Radio Confessions a No No

[HagiaSophia]

There are days you have to wonder where do some of the ideas come from? Do people just wake up in the morning and want to do something different …???

Outspoken Melbourne priest Fr Bob Maguire was a guest on youth radio station Triple J on Sunday night when host John Saffran invited callers to take part in radio confessions.

Three listeners rang in, confessed on air, and were given penance by Father Maguire.

But Vicar General of the Melbourne Archdiocese Monsignor Les Tomlinson said the church regards radio confessions as inappropriate because they break the secrecy seal of the confessional. He said there could be severe repercussions for a priest who broke the seal, including defrocking or excommunication.

“The penitent may choose to reveal the contents of their confession, but the priest can never break the seal of the confessional, and that includes broadcasting it on radio,” Monsignor Tomlinson said.

Monsignor Tomlinson said the callers’ sins would not have been forgiven because the official words of absolution were not used, and was concerned the callers may have believed they had received real absolution.

The church has long resisted calls for phone confessions, insisting the rite be kept personal. Monsignor Tomlinson said radio confessions could also embarrass a third party who had not consented to being identified.

cathnews.com/news/502/29.php

 

[Kielbasi]

I agree that radio confessions are inappropriate to say the least, not to mention probably illicit. But they don’t “break the seal” in my estimation.

The people who called in knew that they were on the radio, it would be the functional equivalent of a people hollering their confession in a crowded church, it isn’t the priests fault that others could hear it.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I agree that radio confessions are inappropriate to say the least, not to mention probably illicit. But they don’t “break the seal” in my estimation.

The people who called in knew that they were on the radio, it would be the functional equivalent of a people hollering their confession in a crowded church, it isn’t the priests fault that others could hear it.

I agree on the seal. However they are not “probably illicit” they are invalid. This actually was not a “radio confession” but a “telephone confession”, however that makes no difference since the Church has ruled against the validity of "electronic or remote confession.

 

[mkw]

Don’t let the prist “off the hook” that easy. He KNEW what he was doing and encouraged this.

 

[StJeanneDArc]

This is an unbelievable lack of judgement! Even if the priest didn’t “know” that he couldn’t hear confession over the phone, what possessed him to allow it to be broadcast? And the people calling in?!! What’s next? A Jerry Springer wannabe doing live TV confessions?

 

[puzzleannie]

If the bishop says they were invalid and/or illicit, that is what they are. If he said they break the seal, then they break the seal. Our opinion has no weight. Hope the priest gets all the canonical penalties due to him, in spades.

 

[Brendan]

puzzleannie:

If the bishop says they were invalid and/or illicit, that is what they are. If he said they break the seal, then they break the seal. Our opinion has no weight. Hope the priest gets all the canonical penalties due to him, in spades.

Not quite true Anne,

The only Bishop who has finality on such a question is the Bishop of Rome.

A priest accused of such is entitled to present his case to a Tribunal of Canon Law, and if necessary, appeal the case to Rome.

The Ordinary can only make the accusation, not pronounce judgement on the case.

 

[fix]

How can a priest not know that such a confession is invalid? This must have been done with full knowledge.

 

[Kielbasi]

Not quite true Anne,

The only Bishop who has finality on such a question is the Bishop of Rome.

A priest accused of such is entitled to present his case to a Tribunal of Canon Law, and if necessary, appeal the case to Rome.

The Ordinary can only make the accusation, not pronounce judgement on the case.

Particularly true in this situation, as breaking the seal of confession is a very serious excommunicatable violation.

How can a priest not know that such a confession is invalid?

Not every priest knows everything a priest should know. Not all of the faithful know everything the faithful should know either.

Although this priest apparently knows it now, if he didn’t before, so progress is being made.