Public confession

[ericka1701]

Thursday night was the penance service, and there was another priest (who I’ll call Fr. A) who also came from another parish in the diocese to help with hearing confession. There is only one Reconcilliation room in my church, so my priest (Fr. B) allowed Fr. A to take the room, and Fr. B took confession in the sanctuary (next to the alter). I chose Fr A for my confession, but when I was back in the sanctuary praying after my own confession, I accidentially overheard someone confessing to Fr. B. I really tried my hardest not to hear (even put my fingers in my ears at one point), but the best I could, I overheard much more than I wanted to (hearing just one word is more than I want to hear… not my business).

I don’t think that it was done intentionally, but it has really bothered me. Is there any action myself I need to take (ie, is it a sin to have overheard this)? Also, should I tell Fr. B that I did hear part of someone’s confession?

Thanks and God Bless!

Ericka

 

[Phemie]

It’s not a sin to overhear but you are bound by the same secret as the priest: you may not reveal anything you overheard. Yes, I’d inform the priest that it was possible to overhear people’s confession. It might be all he needs to set things up differently next time.

In order to avoid that situation in my parish, where we sometimes have that type of set-up for a penitential service, we use canned instrumental music played loudly enough to mask murmurs but not so loud as to distract from prayer.

The worse situation we’ve ever encountered was Fr. forgetting to turn off his lapel mic before hearing confession. I can still see the sacristan booting it down the aisle to knock on the reconciliation room door to inform him.

 

[sheila0405]

I agree; let the priest know what happened so he can make other arrangements the next penance service. You can never reveal what you overheard. If it was me, I would talk to the priest and then never speak of the matter again to anyone.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Thursday night was the penance service, and there was another priest (who I’ll call Fr. A) who also came from another parish in the diocese to help with hearing confession. There is only one Reconcilliation room in my church, so my priest (Fr. B) allowed Fr. A to take the room, and Fr. B took confession in the sanctuary (next to the alter). I chose Fr A for my confession, but when I was back in the sanctuary praying after my own confession, I accidentially overheard someone confessing to Fr. B. I really tried my hardest not to hear (even put my fingers in my ears at one point), but the best I could, I overheard much more than I wanted to (hearing just one word is more than I want to hear… not my business).

I don’t think that it was done intentionally, but it has really bothered me. Is there any action myself I need to take (ie, is it a sin to have overheard this)? Also, should I tell Fr. B that I did hear part of someone’s confession?

Thanks and God Bless!

Ericka

You are bound by the same seal of Confession as the priest when you overhear a Confession. Breaking that seal intentionally carries the same excommunication. So forget about it, never act on it, and NEVER repeat it.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I agree; let the priest know what happened so he can make other arrangements the next penance service. You can never reveal what you overheard. If it was me, I would talk to the priest and then never speak of the matter again to anyone.

Do not tell the priest what you heard, that would be breaking the seal! But simply tell him that people could hear what was being said.

 

[jmcrae]

Also, should I tell Fr. B that I did hear part of someone’s confession?

Bring it to his attention that people could overhear other people’s confessions, so that he can make better arrangements next time he has a situation like this.

 

[thomasf]

We had a penance service last week, and our priest took the confessional room, but forgot to turn his microphone off. You couldn’t really hear what was being said because of the music, but it was addressed promptly. Sometimes in those big services when priests have to improvise, things like that happen.

 

[Letchitsa1]

The worse situation we’ve ever encountered was Fr. forgetting to turn off his lapel mic before hearing confession. I can still see the sacristan booting it down the aisle to knock on the reconciliation room door to inform him.

I guess that brings an entirely new meaning to a “hot mic”, eh?

 

[Justman]

Greetings

I would like to know the position of the Church on fertility test. Does the Church permit her members to undergo such test as seminal analysis,bearing in mind that the semen will be destroyed in the process of this analysis. Is this test required by couples intending to marry in the Church

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Greetings

I would like to know the position of the Church on fertility test. Does the Church permit her members to undergo such test as seminal analysis,bearing in mind that the semen will be destroyed in the process of this analysis. Is this test required by couples intending to marry in the Church

Fertility is not a requirement for Marriage in the Catholic Church.

No necessary medical tests required for medical treatment or disgnosis are prohibited.

 

[Cajetan]

I’ve been in similar situations. At one parish, while waiting in line for the confessional, I (and the rest of the people in line, I’m sure) overheard bits and pieces of two or three confessions. A very uncomfortable predicament for me. I tried extremely hard to ‘avert my mind,’ hummed to myself, etc. I could have just walked away, but then I’d lose my spot in the line and Mass was going to start in a few minutes and I needed Confession.

You best believe I whispered my sins through the screen when my turn came.

 

[mystified]

I had intended to go to Confession last night, but it has been determined in our parish that none of the three priests will be available for this sacrament on the two weekends prior to Christmas. There will be a half-hour penance service midweek to be followed by general absolution.
<i think this might be somewhat irregular, but since it is the only thing available within walking distant, I will avail myself of this only opportunity before the Feast of the Nativity.
At least there won’t be the mental hazard of possible overhearing or being overheard.