Confession annonymous or open whose choice?

[opus101]

Last weekend, I went to confession at a parish in another town. Though I have been to confession at a number of parishes, something happened that was totally new to me.

I started behind the screen and was going through my confession when the priest stopped me and asked me to come around to sit in a chair in front of him. It certainly caught me by surprise, but my impulse was to do exactly what the priest asked.

I understand that it is the penitent’s choice of being behind the screen or in front of the priest, but I have never been directed to change my choice before. If I preferred to stay behind the screen, and I do feel more open to say anything behind the screen, what should I do if that were to happen again? I have never heard of this one before and it has left me scratching my head.

I would have respectfully asked him “why?”.

Do you think he might be hard of hearing? I suppose he probably would have mentioned that if it were the case.

It seems somewhat disrespectful of the priest to ignore your obvious preference. If you had wanted to go face to face you would have gone on the other side of the screen from the start. It’s also sad that he was willing to disregard canon law and your rights.

Personally, I woudn’t go back to that priest.

 

[LouisvilleRC]

Well where I am it’s almost open by force. We have “Reconciliation Rooms” where there are two chairs face to face. In my parish we only do it 4 times a year in communal penance services so we don’t really have to worry about it.

 

[CrossBro]

Well where I am it’s almost open by force. We have “Reconciliation Rooms” where there are two chairs face to face. In my parish we only do it 4 times a year in communal penance services so we don’t really have to worry about it.

I thought one of the requirements for communal penance was that people were told they had to go to confession within a certain time period. We had annual CP way back at one of my parishes but once the diocese got wind of it, it got shut down real fast. Also, communal penance is void in cases involving murder or adultery.

Anyone ?

 

[babochka]

My leanings are very traditional and I think anonymous is more sacred, it is my right and none of the priest’s business one way or the other.

Could you expand on this a bit? What makes anonymous confession more sacred in your view?

 

[CrossBro]

Could you expand on this a bit? What makes anonymous confession more sacred in your view?

The reason screens were set up in the confessionals was to ensure the sacrament would remain as a seal. To me that is more sacred. I asked a priest once what he would do if someone confessed a murder to him. Would he break the seal ? He told me that he would try to ask the person if he would be willing to discuss the matter in greater detail outside the confessional and he could get him that way. I feel that is a violation of trust.

Unfortunately, in talking with many priests or listening to their views on confession, I have lost a lot of trust with many. I am very picky now on who is going to hear my confessions. If a priest seems to disregard sin incarnate or the devil, leans towards modern psycho babel- they simply are not going to be bothered by me.

 

[Georgia]

I would have respectfully asked him “why?”.

Do you think he might be hard of hearing? I suppose he probably would have mentioned that if it were the case.

It seems somewhat disrespectful of the priest to ignore your obvious preference. If you had wanted to go face to face you would have gone on the other side of the screen from the start. It’s also sad that he was willing to disregard canon law and your rights.

Personally, I woudn’t go back to that priest.

It was not a hearing issue. When I started my confession, the priest asked me to speak more quietly. And, no, I really don’t see myself going to that parish for confession again.

 

[Miriam1947]

With several parishes close to me, I have the choice to go to one where it is always anonymous. Lucky me.

 

[bmonk]

2nd graders don’t have the same rights under canon law as everyone else? I understand encouraging them in one direction or another, for a variety of reasons, but it should always be up to them, even the first time.

I personally prefer face-to-face and I believe that it is better, but my opinion does not trump canon law. We cannot start trampling on the rights of children just because they don’t know any better.

Yes, they do have the same rights–as I said, we encourage them to go face-to-face, we do not require it.

 

[bilop]

Yes, they do have the same rights–as I said, we encourage them to go face-to-face, we do not require it.

Why encourage the “less canonical option”? Why not just simply give them the choice?

I find anonymous confession much more conducive to viewing the priest in his role as “Alter Christi”. You don’t think so much about the priest’s personality, or who he is. He’s only the representative of Christ. And he has an easier time just addressing your sins, not your personality.

God Bless.

 

[svid2]

Pax Christi.

Question: can a penitant wear a mask?

God bless.

 

[babochka]

Yes, they do have the same rights–as I said, we encourage them to go face-to-face, we do not require it.

Oh, ok. I misunderstood because you said that after the first time it was their option. I assumed they were given no option the first time.