Confession for speech impaired

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upbeatjonm

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My brother has had surgery for throat cancer, and can speak only through the use of an artificial voice box, and is very hard to understand. How can someone like him go to confession? Can he do it in writing, and give the confession to the priest?

Jon
 
I’m sure he could do it in writing or learn sign language. We have several Priests in our diocese that know sign language and often sign the Mass.
 
I found this from an old Ask Father Hardon column.

Q. How does someone who is mute or deaf go to Confession?
—*Anonymous​
*A. A mute or deaf person can go to confession in various ways. If he knows sign language, he can choose a confessor among priests who understand sign language. Or again a mute or deaf person can write out his sins, and either personally or through someone else ask the priest to read his written sins. Then the priest, in writing, may give the penitent such spiritual assistance and assign the penance in accordance with the sins confessed. Or still again, penitents can ask someone whom they totally trust, and to whom they have confided their sins, to go to confession for them. Of course the priest must be first both informed and willing to cooperate. If the priest cooperates, the assistant to the penitent may confess for the penitent; but of course this assistant is absolutely bound by the seal of confession. Finally, if the above options are simply not available, the person may receive absolution from a priest, provided two conditions are fulfilled: the penitent must really want to confess his sins, and secondly he will take the next opportunity to confess his sins by way of sign language, writing or through an assistant.
 
he can certainly communicate by writing. In the case of someone who can neither write, sign, nor speak, it is possible to have an interpreter, who is bound by the same confessional seal as the priest, and must be so instructed. If possible it should not be a relative of the penitent.
 
Similar to what is written above, the Deaf person could also use a professional interpreter. They are legally bound to confidentially. If the Deaf person could find a Catholic interpreter who understands what it’s all about, all the better.
 
Oh boy! As usual I jumped the gun and asked this question in another thread that is similar before seeing this one.:o
 
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