Privacy of a Child's Confession

[jazzy_987]

I hope this doesn’t happen, or children will start to dread Confession or even hold back sins because they don’t feel it is confidential.

 

[kentuckyliz]

Well, doncha see, priests are the new lepers. They have to shout “unclean” if a child enters their presence.

Here’s a solution: purge the priesthood and the seminaries and the hierarchy of homosexuals. Enough of the lavendar mafia! Hello, Good Men!

Ephebophile homosexual priests don’t grope in the confessional. They listen. A pederast priest can get a teenage boy talking in more detail about their sexual sins and concupiscence as a method of grooming. Watching through glass isn’t going to catch that. I’m sure a priest can tell when a kid is really vulnerable.

I know this because I am a counselor and people “confess” to me all the time (not like I can absolve them or anything–and that’s what they’re looking for).

You could have a policeman and a judge standing there watching and listening and nothing can be off about the confession…yet the pederast makes a mental note of who would make good prey.

Youth activities and group trips suffer.

My church used to do a lot of trips and outings and we had a 15 passenger van. No longer. Can’t afford the skyrocketing liability premiums and trips were high risk. So, no more ministry of picking up the elderly and disabled for Mass.

Stop me before I start thundering like an OT prophet!!!

 

[Miserissima]

first I would note that a return to the old style confessionals that were common in American churches in my childhood would remove the problem entirely, kneelers on either side, penitent separated from the priest by a screen which is part of a wall, so there is no way for any contact. No coincidence that the abuse stepped up with the innovation of “confessional rooms”. Personally if I were a priest, for my own self-protection I would not have such “rooms” in my church. It would be in the open, as in European churches or Mexican churches where there are “niches” in various corners, where both priest and penitent are in full view but they are far enough away from others to insure privacy of speech. Or else it would be back to the old style “box”.

Seriously, what ever happened to those boxes and booths? I never saw one, and I love the idea.

When I grew up, we had confession rooms but they had plate glass windows all the way around with curtains that were just heavy enough to know someone’s in there. Draw back the curtains and voila! “Crying rooms” for Mass. There were two chairs in each, as well as a screen with a prie dieu. Your choice where to sit. Something like this, but more formal.

But for me, just thinking about the sacrament of reconciliation out in the open would discourage me from going. When I go to confession, I don’t want anyone to see me. The point of the screen is to be anonymous. I didn’t know it was a right to have one, either.

For me, this is do-able. Enclosed, separated.

Conversely, this is not do-able.
This is a bit “iffy”: Not enclosed, but separated.

And this is totally out of the question.

 

[Catholig]

Of course, a better solution would simply be to have separate rooms with the floor-to-ceiling screen and not have face-to-face confession at all. No physical contact can happen in that case.

agreed!

Catholig

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Seriously, what ever happened to those boxes and booths? I never saw one, and I love the idea.

In our parish, they are used as storage closets. They are full of folding chairs for extra seating during big weddings and funerals, along with clutter that can’t find a hiding place elsewhere, along with some sound equipment. They open ONE once in a while, maybe twice a year. We have a converted confessional in the back that is used as a reconcilation room/ confessional, your choice.

Otherwise, for penance services and first confession, they set up the stations mentioned by others, all over the church.

I don’t see where it would be a big deal to re-open the confessionals. If kids are afraid of the dark, the confessionals can be wired for a light bulb; or supply flashlights. As a kid, I used to like the dark of the confessional; of course, I used to like the privacy of my bedroom closet, too.

At St. Peter in Chicago’s Loop, they use the confessionals, manned about 11 hours a day. And one can see a variety of individuals using the confessionals, from children to people who might be homeless to average people to guys in really nice suits to society women obviously with money. If a penitent wants to go face-to-face, the penitent has to go to the front desk (there is a glass-encased front desk), ask specifically to receive the sacrament face-to-face, and is told a friar confessor will meet him or her on the mezzanine.

 

[Brendan]

I just thought of another canonical tidbit that might influence my judgment on open-air screens for confession (as in, priest can’t see penitent but others in the building/area can). The seal of confession prevents a priest from even revealing that someone has confessed to him -.

That is actually not true. What the seal binds is the contents of the Confession, which include both the sins and if Absolution was granted or not.

But the information that the Sacrament was offered to a particular individual is not part of the seal (if the person confessed ‘face to face’)

 

[JimG]

My parish church has standard confessionals. And it is a rather modern church.

In the standard confessional, the penitent and priest can hear but not see each other. Kids use them all the time. There is privacy and anonymity. What’s the problem?

 

[lak611]

That is actually not true. What the seal binds is the contents of the Confession, which include both the sins and if Absolution was granted or not.

But the information that the Sacrament was offered to a particular individual is not part of the seal (if the person confessed ‘face to face’)

I do not understand the last part of your post. Does that mean if I confessed face-to-face and was at a store or in a restaurant, etc. that the priest could walk up to me and make some kind of reference that I had been to confession? I know he cannot reveal what I confessed, but could he let the general public know that I was at confession?

 

[prv]

I am sure there must be some kind of canon law that forbids this. It violates the child’s privacy.

Why can’t they just use normal confessionals, and skip the whole issue of both the priest and the child being in the same space?

I agree with having real confessionals. That will solve the problem in a nutshell…understood, I assume you mean, confessionals where there is a true wall between penitent and priest, and not just a half wall where penitent can either confess behind the wall or in view of the priest.

 

[jmcrae]

I agree with having real confessionals. That will solve the problem in a nutshell…understood, I assume you mean, confessionals where there is a true wall between penitent and priest, and not just a half wall where penitent can either confess behind the wall or in view of the priest.

Yes, the kind with a real wall; not the kind with only half a wall - I mean the kind with separate entrances for the penitant and the priest. The “box” as some people call it.

 

[Teeliumtrozzle]

Children have just as much a right to privacy as adulyts do.They should NOT have to have an adult with them.

 

[lak611]

Children have just as much a right to privacy as adulyts do.They should NOT have to have an adult with them.

When I was a child, if I would not have had privacy for confession, I would not have gone to confession. Luckily, my childhood parish had the old-fashioned confessionals.

 

[prv]

Not to get off topic, but perhaps the new reconcilliation rooms are the reason why many people have stopped going to confessions? Anybody want to bring this up in another forum?

 

[jmcrae]

Not to get off topic, but perhaps the new reconcilliation rooms are the reason why many people have stopped going to confessions? Anybody want to bring this up in another forum?

That’s quite possible. I know there are times when I really appreciate being anonymous in Confession - it would certainly be more difficult to go if I thought I wasn’t going to be able to be anonymous.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

That is actually not true. What the seal binds is the contents of the Confession, which include both the sins and if Absolution was granted or not.

But the information that the Sacrament was offered to a particular individual is not part of the seal (if the person confessed ‘face to face’)

Well, I’m no canonist and I realize you’re in formation, but don’t you think there’s a reason baptismal certificates carry no record of First Confession (despite that being ordinarily a requirement for First Communion), especially since the confessor may in no way betray the penitent?

Can. 983 §1. The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.

Let’s say my mom knows I only go to confession when I’m in serious sin. She suspects me of doing something serious and wants something to firm up her suspicion, so she goes to the priest and asks him if I’ve been to confession recently. That betrays information that might be used against me.

It seems that even if the confessor may reveal that information, though, there should still be more covered than the sins and absolution because it would most certainly be a betrayal for my confessor to reveal to the public that I strongly dislike my wife or find myself constantly tempted by homosexual or murderous desires. Desires aren’t sins, but my trust would be severely betrayed if those were revealed.

 

[rpp]

Well, I’m no canonist and I realize you’re in formation, but don’t you think there’s a reason baptismal certificates carry no record of First Confession (despite that being ordinarily a requirement for First Communion), especially since the confessor may in no way betray the penitent?

Can. 983 §1. The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.

Let’s say my mom knows I only go to confession when I’m in serious sin. She suspects me of doing something serious and wants something to firm up her suspicion, so she goes to the priest and asks him if I’ve been to confession recently. That betrays information that might be used against me.

I cannot see how the Vatican and whichever the appropriate Congregation is, could possibly approve of these measures. To have two people in a confessional is untenable. Even if it is two priests.

It seems that even if the confessor may reveal that information, though, there should still be more covered than the sins and absolution because it would most certainly be a betrayal for my confessor to reveal to the public that I strongly dislike my wife or find myself constantly tempted by homosexual or murderous desires. Desires aren’t sins, but my trust would be severely betrayed if those were revealed.

Are you admitting something here?

Heavy subject here. A little humor now and then can help us stay sane!

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

I cannot see how the Vatican and whichever the appropriate Congregation is, could possibly approve of these measures. To have two people in a confessional is untenable. Even if it is two priests.

Are you admitting something here?

Heavy subject here. A little humor now and then can help us stay sane!

Well, in the interests of humor, might I point out that I think a confessional that can only fit one person wouldn’t be very useful - priest and penitent both need to fit in somehow.

Slightly more seriously, though, an extra person “in the confessional” is not just tenable but legally foreseen when there is need for an interpreter.

 

[Sarabande]

first I would note that a return to the old style confessionals that were common in American churches in my childhood would remove the problem entirely, kneelers on either side, penitent separated from the priest by a screen which is part of a wall, so there is no way for any contact. No coincidence that the abuse stepped up with the innovation of “confessional rooms”. Personally if I were a priest, for my own self-protection I would not have such “rooms” in my church. It would be in the open, as in European churches or Mexican churches where there are “niches” in various corners, where both priest and penitent are in full view but they are far enough away from others to insure privacy of speech. Or else it would be back to the old style “box”.

I agree. The confessionals at our Cathedral are the old-style. There are four or five on each side of the church. The priest enters the middle which gives him room to stand and sit. Kneelers are on either side covered by these thick curtains, with a very thick wooden wall and screen separating the priest from the penitent. Neither one could have physical contact with each other. You wouldn’t need “adult supervision” if they just made all churches have this kind of confessional. The parents can feel ok sitting out in the pew while their child goes to confession. Innocent and holy priests would also be protected by the old-style confessionals.

 

[Elzee]

Interesting - a parish in our town will not allow face to face confession in a “Reconciliation Room” because of potential accusations, law suits etc.

How the priest gets around this:

The church still has the ‘old’ confessional where the priest is in a totally separate cubicle (not just a room where there is a partial wall separating him and the child). So, he hears confessions anonymously behind the screen with no possibility of physical contact with the child.

He also offers face to face confessions, but in the corner of the sanctuary, in plain sight of everyone. Since he is in the sanctuary there is enough space so people in the pews waiting can’t hear - but can see. I personally like this setup and like face to face confession. When he gives absolution he always lays his hand on the penitent’s head. There is just something moving about this practice to me, and it can’t be done behind a screen. I know the grace is the same, but having a priest or bishop lay his hands on you and pray, to me, is a beautiful thing.

These two approaches seem logical to me, but how sad it has come to this where priests fear being alone in a confessional (Reconciliation Room) with a child.

 

[lak611]

He also offers face to face confessions, but in the corner of the sanctuary, in plain sight of everyone. Since he is in the sanctuary there is enough space so people in the pews waiting can’t hear - but can see. I personally like this setup and like face to face confession. When he gives absolution he always lays his hand on the penitent’s head. There is just something moving about this practice to me, and it can’t be done behind a screen. I know the grace is the same, but having a priest or bishop lay his hands on you and pray, to me, is a beautiful thing.

That is very similar to the way confession is done in the Eastern Catholic Churches.