That depends on your definition of anonymous. Do you mean to the priest, to the Church as a body, or to anyone within eye shot? Canon 964§2 is clearly formulated to ensure that the penitent has the option to remain anonymous from the priest. Because it is so specifically stated that care must be taken to ensure that a confessional have a fixed grill, it would seem to mean that it is the right and not something nice to have. As a priest is already enjoined from speaking about the confession the only reason the grill would be there is for the right of the penitent. By extention one could say that a penitent has a right to anonymity to the Church as a body. This would then mean that a penitent has the right to not be tracked for compliance.
We’d need one of our resident canonist to weigh in, but it would seem to be a logical conclusion that the Church should neither require nor compel a person to receive the sacrament. It seems highly problematic to set requirements to receive a sacrament at an interval that is greater than the Church herself sets.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the priest “present” candidates to the bishop for confirmation, which essentially states that the priest says these candidates are in fact ready and prepared for confirmation? How can said priest be confident if candidate hasn’t been to confession? Forget about monthly confession here. The Church requires yearly confession, right? Most confirmation programs, at least out here, are less than one year. So how could priest be confident candidates are ready without some sort of mandatory confession? I know that a teacher or DRE cannot require a kid to go to confession, but can a priest? Is this similair to the canon law that says a priest is essentially required to deny communion to a known, unrepentant sinner (like Bishop Bruskewitz says he’ll deny Kerry communion?)
My daughter was confirmed last year, and several class periods were devoted strictly for confession. I don’t know if confession was required or what would have happened had my child decided not to go to confession, I actually never thought to ask.
I did attend a Mass a few years ago where the priest was talking about his new 2-year confirmation class. He stated that he had recently presented 100 candidates to the bishop yet priest only actually saw about 20 kids attend weekly Mass. I wish I could find this priest and ask him about this (I saw priest while on vacation years ago). I’m curious what he’s done to help assure that the candidates are indeed ready for the sacrament.
I also would love to hear from the Spanish church that you mentioned Pisnistclair, too see how their process has worked out.
I certainly see the point of not “forcing” kids to go to confession, though I do admit to taking my kids every month. I don’t strong arm them; I just announce its time for confession. I suppose the sacrament isn’t valid (right word?) if penitent isn’t truly sorry and is going only out of obligation, but would grace still be inferred, perhaps enough to persuade kid to go back on his own?
