Confessional screen - anonymity?

[reff]

In all the confessionals I have ever been in that had a grille, I have never seen the priest look in my direction, He has leaned over to listen, but always kept his eyes forward and down. With the exception of one, they’ve been generally dark.

The one exception was at Holy Cross, Toronto. The confessional has a window in it, but the penitent is lit from behind. So that would tend to enhance anonymity, IMO. And again, the priest never once looked in my direction.

“Reconciliation Rooms” are another thing entirely. Don’t like 'em.

I was visiting family in the Bay Area California, and we went to Mass at St. Joachim’s Parish in Hayward, it was a beautiful church. But I noticed their “Reconciliation Room.” There was a window on the door you could see right in, and there was no “separator” or metal grille, just two chairs facing each other. I’m hoping there’s a curtain or something that covers the window when a penitent is in there, because people walking by could clearly see who is in there confessing.

 

[Jennifer_G]

People say that confession behind a screen ensures anonymity. My experience has been limited - only 4 different confessionals - but in each case (save one, where there was a purple cloth) the priest could see the penitent’s (my) face, through the screen if he so chose. It was only *slightly *obscured, but not enough so as to ensure anonymity - unless, of course, he looked down or straight ahead which two of the priests did.

Has anyone been to confession behind a screen where the screen was latticed enough to prevent recognition by a priest?

I have - St. Alphonsus church in Baltimore has lattace work like that. Ours is more open, and with a screen, but you can still see the priest (and vice versa). Plus, the priest I go to knows me by my voice, too.

Our parish also has the traditional confessional with the priest in the middle room and a room for a penitent on each side, but it is modern and well lit. Even being well lit, you can not see the priest through the grille nor can he see you.

Ours is lit, but not very bright, actually - just enough so you can see the “cheat sheet” (laminated cardboard with prayers for confession). We also have the traditional confessional with the priest in the center “room”, and pentinents on both sides.

 

[RosalieM]

My Church has traditional confessional booths and a reconciliation chapel. The booths are perfectly anonymous and the chapel offers a choice between face to face and anonymity. No need for Groucho masks and helium.

 

[tee_eff_em]

I’m hoping there’s a curtain or something that covers the window when a penitent is in there, because people walking by could clearly see who is in there confessing.

Cannot people walking by see penitents entering and exiting traditional confessionals? (Or “worse”!? cf [post=3871931]traditional old-world confessionals[/post])

As I’ve mentioned a time or two previously: What makes people think there is any kind of anonymity associated with reconciliation?

tee

 

[LilyM]

Cannot people walking by see penitents entering and exiting traditional confessionals? (Or “worse”!? cf [post=3871931]traditional old-world confessionals[/post])

As I’ve mentioned a time or two previously: What makes people think there is any kind of anonymity associated with reconciliation?

tee

Well, it’s only for a second or two that you’d be seen upon entry and exit - a window allows you to be seen through the entire confession, vastly increasing the chances of being recognised. Just because as a practical matter it may well be impossible to ensure utter anonymity doesn’t mean we shouldn’t at least try as much as we can.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Well, it’s only for a second or two that you’d be seen upon entry and exit - a window allows you to be seen through the entire confession, vastly increasing the chances of being recognised. Just because as a practical matter it may well be impossible to ensure utter anonymity doesn’t mean we shouldn’t at least try as much as we can.

Why?

Some confessionals do not even have doors, let alone a door-with-a-window! (Here is a photo of one such at the Vatican)
If that should fail, a Google image search for “vatican confessional” or “open confessional” should yield more.

tee

 

[katy]

I think the idea is to be “anonymous” to the confessor, not to everybody in the church. Just standing in the line for confession would take care of that. It isn’t that you are going to confession, but one’s specific identity to the priest that is the question here.

 

[IrishAm]

I fear that people who actually think the confessional is truly “anonymous” also believe their email at work is actually “private.”

 

[tee_eff_em]

I think the idea is to be “anonymous” to the confessor… It isn’t that you are going to confession, but one’s specific identity to the priest that is the question here.

Which only leads to the renewed question: Why? Where does this idea come from?

tee

 

[Mattjolley]

My Parish confessional has a small square hole in the wall which is covered with a grill and a curtain across it on the priest’s side (He would be able to see you easily through the grill if it wasnt for the curtain) When you walk in you can hear the curtain closing across so you know its anonymous. However, he surely recognises my voice by now as I’m an altar server

Down the road at Liverpool Cathedral, the grill is impossible to see through, but has tiny holes like a cheese grate, in that they face downwards, so he cant see you, but can still hear you. However this is totally anonymous for me as I only go there when I can’t make it to my local Parish.

So yes, confessionals can be totally anonymous, unless the Priest knows your voice!

Matt

 

[jmcrae]

So yes, confessionals can be totally anonymous, unless the Priest knows your voice!

This is why I go to Confession with a priest who gets there early (he goes in before any penitents come), in a closed Confessional, with whom I have no regular dealings outside of the Confessional.

Works for me!

 

[muffinmojo]

I’ve only been to confession at two separate churches, one had the traditional booth with a lattice screen in the wall, the other had the stand up-screen/kneeler and then a chair. In both places the screen/lattice thing was closely woven, like a really good basket, so you could hear a whisper through it but not see the person or even their shadow.

As to the open confessionals above, I saw some like that when I was in Germany- I’m pretty sure they have curtains that you pull over the ‘door’ area.

 

[LilyM]

Which only leads to the renewed question: Why? Where does this idea come from?

tee

From the realisation, which the Church came to fairly early on, that people are more likely to confess when their identity is concealed at least from the priest, who in most cases in times past would be someone very well-known to the parishioner and thus difficult to confess to openly.

And from the sign-value of the anonymity of the confessional - which emphasises to both priest and penitent that one is really confessing to God and not so much to the priest. This has the benefits of encouraging honesty from the penitent, and stressing seal of confession to the priest by reminding him that he is there as God’s agent only.

 

[Aramis]

Byzantine Tradition is to confess face to face in front of the Iconostas, in plain view of everyone. True, not one comes close, and one confesses quietly to the priest. It is truly humbling.

 

[AMDGtoo]

Why? Where does this idea come from?

I thought that it was in part because some of the noble women in the middle ages objected to the priest knowing their identity.

 

[tee_eff_em]

From the realisation, which the Church came to fairly early on, that people are more likely to confess when their identity is concealed at least from the priest, who in most cases in times past would be someone very well-known to the parishioner and thus difficult to confess to openly.

Early on? My impression is that private confessionals date to the 16th or 17th Century?

I thought that it was in part because some of the noble women in the middle ages objected to the priest knowing their identity.

Not according to any history I have read.

tee

 

[Michael038]

People say that confession behind a screen ensures anonymity. My experience has been limited - only 4 different confessionals - but in each case (save one, where there was a purple cloth) the priest could see the penitent’s (my) face, through the screen if he so chose. It was only *slightly *obscured, but not enough so as to ensure anonymity - unless, of course, he looked down or straight ahead which two of the priests did.

Has anyone been to confession behind a screen where the screen was latticed enough to prevent recognition by a priest?

I have this problem in my parish, so I found another church where it has the traditional screen where you can’t be recognized and that’s where I go. I dont like going face to face and my pastor knows me outside of church and would recognize my voice anyways.

 

[ElizabethPH]

Although I have done face to face confession usually at those confession services during Lent and Advent, I prefer behind the screen. We had a temporary priest who was very casual about confession and would invite you to sit in front of him; and if I got to confession only a couple of minutes early he still wouldn’t be in the confessional yet always busy up to the last minute before confession time; and often times late. Once I was the only one there and he was fiddling with the candles and flowers in the sanctuary, he looked right at me and apologized he’d just be a minute. So much for anonymity. Although I liked him very much, I sometimes found myself seeking another parish for confession while he was with us.

 

[AJV]

I have this problem in my parish, so I found another church where it has the traditional screen where you can’t be recognized and that’s where I go. I dont like going face to face and my pastor knows me outside of church and would recognize my voice anyways.

Well, I don’t have this option since my church is the only one . I’d have to travel VERY far to the nearest Catholic church. Not that I mind because going to my confessor is helpful because he knows my spiritual situation and so can give me good advice.

On holiday recently I went to 7 churches and had a look at all their confessionals. In 6, it was the carved wood screen but still easy to look through. In the 7th, there was a very thick mosquito net-like covering but I could make out the priest’s features very clearly. Not that it mattered because the priest had his ear to the netting to listen to the confession above the din of rosaries, novenas and Masses.

 

[lizaanne]

won’t the priest see you walk in if it allows face to face confessions? what’s the point in kneeling behind the screen?

Unless he turns and looks at the door to see who is coming in he would not see you. But if he did turn his head it would look right through the screen which is way too flimsy.

I just prefer kneeling to receive absolution. Sitting in a chair is too chit-chatty for me, but that’s a personal preference.

~Liza