Confession: Canon 964

[Fuerza]

Quick question:

The thrid precept of Canon 964 reads “Confessions are not to be heard outside a confessional without a just cause”. I often go to confession by appointment in my priest’s office in the rectory. Does this canon mean that priests who hear confessions outside the confessional are defying Church law? What constitutes a just cause?Thanks.

 

[Fuerza]

By pure coincidence there is a question in the AAA forum about this exact topic. The question still stands though as the answer doesn’t seem very complete.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Quick question:

The thrid precept of Canon 964 reads “Confessions are not to be heard outside a confessional without a just cause”. I often go to confession by appointment in my priest’s office in the rectory. Does this canon mean that priests who hear confessions outside the confessional are defying Church law? What constitutes a just cause?Thanks.

In my opinion “just cause” would be a hospital or nursing home room, on the street in case of a serious accident, when construction is going on around or over the confessional area, very large number of people such as during pilgrimages.

 

[Fuerza]

In my opinion “just cause” would be a hospital or nursing home room, on the street in case of a serious accident, when construction is going on around or over the confessional area, very large number of people such as during pilgrimages.

Thanks. That’s what I would imagine also. Does this mean that I should insist on confessing inside the confessional? I actually prefer confessing in either the office inside the rectory or the one located in the hallway inbetween the church and the chapel of the attached grammar school. It’s much more private and convenient, given that my confessions are often long and embarrassing.