Priest offers drive-through confessions during coronavirus

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Hodos said:
I didn’t dump on it. I said I admired his zealous administration of the Sacrament. My only criticism is that the optics of drive-thru confession may actually serve to diminish the seriousness of what is going on in Confession and Absolution, and should be looked at further. You were the one who took it into sectarian directions. In this sacrament we have the priest acting in the place of Christ himself to pronounce forgiveness of sin. Making it appear as a drive-thru process to me seems to be short-sighted and individual centered, almost commoditized, particularly when the rite can be executed as normal without any risk of infection. If you are upset at my comment it’s because you injected the invective into the conversation without asking for clarification. Quite frankly that was where any disrespect began if there was any. Maybe try looking at other people’s commentary in good faith before jumping to conclusions.
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Open air is considered safer than (interior) circulated air, so this is actually “better” considering the circumstances.

If you think Jesus would be opposed to this manner of confession (which wouldn’t be done except in this circumstance), then explain why. Explain how this “downplays the seriousness” of the sacrament, don’t just say so.
 
Amen and praise God for this priest.

Physical contact with door handles, seats, etc is a risk if someone with the virus does leave it on them. This drive up to the Priest is a great idea atm.
 
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If someone wishes to confess and the priest is willing to be creative and safely hear the confession, I would support it. The confessional would be safe for the first person confessing, but it’s a small space so could be a hazard for all who follow. Face to face indoors could also be less safe. So yes, if the priest wants to offer it, rock on.

Generally my feeling is that the hill we should be willing to die on is that of protecting and living our doctrine, not arguing against solutions that require changes to non-doctrine traditions.
 
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Since it’s going to be some time before Father could safely use a confessional or even a room and have people feel safe going in there - not just safe from getting the virus from him, but safe from getting the virus from the last several people who confessed - it’s better than just telling them all to hold off confessing for 2 months. Someone might die before they got a chance to confess.

It’s also possible that not only the availability of confession, but the threat of the virus might motivate somebody to want to return to active Catholic practice, and they’ll need to confess. If one waits for a month or two the person might lose motivation again.

Finally, this is not only making the sacrament available, it’s good marketing. Priests have sometimes gone to shopping malls or other public places to hear confessions. Confession is very much a “monkey see, monkey do” thing; when Catholics who haven’t been in a while see other Catholics going, they tend to get in line to confess themselves. I have never understood why that is, but I have seen it happen dozens of times.
 
The “optics”, as some called it, presents to me how far priests will go to ensure the Sacraments will be available.
 
I applaud this priest for his willingness to get out there and do God’s work. For those that are complaining, this really is no different than outdoor confession except instead of walking up to Fr., you drive. These are special circumstances. I doubt he will do this after this virus thing is over, so there is no danger of this being the “decline of reconciliation as we know it.”
 
I know this isn’t the topic of the thread but I have had a priest lay his hand on my head during absolution at least once. It didn’t seem odd to me so maybe it happened before that too, although I didn’t remember specifically. I just remember that one time because it was at a retreat.
 
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Hodos said:
Like I said, I credit this man with trying to minister to his parishioners. But I think we should think about the image of the drive-thru confession and what the communicates to the body of Christ about this sacrament.
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You mean, that “God and Church go to great lengths for His people”?

🤔

I think he’s achieved that . . .
 
@Tis_Bearself Thanks for finding the source and posting it. I’ve already shared it with my family. Maybe if we all do that, it would generate a grass roots movement or in this case an asphalt aspiration. I had emailed my Archbishop asking that he adopt proactive guidelines before his directives were issued through out the Diocese. I’m doubting that I’ll forward this to him however. Maybe word of mouth from parishioners to our local church communities that we’d like to try this option could help.
 
I don’t see anything wrong with this, especially considering the circumstances. Besides that, Jesus would forgive people’s sins when they were out in the open, or when others were around on the street, etc. Unless I’m mistaken.

I’ve also heard of confession under the vestment, or something like that. Where the priest covers the penitent with a vestment during the confession, and there are people around.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
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GladTidings:
I’ve also heard of confession under the vestment, or something like that. Where the priest covers the penitent with a vestment during the confession, and there are people around.
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I thought that was an Eastern Catholic practice? Not sure though as I’m not EC.
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Yes, that’s a Byzantine practice (not sure about UGCC or anyone else, though). It may be done in front of the gates or, in my parish, in the confessional for privacy.
 
This may seem like a stupid question but is that priest allowed to wear a jumper if it is cold? If he is does he wear it under his white top or under his cassock or on top?
 
Mr.Phoenix said:
is that priest allowed to wear a jumper if it is cold?
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only in the UK.

In the US, he may wear a sweater, but we look really funny at them when they wear jumpers! :crazy_face: 😱 :roll_eyes:

[for those outside the US, a “jumper” in our dialect is a sleeveless dress worn over a blouse or sweater . . .]
 
I can only speak from an Orthodox perspective- but I’m fairly certain a lot of Eastern Catholic practices are identical. The priest stands next to us as we face an icon of Christ- at the end- the priest will place his stole over our head during the absolution. However- Orthodox priests can and have heard confessions over the phone before- with practices varying from having the individual go to another priest in person for the absolution prayers- to them just doing the whole kit and kaboodle over the phone.

ETA: Anyway, bless the priest in the OP for figuring out a way to meet the needs of the laity.
 
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Hodos said:
Social distance can also be maintained behind closed doors away from distractions and in private. And what about the pastor placing his hands on the head of the penitent and pronouncing the Absolution to them?
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When does this happen? A huge percentage of confessions are heard with the Priest and penitent seperated by a screen or drape. Even in face to face confessions with Priests I know (in non-pandemic times), there might be handshake but that is about the most contact I can think of.
 
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