That’s what she said and what he replied… Maybe he misunderstood her…I Will encourage. Her to talk to him.
Can you think of any reason his answer would make sense religiously ??
The answer to your last question is, yes, I can. Several reasons. Each predicated on something very different.
You are correct that he could have misundertood her…or understood her in a way other than she intended…or arrived at an assessment apart from her question/statement.
She also could have misunderstood him or understood him in a way other than what he intended, depending upon the terminology he used.
I always used to – and still do – remind the junior clergy that there is what you say and there is what your parishioner hears. Sometimes, there is no match at all between these two realities.
As I told them, this is above all important to remember with regards to anything touching upon the internal forum…both with regard to what you say and with regard to your adjudication of a matter subsequently brought to you in the confessional regarding a previous confessor; you will only know in the latter case what the penitent heard and, even then, it may only be what they think they heard.
Characterising what the priest said is already a generation removed from “I said these exact words and the priest responded in these exact words…” which is the position I am in, based on the recollection of your wife that you have given.
