No Confessional Available at Church

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Dawn_VanName

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I am used to the traditional confessional with the priest sitting in the middle and 2 open confessionals on both sides, with doors and a screen. Our parish took this style of confessional out, as I understand it, years ago and only offers the face to face in the office. The priest sits on a couch and a kneeler is off to the side of the arm rest with a see-through wicker screen for the person to do a confession on. Or they can sit in a chair and face the priest. To me even with the kneeler, it is still face to face for the priest can see who comes in and can see right through the screen.
Isn’t this private option still suppose to be available?
Thanks.
Dawn
 
Canon Law is pretty clear on this issue:

"Can. 964 §1. The proper place to hear sacramental confessions is a church or oratory.
§2. The conference of bishops is to establish norms regarding the confessional; it is to take care, however, that there are always confessionals with a fixed grate between the penitent and the confessor in an open place so that the faithful who wish to can use them freely.

§3. Confessions are not to be heard outside a confessional without a just cause."

Hope that helps.
 
I fully understand your distress, at my parish the confessional is in the back of the small chapel, and from what I have been able to see of it the only option is face to face. The reason I say “from what I have seen of it” is there’s no way to get in there in a wheelchair, the pews block any access. So when I go during the regular time on Saturdays I have two options, outside the chapel in plain sight or wait until father’s done there and meet him in the vestery, just before the mass, while feeling very rushed. Neither is anywhere near what could be considered ideal.
The rest of the sanctuary is very accessable.
Once when we where outside he had to wave someone off, they wanted to talk with him about something.:o
Linda H.
 
Well I had my first confesion in my Pastors office. I would honestly not do it any differant, it adds to my repentance I think.
 
Dawn VanName:
I am used to the traditional confessional with the priest sitting in the middle and 2 open confessionals on both sides, with doors and a screen. Our parish took this style of confessional out, as I understand it, years ago and only offers the face to face in the office. The priest sits on a couch and a kneeler is off to the side of the arm rest with a see-through wicker screen for the person to do a confession on. Or they can sit in a chair and face the priest. To me even with the kneeler, it is still face to face for the priest can see who comes in and can see right through the screen.
Isn’t this private option still suppose to be available?
Thanks.
Dawn
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Yes! It is required by Canon Law. The setup must insure that the priest cannot see the person when they enter or leave. The problem with the screen is easily fixed with a thin cloth covering or curtain.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
Yes! It is required by Canon Law. The setup must insure that the priest cannot see the person when they enter or leave. The problem with the screen is easily fixed with a thin cloth covering or curtain.
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I like the approach that the rector of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in Spokane took. Instead of having the confessionals ripped out (they are absolutely wonderful pieces of art and are adorned with many wonderful images of repentance), he had them partially gutted and the interior rearranged so both options are possible. And he had them like completely soundproofed. I made my first confession face-to-face since I had soooo much that I needed to confess and sorta forgot everything I knew about the process as soon as I stepped into the confessional for the first time. When I’m in Spokane, I prefer to make an anonymous confession, but when I’m at home in Richland all the priests know me anyway (that’s what ya get when you’re one of three Catholic organists in a fairly large metropolitan area) and can easily p(name removed by moderator)oint who I am as soon as I open my mouth, so I just confess face-to-face.

How very sad it is that your parish priest wants to give everyone (and probably your bishop especially) the impression that a penitent can make his confession anonymously… I’m surprised that your bishop hasn’t seen right through that. No pun intended…
 
Linda,

Thank you for opening my eyes to the special need for someone in a wheelchair and using the confessional. We have a member of our parish who also is in a wheelchair.
God Bless you!
Dawn
 
****I’m so sorry you are having this problem. It isn’t right…Can you make an appointment for a private confession time? Most priests are used to this, and it might help.
 
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