Confessing anonymously

[Jeremy]

I was reading the Ask An Apologist forum today and came across this question

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=35914

Being a new student of Catholicism, I was surprised by this statement:

“All Catholic Churches are required to give people the option of either going face to face or anonymously.”

It never occurred to me that people would choose to confess face-to-face. But I can see a certain appeal to it. Does anyone exercise this option? Any comments?

 

[amasimp]

Well if you confess regularly to the same priest, he will eventually get to know who you are. Believe me, it takes a lot more courage and humilty to confess your sins to somebody you know than not. That said, I still use the screen…it’s too much like a therapy session if I don’t.

 

[serendipity]

I like the screen better. Yes, they probably know the voice and the habits, but it makes me feel less comfortable about being so naked.

The only problem is that there are so few confession services here. The priest never seems to be there Saturday, when scheduled, so you have to call an make an appointment and then what is the point of the screen.

 

[Timidity]

Jeremy:

It never occurred to me that people would choose to confess face-to-face. But I can see a certain appeal to it. Does anyone exercise this option? Any comments?

I confess face-to-face exclusively (unless the priest objects). I find it keeps me honest and it’s an added incentive when facing temptation.

 

[_veritas]

I too typically confess face-to-face, but I do have a regular confessor that I (try) to go to weekly. It is both harder and easier for me to do it this way – easier for me to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, because I feel more personally accountable with the priest looking straight at me, but also harder of course, for the same reason!

The screen is good too, and every parish should have that as an option as well. I use the screen too sometimes, especially in the older churches that have the old-style confessionals.

Both are good, and different people prefer different styles. The Church allows for either.

+veritas+

 

[atsheeran]

“All Catholic Churches are required to give people the option of either going face to face or anonymously.”

I don’t believe this statement is entirely accurate. Canon law does not require (at least anywhere that I can find) that penitents have the option to confess face to face. Canon law clearly does require, however, that penitents be able to confess anonymously:

Can. 964 §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

Based on this, it seems that the norms of Canon Law would be satisfied if anonymous confession were made available, but face to face confession were not.

 

[WanderAimlessly]

I prefer the anonymity of the screen and try to avoid face to face if possible. I feel more comfortable doing it this way.

PF

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

atsheeran:

I don’t believe this statement is entirely accurate. Canon law does not require (at least anywhere that I can find) that penitents have the option to confess face to face. Canon law clearly does require, however, that penitents be able to confess anonymously:

Based on this, it seems that the norms of Canon Law would be satisfied if anonymous confession were made available, but face to face confession were not.

You are correct. The Screen is REQUIRED to be available, face to face is not a required option.

 

[Timidity]

Br. Rich SFO:

The Screen is REQUIRED to be available, face to face is not a required option.

In fact, in some states where they have mandatory reporting laws that do not exclude the confessional, I wouldn’t be surprised if confessors required the use of a screen to protect themselves legally.