Confession Coward

[baltobetsy]

Again, thank you all. I suppose I just feel that I’m being a bit dishonest in `running’ across town every time I commit a sin that I feel too uncomfortable telling my own parish priest in Confession. It just seems so hard & I know it’s because I don’t want him to get the wrong (which would be the more accurate impression of me. Is this by itself a sin of pride? Do I need to grow up in my faith?

In order for it to be a sin, it would have to be wrong. It is not wrong to do this.

It may not be the very best thing, and God may be calling you to bring all your sins to your parish priest for some reason.

It certainly might be better if your parish priest knew the whole story of your spiritual life if he is going to advise you well about getting closer to God and doing His will. Or perhaps there is some advice that only your parish priest would think of to give you, that God would like you to hear. Perhaps your parish priest has special expertise with the sins you are confessing elsewhere.

Or perhaps God is calling you to greater humility, which is different from your being guilty of the sin of pride.

Or maybe it really doesn’t matter at all. I’d advise you to pray about it, making sure to listen for God. But be assured that you may certainly confess to any priest, for any reason.

Betsy

 

[kristie_m]

Just an added note, I know of people who work in a parish, both staff and volunteers, and they have been advised that if they have something job related to confess they should consider going to another priest. Not because he wouldn’t absolve them, but because it might make things awkward for the pastor if he knows that the parish accountant is embezzelling, or the sacristan is drinking all of the communion wine. I believe it is actually a rule that a priest can’t confess to another priest who is or might someday be his boss, for the same reason.

 

[choy]

I believe it is actually a rule that a priest can’t confess to another priest who is or might someday be his boss, for the same reason.

who does the Pope confess to then?