First Reconciliation - Priest Denies Absolution to Many 2nd Graders (not just mine)

[shelby_sun]

You don’t have any idea what the priest did or didn’t do. You only have second-hand (at best) knowledge of what actually happened. In fact, you don’t even know if the priest actually denied absolution.

Peace

Tim

I am, as I always do, going on that the OP is not lying about the information, I trust the moderators to shut down any thread they think is a scam. I gave my opinion on the information the OP gave. Just about everything on this site is hearsay, even many of the articles are secondhand information. I guess I should have worded it that IF that priest actually denied or postponed a second grader forgiveness for the reasons that were given, in my opinion was wrong.

 

[shelby_sun]

Not all kids are ready for the sacrament at age 7 / 8 but at the same time if the educators and priest work with the kids to be decently prepared then something like this may have never happened. The teachers and parents should determine readiness and knowledge before 1st Communion and Confession plus Confirmation as each kid is different.

When I had my 1st confession, it was at age 10 many years ago, and the teacher plus the priest ensured that us kids were ready plus the confession room was set up for face to face as there was no screen. I had no problem at all neither did my classmates.

The priest I had growing up and those I know now would have help this child through confession so he would be better prepared next time. They would help us relax but saying something funny or telling us one of their own (probably made up) confessions they had when they were our age.

If this situation really happened, it is sad this priest didn’t have the wisdom to handle it in a better, more Chrisy like way. Maybe it is the priests who is not ready to hear children’s confessions and who needs more lessons on how to be Christ like.

 

[MissRose73]

The priest I had growing up and those I know now would have help this child through confession so he would be better prepared next time. They would help us relax but saying something funny or telling us one of their own (probably made up) confessions they had when they were our age.

If this situation really happened, it is sad this priest didn’t have the wisdom to handle it in a better, more Christ like way. Maybe it is the priests who is not ready to hear children’s confessions and who needs more lessons on how to be Christ like.

I’ve been to many different churches for Confession, and no one that I overheard ever said they had an issue with their child when he or she went into confess. Keep in mind, most of them have the option of only the priest behind the screen in some way not an option to be face to face. I hope priests are coming to the classes of the young people preparing to informing them what to do and what will happen, plus how to be prepared so they are not intimidated when the time comes.

 

[shelby_sun]

I’ve been to many different churches for Confession, and no one that I overheard ever said they had an issue with their child when he or she went into confess. Keep in mind, most of them have the option of only the priest behind the screen in some way not an option to be face to face. I hope priests are coming to the classes of the young people preparing to informing them what to do and what will happen, plus how to be prepared so they are not intimidated when the time comes.

I know where my children go to school, a Catholic school, the priest do just that. I had a priest yell at me has an adult for walking to the back of the Church after communion. I had just been told a good friend of mine had a few months to live, so I went to Mass fighting back the tears, and about to break down went to the back to end Mass. He told me I should be ashamed of myself leaving Mass early. Even as an adult it hurt me terribly, so I can only imagine what this child must have felt.

 

[texasmom2702]

Thank you all for your posts! Just seeing that there have been so many posts to my questions made me feel more confident that a call to the diocese was in order.

My husband called, and spoke to the RE director and she told him to call the Vicar General. My husband was very comforted by the Vicar General’s concern for the matter. The Vicar has given us sound advice on how to proceed ourselves, and we feel comfortable that the Vicar will handle the matter very well. He said he is most concerned about the list and said he will speak with the parish and offer advice on how to handle the matter differently if this situation occurs again next year.

After having a few days to reflect on the incident and some of the posts, I believe I was most hurt by the manner in which the news was delivered. I think the news should have come from the priest the night of the event. I left believing my son had been granted absolution, and I was at great peace. Finding out later that he hadn’t really threw me into a tail spin.

God Bless and thank you again for your posts!

 

[adrift]

I’m shocked and completely heart broken. I’ve never heard of this. Has this ever happened to anyone else? I really feel like a call to the Diocese is in order, but I don’t know since there is nothing they can do about it now.

It happened to my son. The priest I believe didn’t believe in confession for young children. I don’t know that for a fact but he discouraged confession before first Eucharist. My son is now in his thirties. When he was an adult, I asked him about his meeting with the priest. The priest asked some confusing questions which my son to this day feels was impossible to answer. My son is no dummy. He has degree in aeronautical engineering.

We ended up going to another priest for his first confession.