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anikins
Guest
I’m fine with either. I travel a lot and have found that most parishes world wide offer both options.
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irishcolleen45
Guest
Thank you. Yes. Wasn’t it St Augustine who changed it to private screen?
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irishcolleen45
Guest
This was my first time with this priest but another priest does offer face to face.
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I_trust
Guest
The person confessing must always be given the option of a screen. More than one have posted they do not offer it in their parish. I ran into this at my parish years ago. Contact your pastor and tell him politely that a screen must be provided, and bring the supporting documents…
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-te...entary-norms/canon-964-2-the-confessional.cfm
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3F.HTM
http://www.cuf.org/2004/04/norms-for-confession/
"Regarding the option to confess behind a fixed screen or face-to-face, the Code of Canon Law states: “The conference of bishops is to issue norms concerning the confessional, seeing to it that confessionals with a fixed grille between penitent and confessor are always located in an open area so that the faithful who wish to make use of them may do so freely” (Canon 964 § 2). The Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts provided more clarity to the norm in its 16 June 1998 decree. In this decree, the Holy See preserves the right of the priest to require confession behind a screen.[8]
The discipline of the Church can be summarized as follows. All confessionals must be constructed with a fixed screen or grille, allowing anonymity of both penitent and confessor. The option of a face-to-face confession can be offered, but the final decision is up to the priest."
In my case the pastor would not provide a screen (for my child’s first confession) even when presented with the official teaching.
Our Bishop was contacted. The screen has been provided ever since.
It is important to go thru the proper channels and be respectful. Your pastor may be un-aware of the teaching.
The priest not offering face to face is completely within his rights.
He may fear being accused of inappropriate touch, or the courts not respecting his right to keep the confession private. If you go to confession frequently, it is usually important for your regular confessor to know who you are if you are to make spiritual progress…There are ways to let him know without going face to face or saying your name.
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irishcolleen45
Guest
I’ve had moments in the confessional that made me realize it was Jesus hearing my confession. One time the priest in elaborating a point said something that I had asked Jesus about earlier that day.
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I_trust
Guest
You have the right to a screened confession.
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babochka
Guest
No, it was St. Charles Borromeo in the 16th Century, but only in his diocese. It was sometime later that the screen became the norm for the entire Latin Church.
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babochka
Guest
I prefer face-to-face, but I’m also somewhat shy and nervous. I’ve solved this problem by having a regular confessor who knows me well. It eliminates the problem of being shy and helps with the anxiety more than a screen could.
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christofirst
Guest
I usually choose the screen too. It is set up that way at the parish I confess at, although a penitent could move the screen (actually more like a thin curtain at my parish) if they so desired.
There have been times, like at the cathedral here where a visiting priest did not have the keys for the confessional, or during Advent and Lent with too many penitents for one confessional, that I have made my confession out in the open, in a pew with the priest, while others in line waited at a respectable distance.
Another time, at a Benedictine abbey, I confessed to the priest outside in their garden. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I am okay with face-to-face. Age and experience have lessened my shyness.
There have been times, like at the cathedral here where a visiting priest did not have the keys for the confessional, or during Advent and Lent with too many penitents for one confessional, that I have made my confession out in the open, in a pew with the priest, while others in line waited at a respectable distance.
Another time, at a Benedictine abbey, I confessed to the priest outside in their garden. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I am okay with face-to-face. Age and experience have lessened my shyness.
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bquinnan
Guest
The USCCB link you provided says, “Provision should also be made for penitents who wish to confess face-to-face …”
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KatyCatholic
Guest
As a man, confessing to a priest behind the screen or face to face is my choice. As all priests are men, when a woman goes to confess, there are distinctions between men and women that often arise to the very nature of the sins being confessed. Thus, I have found through conversations with my family and friends, overall, women like to use the screen during confession just because of discretion.
If there is ever a situation where a woman kneels / sits behind the screen and the priest says, “come around so I can see you during your confession” … if you want to go face to face, then go, but you did just chose to screen, so, don’t feel pressured, just think to yourself that this sacrament is for you, not the priest, and stay screened if you want to, just reply “no thank you, I’m fine here, Father”
If there is ever a situation where a woman kneels / sits behind the screen and the priest says, “come around so I can see you during your confession” … if you want to go face to face, then go, but you did just chose to screen, so, don’t feel pressured, just think to yourself that this sacrament is for you, not the priest, and stay screened if you want to, just reply “no thank you, I’m fine here, Father”
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bquinnan
Guest
Wow – I didn’t realize this was part of Canon law:
I’m kind of surprised, given the number of times priests have heard my confession outside of a confessional.
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bquinnan
Guest
I would think that would be really creepy.
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dconklin
Guest
Back in the day…
Our church only had the traditional confessionals with the screen. When I was in 7th grade at a Catholic School, I once got called out of class to assist the 2nd grade class prepare for the 1st Reconciliation. They asked me to sit in the priest’s chair so the kids would know what it was like to talk to someone behind the screen.
Do you know how much pressure that puts on a young man? (HA!) Over the years a number of told me they thought I would make a great priest. God had other plans. At least I am an Asst DRE at a large parish. Now I get the occasional question of if/when I am going to begin the diaconate.
Our church only had the traditional confessionals with the screen. When I was in 7th grade at a Catholic School, I once got called out of class to assist the 2nd grade class prepare for the 1st Reconciliation. They asked me to sit in the priest’s chair so the kids would know what it was like to talk to someone behind the screen.
Do you know how much pressure that puts on a young man? (HA!) Over the years a number of told me they thought I would make a great priest. God had other plans. At least I am an Asst DRE at a large parish. Now I get the occasional question of if/when I am going to begin the diaconate.
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babochka
Guest
Tis_Bearself
Patron
The weirdest place I have ever confessed was the back of an empty restaurant. It was a travel situation, with time constraints.
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phil19034
Guest
I’ve done both, but I typically prefer kneeling because it allows me to focus on my sins. I get distracted if I see the priest move, so being behind the screen helps be stay comfortable.
I will even still kneel behind the screen when the priest even when the priest knows it’s me and I’m not hiding my identify (i.e. I grabbed him after mass for a quick confession).
Typically, the only time I do face to face is when I’m confessing away from the confessional.
The important thing is to do what makes you more conformable to confess your sins.
But keep in mind, that if a priest only offers confession behind a screen it, there most likely is a valid reason. Perhaps he’s someone who has difficulty controlling his body language? Therefore, he only performs confessions behind a screen so he doesn’t unintentionally scare or offend anyone.
Regardless - you are doing fine… the important thing is that you are going to confession, which is awesome!
God Bless!
I will even still kneel behind the screen when the priest even when the priest knows it’s me and I’m not hiding my identify (i.e. I grabbed him after mass for a quick confession).
Typically, the only time I do face to face is when I’m confessing away from the confessional.
The important thing is to do what makes you more conformable to confess your sins.
But keep in mind, that if a priest only offers confession behind a screen it, there most likely is a valid reason. Perhaps he’s someone who has difficulty controlling his body language? Therefore, he only performs confessions behind a screen so he doesn’t unintentionally scare or offend anyone.
Regardless - you are doing fine… the important thing is that you are going to confession, which is awesome!
God Bless!
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phil19034
Guest
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phil19034
Guest
True. A parish should allow from face-to-face (even if just though appointments). But an individual priest may require the screen if he knows his body language can be off putting.I_trust:
The USCCB link you provided says, “Provision should also be made for penitents who wish to confess face-to-face …”
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bquinnan
Guest
I’ve met that priest a few times.
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