell me their point of view.
 
It would be really interesting if the priest’s wife went to him for confession.
 
I don’t know if its a matter of canon, but I know several married priests (both Latin Rite and Eastern Rites) who say that they do not hear the confessions of their wife or children. The wife and children confess to another priest, just because it would be difficult to be impartial in those situations.

That is, however, ruling out emergency situations.
 
L_Marshall said:
I don’t know if its a matter of canon, but I know several married priests (both Latin Rite and Eastern Rites) who say that they do not hear the confessions of their wife or children. The wife and children confess to another priest, just because it would be difficult to be impartial in those situations.

That is, however, ruling out emergency situations.
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Well, I mean yeah, conflict of interest. I don’t think most of them would. But then again, if they are hundreds of miles from the closest priest…okay, now that’s an extreme situation
 
I think the situation would be the same re a Latin rite priest hearing the confession of his parents or siblings.
 
Joe_Kelley said:
I think the situation would be the same re a Latin rite priest hearing the confession of his parents or siblings.
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I have actually heard of a Latin priest hearing his father’s confession. I don’t think it’s disallowed, but when someone comes to you after thirty years without having gone to confession, and your hear from your mother or father “bless me father, for I have sinned”. I mean, what is your reaction? I mean, I know the priest is still in persona christi either way, and I am not trying to say this is wrong, I am just trying to shed some light on this. I am very curious person.
 
really, should it matter? I thought one of the great aspects of Sacramental confession is to bring our shame and guilt before another brother in the faith (and of course Jesus being present) to represent the body of Christ whom we in part sin against. If we make a contrite confession, it shouldnt matter who is hearing. Men, family, friends, bosses, etc are infinitely less important to worry about. Further, I am one to believe in a necessity to first reconcile with those directly involved before expecting absolution. But I realize its given to the authority of the priests. In that way, the priests have a great responsibility when they use their discretion to demand someone to confess to others as penance, or not to worry about telling anyone.
 
rcwitness said:
really, should it matter? I thought one of the great aspects of Sacramental confession is to bring our shame and guilt before another brother in the faith (and of course Jesus being present) to represent the body of Christ whom we in part sin against. If we make a contrite confession, it shouldnt matter who is hearing. Men, family, friends, bosses, etc are infinitely less important to worry about. Further, I am one to believe in a necessity to first reconcile with those directly involved before expecting absolution. But I realize its given to the authority of the priests. In that way, the priests have a great responsibility when they use their discretion to demand someone to confess to others as penance, or not to worry about telling anyone.
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I wasn’t implying that, thank you for completely taking my words out of context.
 
adamhovey1988 said:
I wasn’t implying that, thank you for completely taking my words out of context.
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Your right, I should have acknowledged that. It was merely my reaction to the scenerio. I didnt mean to accuse you in that way, but I see how that came accross. :imsorry:
 
adamhovey1988 said:
Just out of curiosity (as I have met a few married Eastern priests), would it not be a conflict of interest for the child of a priest to go to him for confession? I am not saying the Sacrament would not be valid (it would be very much valid!), but I’m just curious how that would work. I do imagine that they’d probably go to another priest for confession. I’d be really curious if the children of Eastern Catholic priests would be involved in this thread to tell me their point of view.
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Probably for their penance he’d make them take out the trash. 😃

In all seriousness though, the seal prevents priests from even mentioning a person’s sin outside the confessional, so he would have to act like he never heard their confession. So strictly speaking, he couldn’t treat them any differently because of what they said. Still though, I would definitely feel awkward.
 
rcwitness said:
really, should it matter? I thought one of the great aspects of Sacramental confession is to bring our shame and guilt before another brother in the faith (and of course Jesus being present) to represent the body of Christ whom we in part sin against. If we make a contrite confession, it shouldnt matter who is hearing. Men, family, friends, bosses, etc are infinitely less important to worry about. Further, I am one to believe in a necessity to first reconcile with those directly involved before expecting absolution. But I realize its given to the authority of the priests. In that way, the priests have a great responsibility when they use their discretion to demand someone to confess to others as penance, or not to worry about telling anyone.
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Interesting point of view. When you confess do you use the confessional, or do you request that Father meet you in the middle of the church so everyone can hear?
 
Peter_J said:
Interesting point of view. When you confess do you use the confessional, or do you request that Father meet you in the middle of the church so everyone can hear?
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Confessional, of course. But my wife knows all my sins. I wrote down my confession on paper the other day because I needed to translate into portuguese and she read it. My daughter who I am teaching about the sacrament, after coming out, asked, “Daddy, what bad things did you tell Jesus that you did?” I told her in an age appropriate manner.

My point is that if I steal from my brother and only tell the priest I hardly think thats being contrite. Or if I cheat on my wife, do I excuse myself from telling her and keep it between me and the priest?

Jesus tells us to first reconcile with my brother, then offer my gifts at the altar. James tells us to confess our sins to one another. Who is my brother? In part it is everyone in Christ, and Paul tells us that our sins harm everyone in part. So, while im not being extreme and saying we need to confess our sins in the manner of the sacrament to all, we should consider the priest representing all. What we tell him and our Lord, we should not be ashamed to tell anyone else. Yet, I realize the difference between confessing in order to edify one another and an inappropriate sharing.
 
Joe_Kelley said:
I think the situation would be the same re a Latin rite priest hearing the confession of his parents or siblings.
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Can you imagine, though, a priest hearing any, um, sexual sins from either of his parents? :eek:

“All right, my son…
First: make a good act of contrition.
Second: say a rosary for your penance.
Third: Ewww, Dad…” 😃
 
John_Lazarus said:
Can you imagine, though, a priest hearing any, um, sexual sins from either of his parents? :eek:

“All right, my son…
First: make a good act of contrition.
Second: say a rosary for your penance.
Third: Ewww, Dad…” 😃
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Yes, I definitely see the awkwardness of the potential situation. But lets give credit to Priests and their calling. Given a fair amount of yrs serving the Sacrament, priests have heard most everything. They have been called to a higher vocation in putting aside their human reactions and feelings towards penatents, no? And not in a mere passive sense, but seeking a healing way for the person to overcome in the future. Lets also give credit to the repentant. They have committed themselves to giving their sins to the Lord for His merited righteousness.

I speak the truth when I say that I would be honored to here my father confess any sin to me. Not for the sole purpose of Sacramental forgiveness, but for the sake of genuine remorse and determination to turn from what God had rooted out of his heart. There is no longer any shame in a confessed sin. There is only an appreciation for Jesus.
 
rcwitness said:
Yes, I definitely see the awkwardness of the potential situation. But lets give credit to Priests and their calling. Given a fair amount of yrs serving the Sacrament, priests have heard most everything. They have been called to a higher vocation in putting aside their human reactions and feelings towards penatents, no? And not in a mere passive sense, but seeking a healing way for the person to overcome in the future. Lets also give credit to the repentant. They have committed themselves to giving their sins to the Lord for His merited righteousness.

I speak the truth when I say that I would be honored to here my father confess any sin to me. Not for the sole purpose of Sacramental forgiveness, but for the sake of genuine remorse and determination to turn from what God had rooted out of his heart. There is no longer any shame in a confessed sin. There is only an appreciation for Jesus.
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I like the way you put that. By the way, I should point out that I have confessed in the Byzantine Rite. (Melkite), and even if I go to a Latin priest for confession, I prefer face to face. I mention this because you kneel before an icon with the priest standing over you. It is odd for a Latin, but very beautiful at the same time. To the best of my knowledge, I have no family members that are priests. I have noticed that many people are horrified at the aspect of confession, and I was at first (makes me kind of glad I was Baptized as an adult), but it got to the point where I realised that it was not something to be feared (I want to my first confession I think about three months after I came into the Church, and the priest seemed kind of angry at me, he didn’t scare me off though!), and we have so many people (even amongst Catholics) who thing “why should I have to confess my sins to a sinful man”? For the same reason they do!
 
adamhovey1988 said:
I like the way you put that.
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Thanks.
By the way, I should point out that I have confessed in the Byzantine Rite. (Melkite), and even if I go to a Latin priest for confession, I prefer face to face. I mention this because you kneel before an icon with the priest standing over you. It is odd for a Latin, but very beautiful at the same time.
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Not sure who you are refering to. But I enjoy face to face as well. Ive never confessed behind a closed door. A few times Ive used the traditional confessional that allows the option to be behind a wall, but its also open to sit and face the priest. Most of the time, however, its been at an open table with my pastor. Once, here in Brasil, it was after Mass and sitting on folding chairs outside Church with everyone passing by and leaving the service. I felt perfectly comfortable. I respect that people have particular preferences regarding their confession, but I think it is better to put aside all anxieties and get our sins out from us. Who hears above and beyond Jesus and His priest is kinda like a means to witness to His conversion of my heart. If there is occassion to share, then I believe we can edify our brothers and sisters in confessing in the form of professing.
 
rcwitness said:
Thanks. Not sure who you are refering to. But I enjoy face to face as well. Ive never confessed behind a closed door. A few times Ive used the traditional confessional that allows the option to be behind a wall, but its also open to sit and face the priest. Most of the time, however, its been at an open table with my pastor. Once, here in Brasil, it was after Mass and sitting on folding chairs outside Church with everyone passing by and leaving the service. I felt perfectly comfortable. I respect that people have particular preferences regarding their confession, but I think it is better to put aside all anxieties and get our sins out from us. Who hears above and beyond Jesus and His priest is kinda like a means to witness to His conversion of my heart. If there is occassion to share, then I believe we can edify our brothers and sisters in confessing in the form of professing.
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I don’t know what you are confused about. When I say “Latin” I mean western Catholic. In a Byzantine Rite confession you kneel before and icon in the church and the priest stands over you during your confession and grants absolution. Eastern Catholics don’t have kneelers, but I think it makes it that much more interesting. By the way, since most of the members of the Eastern Catholic Parish here go to Latin priests for confession, there’s really not a line for confessions. (In fact, it was Melkite Deacon that had gotten out of the confessional that invited me to go to the Melkite Divine Liturgy!) I mean, you can make an appointment for a confession, but he has schedule for it. It’s 3-5 p.m. every Saturday. When I went, I was the only one there. The first confession I went to was not face to face, but it became my preference. Where I have been going to confession lately (I don’t priest-hop, sometimes I just can’t get to the priest I want to go to), I have been using the screen. Not because I am embarrassed, but because I just never think about it when I go into the confessional.
 
Ok, I wasnt aware of that practice in the Byzantine rite. 👍 Its nice to not have to wait in a line, but then its sad that the faithfull is not dealing with their sins more.
 
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