Gossip and the confessional

[Gordon_Sims]

Not a real-world situation, just a stray thought that popped into my head. If an incessant gossip gossips to their priest within the confessional as part of their Confession, is it still a sin?

 

[edward_george]

Gossip is gossip. Gossip is a sin. If someone is gossiping in the confessional, it’s still a sin. The priest will hopefully cut the person off at that point, letting them know gently that they’re just feeding the habit and sins should be confessed in kind and number. There’s no need to talk about details or circumstances unless the priest asks, and there’s certainly no need to talk about what others have done. Keeping it concise is the humble way to own up to what you’ve done and to use the sacrament the way it’s intended.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[MaryT777]

Reminds me of the time when Father Corapi said he had a few people show up in the confessional from time to time stating their spouse or someone else had done this and that or said this and that and he would always say (Usually as a precursors as to what drove them to THEIR sin)

“Whose sins are you confessin’ anyways? I can only forgive yours”

Miss him and pray he is doing well.

Mary.

 

[Gordon_Sims]

Gossip is gossip. Gossip is a sin. If someone is gossiping in the confessional, it’s still a sin.

But if bound by the seal of the confessional, wouldn’t it be about the same as thinking those thoughts but not voicing them, at least from a moral perspective? I’m not saying it’s a good habit to fall into, but unless I’m mistaken, the most sinful aspect of gossip is the effect it has on the subject of the gossip. If it never leaves the confessional and is, in effect, between you and God, doesn’t that remove the most sinful aspect of it?

 

[Catholic1954]

Gossip is YOU repeating what YOU heard, not the likely hood of the other guy repeating it. Anyway, gossips usually do not confine themselves to one ear, they like to tell (and be the first to tell!) as many others as soon as possible. Don’t be that guy, even to your priest. :tsktsk:

 

[Gordon_Sims]

Gossip is YOU repeating what YOU heard, not the likely hood of the other guy repeating it. Anyway, gossips usually do not confine themselves to one ear, they like to tell (and be the first to tell!) as many others as soon as possible. Don’t be that guy, even to your priest. :tsktsk:

I never said I was. It’s a theoretical situation that popped into my head while I was pondering an unrelated matter. It struck me as amusing at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if there was any validity to it. St. Thomas Aquinas said that, by gossiping, we unjustly harm the reputation of others, through either lies or truths shared inappropriately. If the gossip is confined to the confessional, though, there’s no way it can harm the reputation of others. Based on that, how could it be considered sinful? I’m not trying to justify it, mind you, just trying to examine the situation.

 

[edward_george]

The seal of confession doesn’t mean that someone else didn’t still hear it. The priest heard it and that could affect his opinion of what (or whom) is being gossiped about. Besides, the bigger issue is that when one comes into the confessional and starts doing other than simply confessing his own sins, he runs the risk of justifying them, even if this isn’t a conscious intention. Confessing in kind and number and moving along is the most humble thing to do.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[Crusaderbear]

Not a real-world situation, just a stray thought that popped into my head. If an incessant gossip gossips to their priest within the confessional as part of their Confession, is it still a sin?

The priest should stop them immediately and address that issue…the confessional is for your sins only, not reporting others for sins yhat may or may not have occurred.

And yes, I believe it would be an additional sin on the gossip.

 

[Beryllos]

Gossip harms three people: the one who is talks, the one who listens, and the one who is talked about. What’s the difference if it takes place in the confessional?

 

[pianistclare]

The priest has given you the correct answers Gordon. Nothing more to add. Except maybe, don’t go courting problems.
peace.

 

[Gordon_Sims]

The seal of confession doesn’t mean that someone else didn’t still hear it. The priest heard it and that could affect his opinion of what (or whom) is being gossiped about. Besides, the bigger issue is that when one comes into the confessional and starts doing other than simply confessing his own sins, he runs the risk of justifying them, even if this isn’t a conscious intention. Confessing in kind and number and moving along is the most humble thing to do.

-Fr ACEGC

Just playing devil’s advocate, but something we hear frequently is that when we’re in the confessional, the priest is simply a conduit from our mouths to Jesus’ ears. Priests on here have said many times that they don’t hear or remember anything they’re told in the confessional. If that’s the case then, technically speaking, wouldn’t it be the same as expressing the same things to Jesus in prayer, and, therefore, not actually be a sin?

Again, I’m not asking this to justify anything, just running through the arguments.

 

[Gordon_Sims]

The priest has given you the correct answers Gordon. Nothing more to add. Except maybe, don’t go courting problems.
peace.

Not courting problems, just exploring an idea that popped into my head. Gossip is horrid and a much-too-frequently recurring problem in our lives. We’ve been dealing with yet another situation recently that defies belief, gossip has played a big part in it, and that’s likely how this popped into my head. I’ve heard countless arguments justifying and defending why gossiping about us, them or whoever is acceptable based on the circumstances, who the person in, what their standing is in the parish/school/family/etc., and so forth. I think value can be found in any discussion of a matter like this, particularly when looking at the reasons why something is wrong and why it would or wouldn’t be palatable in certain circumstances.

 

[edward_george]

Just playing devil’s advocate, but something we hear frequently is that when we’re in the confessional, the priest is simply a conduit from our mouths to Jesus’ ears. Priests on here have said many times that they don’t hear or remember anything they’re told in the confessional. If that’s the case then, technically speaking, wouldn’t it be the same as expressing the same things to Jesus in prayer, and, therefore, not actually be a sin?

Again, I’m not asking this to justify anything, just running through the arguments.

A priest is still a person. And confession is for confessing sins. Gossip is still gossip.

-Fr ACEGC