Cutting in line for confession?

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Theresalux

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So I just went to confession today and when I arrived, there were already a few people in line. I took off my coat, draped it over the pew I was in to indicate that someone was sitting there. I then excused myself and used the restroom.

When I returned, there were two people in line behind the pew I put my coat on. I walked back to my pew, took the coat and set it beside me in the pew I had saved.The line progressed and I went to confession.

I’m a bit concerned now that what I did was rude and perhaps one might view it as cutting in line…

What do y’all think? If you had seen a coat draped over a pew in line, would you assume someone was saving the seat and would return to the line? Or would you be annoyed when that person returned, viewing the action as cutting?
 
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Theresalux said:
So I just went to confession today and when I arrived, there were already a few people in line. I took off my coat, draped it over the pew I was in to indicate that someone was sitting there. I then excused myself and used the restroom.

When I returned, there were two people in line behind the pew I put my coat on. I walked back to my pew, took the coat and set it beside me in the pew I had saved.The line progressed and I went to confession.

I’m a bit concerned now that what I did was rude and perhaps one might view it as cutting in line…

What do y’all think? If you had seen a coat draped over a pew in line, would you assume someone was saving the seat and would return to the line? Or would you be annoyed when that person returned, viewing the action as cutting?
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I would not assume that a coat draped over a pew indicated a saved place in the confession line, but I probably would figure it out when that person returned and took out her place in line. I would not be annoyed in any case.
 
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Sounds like the kind of thing that can vary from place to place. I don’t think there’s a single answer that would be true of every Catholic parish in the world. But if you didn’t get any dirty looks when you did it, then that would suggest you’re okay.
 
Someone mentioned scruples…I understand that this action does not constitute a sin, much less a mortal sin. I just didn’t want to be rude. I figured that it was pretty clear I was holding a spot, but I can see how people might be annoyed and I just wanted a outside opinion.
 
We sit in line. Each person in a pew, and then as each person goes, we get up and shuffle forward to sit in the next pew.
 
That must be comical to watch!

In that case, if I saw someone do what was described, my initial thought would be “cheater!” Then immediately I would self-correct so no harm, no foul. I would be fine with it.

If you can’t give someone a “pass” in the confession line, you need to work a little on yourself.
 
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It’s not quite as silly looking as it might sound haha.
 
Given the way the line works, I would be annoyed that someone tried to hold their place with a coat. Thereby holding up the line as it was supposed to be moving. I would have gone around your coat if I didn’t know you. If I did know you, I would not have been annoyed because I would feel comfortable moving your coat as the line moved.
 
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1Lord1Faith said:
Given the way the line works, I would be annoyed that someone tried to hold their place with a coat. Thereby holding up the line as it was supposed to be moving. I would have gone around your coat if I didn’t know you. If I did know you, I would not have been annoyed because I would feel comfortable moving your coat as the line moved.
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Well, I got in line before anyone had the chance to get up and move from their original seats. Father had just recently started hearing confessions when I got back.
 
Well if the line never moved because you got there early then that’s different. I guess if there was some sort of mishap in the bathroom, the line could have been held up. Life if full of choices.
 
Couldn’t care less even if someone deliberately and intentionally cut in front of me for confession. Oh that we should all be so desperate for the sacrament of reconciliation! 😉 Not really, but I don’t really care if people save their spot in line and I’m sure no one was bothered. 🙂
 
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Someone cut in line for us the other day.

We sit in the same pew and shuffle along closer to the door. Someone exited the confessional and a woman breezed into church and straight into the open door before the old lady in front of me had time to get up. We all looked open-eyed at each other.

Now, we could take it that this woman was rude. OR this could have been her first confessional after many years away and she didn’t know the etiquette yet. I’m going to take it as the later and am glad she went immediately in whilst she had courage.

Now cut in front of me whilst getting my food shopping… and you’ll get a very British ‘excuse me, the end of the line is behind me’ and a tut.
 
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