How do I do confession if I'm deaf

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I don’t want to go face to face so how could I make it work?
 
May I ask what the problem with you going face-to-face is?
 
Go to the priest for confession, either communicate through writing or ask for a priest that knows sign language.
 
I assume you intend to confess via sign language? It seems that, in a confessional with a partial barrier, you and the priest (presumably you’re going to ask for one who knows sign language) could both hold your hands to the side so they would be visible, while your faces remained on opposite sides of the screen?

As others mentioned, confession through writing is also an option, though no one is bound to do that.
 
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Typing or writing notes that are intended to be submitted to Priests are supposed to be protected by the US Constitution. In confession, they are to be torn up and destroyed. If you are afraid of writing it where you are, go to confession early and write it there (in the Church)

At the top, explain that you have a disability with communication and how long it has been since your last confession. Next, say you will try to recite the Act of Contrition in 3 minutes to give them time to read what is below (use a watch or phone to keep track). Speak it as best you can and ask for a “thumbs up” around the corner after your blessing is received and using his fingers, how many Our Fathers and how many Hail Marys, add a sheet if he wants to write something different for your penance (and indicate the reason it is there) not forgetting to provide a pen (that has ink in it)

May God Bless the Confession efforts of the disabled
 
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I cannot see any other way other than writing your sins down or finding a priest who can sign, yet in both cases it would still call for you to understand when the priest ask for an act of contrition and gives you your penance. You should never be embarrassed or afraid to go face to face or simply sit side by side. The priest is there not to judge you, but to forgive a contrite heart that has come to Jesus. God Bless.🦋🦋
 
Communicate the way you do with other non-signing people. Use your white board and pass it around the screen. You could use a laptop or tablet. There are speech to text apps for iphones. It shouldn’t be too hard to come up with a method.
 
I do it face to face with my priest. I write my sins on small piece of paper before I go in to see him. Don’t forget to destroy the paper once you’re absolved by the priest.

I do it maybe once or twice a month regularly for almost a year since being confirmed last year. No problem at all so far in my opinion.
 
I believe I read (on another thread recent;y) that the church makes allowances for an interpreter ( the interpreter MUST keep the bond of secrecy) in the confessional.
But now, to look for it!!!

Our Late Archbishop had a deaf sister and knew sign language very well. I am sure there s a priest that knows sign language around you somewhere. That way you don’t need an interpreter. Call the chancery.
 
From canon law:
Can. 983 §1. The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.

§2. The interpreter, if there is one, and all others who in any way have knowledge of sins from confession are also obliged to observe secrecy.
Click to expand...
However, if the OP doesn’t want to go face-to-face with only the priest I can’t imagine that the option of an interpreter would be helpful.
 
My HA’s are adequate in my case. I am more comfortable with the screen. However, we have a new international priest, and I will have to go f to f because of his accent. I think you may have to do some adaptation, rather than expect others to adapt so much. Such is life.
 
In our parish, we were blessed to have a pastor learn ASL and make it more accessible for the deaf community. He added an ubi-duo in the confessional (this is a “double typewriter” - one on one side of the confessional screen and one on the other, which provides instantaneous communication). He also added one interpreted Mass every Sunday (I think one of the only ASL interpreted TLMs in the country). Our pastor has since moved, but we still try to provide a welcoming community to those who are deaf and hard of hearing.
 
There had to be a way to handle this during all of those many years before face-to-face confession was permitted. I’m sure there were deaf Catholics back then too.
 
Yes, the church DOES permit an interpreter who is also bound by the bond of secrecy (and by the way we are ALL bound by the bond of secrecy IF we happen to overhear the penitents confession) but it is extremely rare for a priest to allow it. I think the priest would want you to write it down explaining that your deaf.
 
Call me silly, but if the OP doesn’t want to confess face to face with a priest they surely they aren’t going to confess with a third person in the room?
 
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