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curlycool89
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The OP. Your reply wasn’t up yet when I was replying.
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Seatuck
Guest
And yet the church interprets it that way and has such a long tradition of it.
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markomalley
Guest
Can 964 §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.
Complementary Norm for the US:
Complementary Norm: The National Conference of Catholic Bishops, in accord with the prescriptions of canon 964§2, hereby decrees the following norms governing the place for sacramental confessions:
Provision must be made in each church or oratory for a sufficient number of places for sacramental confessions which are clearly visible, truly accessible, and which provide a fixed grille between the penitent and the confessor. Provision should also be made for penitents who wish to confess face-to-face, with due regard for the Authentic Interpretation of canon 964§2 by the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts, 7 July 1998 (AAS 90 [1998] 711).
BTW, the New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, published by the Canon Law Society of America says (p 1150):
The purpose of this norm is of course to afford the penitent anonymity if he or she desires and to make certain that there is no suspicion of impropriety in the confessor-penitent relationship.
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Mrs_Sally
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This quote is speaking about the priest and the penitent, not the other people who may be waiting in line or in the church for other purposes. This is the issue brought up by the OP. The question of the door to the confessional being glass, etc isn’t covered in this quote. Think of the old fashioned confessionals that were basically a big chair for the priest with kneelers on either side. Yes, there was a grille between the priest and the penitent, but nothing between the penitent and the entire rest of the church. And presumably in at least some of those churches, the priest might have been able to see you as you entered and exited the church, but probably he wasn’t paying attention. Just like today, even the priest in the reconciliation room isn’t making metal notes about exactly who came in and what they confessed.
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Seatuck
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I don’t read it that way. I think he is saying he doesn’t want to be face to face with the priest.He doesn’t want the priest to make eye contact with him or look at him. He wants an anyonymous confession. Which is explained in the quote I provided.
We always had curtains in the confessionals of the churches that I belonged to. Now we have a door. They are set up so the Priest cannot see who comes in the room or look at him unless he chooses to seat himself in front of the priest.
Priests hear confessions, not other lay people.
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mark_a
Guest
I can confess either way, but I prefer the screen.
I once confessed to a priest in the Church while mass was being said (by another priest, of course). No one else heard, but I was pretty uncomfortable.
I’m just old-school, I guess.
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pro_multis
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You are correct. I don’t really care if other people can see me at confession.
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MarkThompson
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I think that’s why the thread was titled, “Notice to priests reading this forum.”
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dachsiemom2
Guest
Only time I went to face to face confession was when I returned to church after a lengthy absence and I made an appointment with one of the priests. Face to face was a good experience, but I prefer behind the screen (way I was brought up) and as others have said, every one has the right to a choice. I don’t like the reconciliation room concept and don’t know why the confessionals are being removed or not being included in new parishes. One parish where I went had confession by appointment ONLY - how is that supposed to be anonymous - however this is at a very liberal parish.
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Elizabeth502
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I see this happening with increasing frequency, and I also find it troubling.
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JimG
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Last time our parish church was remodeled, the confessionals (which were of the anonymous, behind the screen variety) were remodeled to ensure even more privacy and anonymity.
They are more spacious than the old confessionals, but entirely anonymous. Priest and penitent can hear but not see each other. Soundproofing and doors ensure than no one else can hear.
As for safety–if the priest wanted to get in the same room with the penitent, he would have to physically open his door, and walk around to the penitent’s side, open that door, and walk in, thereby startling no only the penitent but everybody waiting in line.
As mentioned before, penitents must be allowed the opportunity for anonymous confession, by Canon Law.
They are more spacious than the old confessionals, but entirely anonymous. Priest and penitent can hear but not see each other. Soundproofing and doors ensure than no one else can hear.
As for safety–if the priest wanted to get in the same room with the penitent, he would have to physically open his door, and walk around to the penitent’s side, open that door, and walk in, thereby startling no only the penitent but everybody waiting in line.
As mentioned before, penitents must be allowed the opportunity for anonymous confession, by Canon Law.
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pro_multis
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amazing that some churches have confession ~15 times a week and others are “by appt only.” I guess it is a matter of priorities.
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JimG
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If my parish had confessions “by appointment only,” judging by the number of penitents in line before every weekday Mass, and considering the uncertainties of scheduling appointments, the priests would be spending even more time in the confessional than they are now.
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Victorious
Guest
If the safety of penitents is paramount, then go back to the old confessionals, where priest and penitent were each in their own little room. (By the way, that sounds like a bishop who has a TON of confidence in his priests.)
Here’s something even more disturbing: “reconciliation rooms” with 2-inch gaps between the bottom of the door and the floor. That way, not only the priest but everybody waiting in line can listen to your confession.
These days, the spaces reserved for confessions are designed to provide a minimum of privacy. I think the safety-of-the-penitents line is a crock, and that it’s just part of an all-out assault on the sacrament and its frequent reception.
*For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
*
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Phemie
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Seatuck
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I think so too,
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zab
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There was nothing uncharitable about the way the post was written. I took it as a serious plea not in the least bit uncharitable.
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Seatuck
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Good documentation.
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Victorious
Guest
Yep!
(P.S.: If we’re so sure the deceased is in heaven – however much we may hope he is – why do we bother with a funeral Mass in the first place?)
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Alex2008
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Because the Funeral is for those left behind, the person who has died has already stood before God’s judgement seat. The funeral allows those left behind to grieve and renew their faith in the Lord!Yep!
(P.S.: If we’re so sure the deceased is in heaven – however much we may hope he is – why do we bother with a funeral Mass in the first place?)
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