Pretty unpleasant confession experience

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Obviously take your time and only work within your comfort zone. ☺️

You just expressed yourself very clearly and fairly!

God bless!!
 
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therese1998 said:
Given the huge numbers of people in society experiencing PTSD… it is prudent to treat every person (particularly those with whom you are having a 5 minute conversation) with gentle firmness and consistency rather than the “let 'em have it” harshness we see so often.
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Your observations have given me a lot of food for thought. I have interviewed priests. They do not really listen. I usually make appointments for 15 minutes. The next day, I am a stranger to them. I know Christ from years of reading (re-reading) the gospel. I have been searching for Christ’s representative on earth. I am a prodigal who returned home to find no one there. Maybe I am at the wrong house?
 
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It is very possible the OP was sensitive or emotional and what she received (how the communication was interpretted) was interpretted harshly. I’m not saying I know because I don’t. But so far all we have is her side of the story. Imagine it was Jesus saying to her “go and sin no more.”, someone may interpret that (receive that information) as “geesh I’m trying… get off my back man.”

Everyone is condemning the priest but we don’t have both sides. Please give him the same benefit of the doubt.
 
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Casilda said:
Your observations have given me a lot of food for thought.
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Super, thanks 🙂
Casilda said:
Maybe I am at the wrong house?
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I doubt it. There’s a whole lot of things that can contribute to feeling under-whelmed with the church. Incredibly over worked priests stretched way too thin, lack of enthusiasm on the part of laity, the “same old same old” attitude that can be present, cliques, etc. But it all boils down to one thing: Do you believe that Christ established this Church to house His teachings and administer His sacraments as He asked? If you do, then youre in the right house. If you don’t, you’re not only in the wrong house, youre down the block and around the corner.

In the end, it’s not the homily that saves you. It’s not the attention of the priest that forgives your sins. It’s not the joy of the parishoners that enervates the sacraments. It’s Christ and in Him will you find your salvation, your redemption and your reason for being in “the house” at all.
 
JoeFreedom said:
Imagine it was Jesus saying to her “go and sin no more.”,
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LOL, do you imagine I’ve never been told “Go and sin no more”? I hear it every time I go to Confession and with every prayer I pray. Hearing that is not only not a problem, it is totally appropriate…and expected.

It is, of course, totally appropriate to consider the “side” of the priest (I wasn’t aware it was a fight, but okay) and many of posters have commented so. Good point.
 
I had a priest get mad at me in the confessional, but I think it was because, somewhat like your experience, there was a silent pause after I had confessed, and I realized I could hear the sound of snoring from the other side of the screen. When I banged on the screen he woke up startled and spoke rather harshly to me.

They are human beings as well and sometimes let their own feelings get in the way. Your confession could have reminded him of something in his own past.
 
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anon10271182 said:
I’m a big believer in screened confessionals.
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Yes - I was thinking the same thing! Then I’m not looking at the priest, wondering what he’s thinking while I confess, and I think I feel less vulnerable behind a screen. Less exposed, in case I have a confessor who is overly harsh. More impersonal, when it is just anonymous penitent, anonymous priest, rather than Joe Schmoe and Father Patrick.
 
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I didn’t let it bother me since I was always in the doghouse anyway. My father used to be less than sensitive when he’d scold me too. I was used to it.

Actually, being in the doghouse is a good thing. I like dogs.
 
I’ve had a handful of unpleasant experiences while confessing. The rest have beautiful exhortations to greater holiness. I’m sorry for anyone hurt by rough confessors.
 
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I’m not familiar with Confession but this surely doesn’t sound typical! All I can suggest is maybe the priest was practicing the Albert Ellis style of therapy by shouting and reprimanding you so that you don’t dare repeat these sins. Or he might have had a bad day, some previous penitents who were truly annoying, for example. Not an excuse for his behavior, but such things do happen.
 
Hi,

I have had my share of awful confessions, similar to yours. My approach was to let time heal my fear of the confessional.

Others have already written it, but pray for the priest. He is also a mere mortal, heavens knows what was confessed to him that day, or what angered him. It is not okay for you to be treated that way, and you can always make a complaint to the Church where your confession was heard or ask to speak to the priest. Sometimes doing that can help you feel empowered.

I only say confession now in the city, in a church where they cannot see me and I usually only take two-three minutes. I do not ask for spiritual help.

If you are looking for spiritual guidance , I strongly recommend seeking out a spiritual director. They are an absolute blessing and they will have time for you—weekly, monthly, etc.
 
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I was making a point about how different people can interpret the same phrase differently. And so far all we have is one side of the story.

It was to show how some people could even take a statement directly from Jesus and say “stop ragging on me dude.”

Has the OP even considered she might have taken things out of context. Has she considered that maybe she’s been confessing the same things over and over and the priest is trying to get her to stop.
 
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Sorry. Downside of forums. I was agreeing with you about how the priest should sometimes get a little bit irritated for lack of a better word when he sees us coming back week after week after week with the same old sins and he starts to employee a different tactic. So I responded to you to try and point out to the original poster that maybe she should consider your point. I was not in any way trying to say that you were condemning the priest. but it seems so many on here have seem to come right out without both sides of the story and say what the priesthood was wrong without knowing all the circumstances. he is not here to defend himself
 
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