Is it ever ok to have more than one person present at a confession?

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MarcoPolo

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  • For instance, if there is someone who has a language difficulty.
  • Or if there is someone with a terrible phobia.
  • Or say there was a desperate situation where a priest and two people are trapped, would it be appropriate for him to hear the confessions in front of both the others or would he do a general absolution?
 
In the first case, it is allowed to have a translator or interpretor. Those people are also bound by the seal of the Confessional.

I don’t know about the second.

In the third case, I would suggest whispering. 🙂 It isn’t the presence of another person but the **hearing **of what is said. At penance services, for example, there are sometimes many priests set up for the individual confessions all around the Church. There are lots of people “present” but they try to stay out of hearing range of the penitents as they confess to the priest.
 
Corki said:
In the third case, I would suggest whispering. 🙂 It isn’t the presence of another person but the **hearing **of what is said. At penance services, for example, there are sometimes many priests set up for the individual confessions all around the Church. There are lots of people “present” but they try to stay out of hearing range of the penitents as they confess to the priest.
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What if they’re trapped in an elevator, or dug in the middle of a war field where it’s not feasible for one of the parties to step away?
 
MarcoPolo said:
What if they’re trapped in an elevator, or dug in the middle of a war field where it’s not feasible for one of the parties to step away?
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In that case, the person who hears the confession is bound by the same silence as the priest. I have been very sick for a year or more and in the hospital several times. I have had to go to confession on my hospital bed. The only thing that separates my neighbor and me is the curtain between the two beds. That’s not much of a sound barrier. But the confession has taken place as best we can. Technically speaking, there has been another person within hearing distance. I hope I never scandalize the other person. :eek:

Using an interpretor is allowed for deaf people, I know that.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
MarcoPolo said:
See subject line.
  • For instance, if there is someone who has a language difficulty.
  • Or if there is someone with a terrible phobia.
  • Or say there was a desperate situation where a priest and two people are trapped, would it be appropriate for him to hear the confessions in front of both the others or would he do a general absolution?
Click to expand...
Before going out on missions in Vietnam we generally received general absolution. I was told many years ago that it was up to the penitant. If he wanted or needed a third party it was acceptable to allow one there.
 
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