Privacy of a Child's Confession

[LouisH]

While a priest may not say who did and did not come to confession, in the Byzantine Catholic rites there is no anonymity. The priest hearing confessions is seated before the icon screen in the front of the church. The penitent comes up and sits or kneels before him and begins the confession. Amyone in the church can see who is going to confession although they cannot hear what is said.

 

[lak611]

While a priest may not say who did and did not come to confession, in the Byzantine Catholic rites there is no anonymity. The priest hearing confessions is seated before the icon screen in the front of the church. The penitent comes up and sits or kneels before him and begins the confession. Amyone in the church can see who is going to confession although they cannot hear what is said.

Could a person who wanted to remain anonymous call the priest for an appointment for confession so he would be in the church with the priest by himself?

 

[Spirithound]

Technically I suppose that it would be permitted. Understanding that the child would have to agree and that both the priest and the other person would be under the seal of Confession.

But what child would refuse? Is the choice either do it like this or don’t confess? I’ll echo other posters’ calls for the screen.

 

[Sr_Sally]

At the byzantine parish I frequent they celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation at the front of the church in front of the iconostasis, in particular in front of an icon of Christ.

It is in the wide open and the priest just kinda stands around before mass looking at the sealing until someone walks up to have confession. It was really strange to see for me, a Latin rite catholic, but after a while it doesn’t seem so weird.

It’s strange that one of my first thoughts was… "this would pretty much guarantee that there wouldn’t be any possible allegations either true or false against a priest. The one thing however is that I do also kinda like the anonymity of the traditional confessional.

Anyway I was just chiming in to note that there has been precedent for open confessionals in the past and there still is in some traditions so it wouldn’t necessarily have to be viewed as a “hippy liberal” innovation.

OK… now I’m just rambling…

Interesting. I’ve seen old photos of priests in Rome doing outdoor confessions for hundreds of people. Each priest is standing a few yards from the next and the people walk up and basically whisper in their ear. Sounds similar to what you’ve seen.

So glad that our church (and most churches in this diocese–even new ones) still have the old style confessional booths.

 

[jmcrae]

Interesting. I’ve seen old photos of priests in Rome doing outdoor confessions for hundreds of people. Each priest is standing a few yards from the next and the people walk up and basically whisper in their ear. Sounds similar to what you’ve seen.

So glad that our church (and most churches in this diocese–even new ones) still have the old style confessional booths.

I like the anonymous sound-proof confession booths.

When I went to Confession this past Saturday, I was able to have an animated conversation with the priest - he became very interested in one point of my Confession, and wanted to know more details, and because it was an emotional issue for me, I raised my voice a bit, and then so did he (not overly - we weren’t shouting, but we were definitely speaking above a whisper) - this kind of thing, which is a natural part of the counselling aspect of Confession, is only really possible in a sound-proof room where one feels assured of one’s anonymity.

 

[AnnaTherese]

My Diocese is considering implimenting a rule where a Priest must have another adult present with him when hearing confession from children. Does anyone else see problems with this? ]

Ridiculous indeed. That’s why we need to stop having face-to-face confessions and make sure they are always done in a public place with other people around. A child isn’t going to open his heart and confess his sins if his mother is looking over his shoulder. No way.

 

[otjm]

Perhaps we are all making a problem where there is none.

To begin with, I have not heard of any child being molested while in Reconcilliation - most of the sexual molestation cases of young children appear to have occured before face-to-face Reconcilliation was instituted, as near as I can tell. It may be that there were cases, but the substance of what I have heard had more to do with grade school children in other settings, usually starting with them being altar boys.

So the whole issue may be a solution in search of a problem.

Further, without knowing what the OP’s diocese is proposing, it may be that we are all over-reacting; we are making the presumption that the “adult present” would have to be in the Reconcilliation Room; but it may be that the diocese is simply proposing that there be an adult to monitor time spent in the room, and the adult is outside the room. That in itself should provide ample protection, while also avoiding issues of privilege.

 

[sojo]

This is so unbelievably sad…

I’ve been pondering 1st confession for my son, who has Down syndrome. We put off First Confession, not because my son didn’t have reasoning, but because he has battled a texture aversion which made accepting the presence of the host on his tongue intolerable, and then the likely public scene that would ensue. Our Pastor, praise God, is supportive and encouraged us to have my son’s first communion take place at a daily Mass, which would reduce the pressure on my son as only a few older folks attend, no homily given, shorter Mass, etc. He promised to break the host into the tiniest parcel, and gave us a bunch of un-transsubstantiated hosts for practice. Nonetheless, my son is going to be 11 years old in a couple of weeks and we’ve yet to schedule the BIG DAY.

Anyhow, in addition to First Communion, dear Father is going to have to hear my son’s First Confession. Now, the thing is with developmental disabilities, my son isn’t very verbal. And if led, he’ll say “yes” to just about anything if said in a sympathetic voice. “Now, son, did you kill 30 people with an ax?” “Yes Father.” So I wondered what on earth Father was going to do with First Confession for our son.

But I never, ever planned on having to be present for that special moment. I trust Father will simply ask him if he’s not obeyed Mommy and Daddy at times, my son will say yes, he’ll be absolved of his sins and that’s that.

I feel so terribly for all the wonderful men who serve as Priests who have to deal with the aftermath of a few sickos in their midst.

sojo

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

This is absolutely ridiculous! that’s all I have to say about it.