Embarrassed- I’d say no since being embarrassed would hamper your ability to give a full confessionHi,
Is it a sin to go to a different priest than usual for confession for the reason that you might be embarrassed about your sins or you think the other priest will be nicer about it?
Most of my local priests don’t give much counsel in confession, and I wish they did sometimes. In some instances, too much counsel can be bad if the confession times are limited and the lines are long, but in times where that isn’t the case, the extra clarification on your part may help him provide better guidance to help you avoid falling into those sins as often. For me, at least, I want all the sound spiritual direction I can get (unless I’m in a time crunch). If my priest is concerned about my soul and how to get me to heaven, I’m all for the guidance. That’s the way I look at it…I treasure the extra guidance. However, there is nothing necessarily wrong with a different priest and a shorter confession…just please consider the potential benefit from the other method as well. Either way, just keep going to confession somewhere and sincerely attempt to sin no more afterwards. That’s the key.I wasn’t afraid of the penance - most priests at my church give basically the same. And my usual confessor is not mean, but he has a lot of people go to him for long confessions and I feel like I shouldn’t ask too many questions when I go to him. He also has you explain sins further sometimes whereas the other priest doesn’t usually.
Please don’t judge the priest that way. Just because he doesn’t ask clarifying questions or give lots of advice, doesn’t mean he isn’t listening.Thanks for the replies!
I really am thankful that the priests at my parish are willing to give some advice in confession. I usually do take advantage of that with my usual confessor; I mainly switched today because there were two people ahead of me in line and it seemed like it would take a while. I just felt guilty later because I knew the priest I switched to **doesn’t really listen to your sins when you confess **so I wouldn’t be as embarrassed.
It’s hard to tell when these thoughts are just scruples or real things to worry about. I feel like I usually have to go the hardest route when I go to confession or else I’m just sinning or being selfish or something.
No, it is not a sin of any kind or in any manner.Hi,
Is it a sin to go to a different priest than usual for confession for the reason that you might be embarrassed about your sins or you think the other priest will be nicer about it?
Can. 991 All Christ’s faithful are free to confess their sins to lawfully approved confessors of their own choice, even to one of another rite.
Can. 965 Only a priest is the minister of the sacrament of penance.
Can. 966 §1 For the valid absolution of sins, it is required that, in addition to the power of order, the minister has the faculty to exercise that power in respect of the faithful to whom he gives absolution.
Can. 976 Any priest, even though he lacks the faculty to hear confessions, can validly and lawfully absolve any penitents who are in danger of death, from any censures and sins, even if an approved priest is present.
Notice that the canons apply to all priests who are validly ordained. Orthodox priests are validly ordained. So, in danger of death, this would include a priest who had been laicized, an orthodox priest, or even one that had been excommunicated, since they are lawfully approved to hear the confession of someone in danger of death.Can. 986 §2 In an urgent necessity, every confessor is bound to hear the confessions of Christ’s faithful, and in danger of death every priest is so obliged.