Confession questions about children

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First of all, priests are less likely to abuse children then many others such as teachers, coaches, family members, etc.

Secondly, of the priests who have abused children it hasn’t been done in the confessional as far as I have read. Those who have abused prepubescent children, have ingratiated themselves to the family and taken advantage of the trust. Being asked to babysit, or offering to take the kids for ice cream, stuff like that.

When my 8 year old granddaughter goes to confession, her mother is just outside the door. At 8 the confession isn’t very long and she’s out in under 5 minutes.

The reason the Church set the age of reason at 7 is because that is when a child can understand being wrong, and understand guilt and forgiveness. I’ve never heard, and don’t believe, that the it was set at 7 so a Pope could be alone with a child.

You’ve given your child guidance. I’m sure, if she goes to public school, she’s already been educated in good/bad touches, etc.
 
Gabbi said:
First of all, priests are less likely to abuse children then many others such as teachers, coaches, family members, etc.
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Right, but the OP makes a good point. For a parent, “less likely” isn’t good enough.
Gabbi said:
Secondly, of the priests who have abused children it hasn’t been done in the confessional as far as I have read
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This is a good point. I can’t recall of such a case, either.
 
If you are worried about abuse, tell her that if the priest makes her in any way uncomfortable, to immediately run out of the confessional.
 
MCH1 said:
If you are worried about abuse, tell her that if the priest makes her in any way uncomfortable, to immediately run out of the confessional.
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Yeah… that won’t freak out the poor girl at all… :roll_eyes:
 
Actually it was done there which is why the widows and doing it out in the open. But she is not a boy either. Usually the victims were boys. All that extra time for grooming with altar serving.

This family home schools. No adult is trusted.
 
Gabbi said:
Secondly, of the priests who have abused children it hasn’t been done in the confessional as far as I have read.
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It’s happened here, which is one of the reasons we have open rooms for the sacrament of Reconcilliation
 
Maybe, maybe not.
What I see you teaching your child is that no one but Mom & Dad can be trusted, and this is not a good thing.
I understand wanted to protect your children, but treating every other adult as if they are some sort of perverted monster is not the way.
 
Kris34 said:
Actually it was done there which is why the widows and doing it out in the open.
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Is there a particular case you know about? Cause I don’t think that your take on it is accurate. In the corporate world, we’ve been being told for a decade or two “no one-on-one meetings, especially between a man and a woman, behind a closed door. If closed, then there must be a window in the door, sufficiently large that anyone from the outside can see everyone inside.” I think that the Church is just catching up to what the business world already knows about protecting itself from accusations.
But she is not a boy either. Usually the victims were boys. All that extra time for grooming with altar serving.
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That may have worked as an excuse 30-40 years ago, but not now. Altar servers are not exclusively male any more, for the most part.

In any case, an anxious parent of a daughter isn’t going to be soothed by the refrain, “most of the abuse happened to boys.”
Roseeurekacross said:
It’s happened here
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Yikes! In confession? To a child? How does a priest have enough time to do that?

In any case, I stand corrected…
 
Yes, here , a child was even raped on a consecrated altar , in a Cathedral, by a priest. He is now in jail.

The Australian Royal Commission was in response to a truly heinous era.
 
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However, every penitent, even a 7 year old, has the right to an anonymous confession. I would not go to confession in front of a window!!
 
Agree. Instilling such a level of distrust can harm a child, as they grow into adulthood they may not be able to form healthy friendships.

What happens if there is an emergency and your child needs to be rescued by an “adult stranger”? If an illness happens and the child needs medical treatment?

Be Not Afraid is stated more than 300 times in Scripture.

Christ has not given us the spirit of fear but of love and a sound mind.
 
OCD has nothing to do with actual pedophilia. If a penitent feels remorse and/or fear for their soul is what causes them to go to Confession.
 
TheLittleLady said:
However, every penitent, even a 7 year old, has the right to an anonymous confession. I would not go to confession in front of a window!!
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Every penitent has the right to a confession with a fixed grill. This has nothing to do with a window allowing others to see the confession. Anonymity is not guaranteed.
 
I think if I had a way to delete my question around the time the Priest helped answer me, I would do so. It was nice that he answered this, I enjoyed hearing from him. But that was early on in the chat. It seems if a question lingers it takes all sorts of turns. I appreciate the parenting advice but the truth is you don’t know me/my hubs or my kids. I don’t recall asking for parenting advice. It seems like once someone asks a question, nobody bothers to read what the result might be and it takes all sorts of twists and turns. I already mentioned seeking out better confessionals than the closed off ones we are used to at our parish is a good idea and my personal reasons for protecting my children. Thanks anyway.
 
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You also realize that on a military base at a military chapel you are dealing with commissioned military officers who happen to be priests, correct?

(I’m a commissioned officer myself, in the USAF, and I’m a bit concerned by the extent that you don’t trust us.)
 
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I’m sure prayer will help your concerns. I don’t have anything else to tell you Pup. They’re not always commissioned officers. And so what? I’ve known officers my whole life. I’m not sure you are following me. Trust you with what?
 
Your children. And I am following you.

You’re apparently Navy, you can go to a Navy chapel, and those priests (with very few outliers who are normally retirees - I think in all my years of active duty I’ve met one non-active duty chaplain at a military chapel) are commissioned officers.

Earlier in the thread you made a comment about not being able to get to know a chaplain before you move, so you are protective for that reason. We’re officers - those priests are officers - and answer to the military justice system as well as the Church.

It bothered me that you don’t seem to trust military officers with the safety of your kids.
 
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Again, this question is old. All it does is take a turn for the worst when these questions linger. I think your concern for what I do is silly. Seriously, officers don’t do any wrong? You want to draw a huge conclusion from me based on a valid concern.
 
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