Seal of Confession

[childofmary1143]

During winter months our parish has mass said in a smaller room to cut back on heating expenses which happens to be behind the main body of the church.

Now if someone wants to have the Priest hear their confession, he puts up a big fuss if they ask to have it heard in the main body of the church where the confessional is.

He would rather have it in the room where the mass is being said and which people attending mass could enter and inadvertently hear it.

Isn’t this a violation of the seal of confession or even permitted? Also he says (mistakenly) that the Church (whether he means his diocese or the Vatican) say that its better to have an “open” confession (i.e. that the Priest and pentinent see each other) rather than the traditional screen. Has there been any new documents in the last 10 years from the Vatican regarding how confession should be?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

During winter months our parish has mass said in a smaller room to cut back on heating expenses which happens to be behind the main body of the church.

Now if someone wants to have the Priest hear their confession, he puts up a big fuss if they ask to have it heard in the main body of the church where the confessional is.

He would rather have it in the room where the mass is being said and which people attending mass could enter and inadvertently hear it.

Isn’t this a violation of the seal of confession or even permitted? Also he says (mistakenly) that the Church (whether he means his diocese or the Vatican) say that its better to have an “open” confession (i.e. that the Priest and pentinent see each other) rather than the traditional screen. Has there been any new documents in the last 10 years from the Vatican regarding how confession should be?

Canon Law requires a screen be available for anyone who wants to use it. Face to face Confession is not mandated anywhere.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Canon law says:

Can. 964 §1 The proper place for hearing sacramental confessions is a church or oratory.
§2 As far as the confessional is concerned, norms are to be issued by the Episcopal Conference, with the proviso however that confessionals, which the faithful who so wish may freely use, are located in an open place, and fitted with a fixed grille between the penitent and the confessor.
§3 Except for a just reason, confessions are not to be heard elsewhere than in a confessional.

That on the record, and especially section 3, I know of no preference expressed by the Church for face-to-face confession over a grill. If anything, I would lean the other way :twocents: For instance, I am told that face-to-face is an option first of the priest, and only then of the penitent. (That is: A penitent may request an “open” confession, but the priest may refuse and insist on a screen. And, of course, I believe a priest ought not force an open confession, but that begs your question)

Note however that in the US (in my experience) we are used to “closet”-style confessionals, but (again, in my experience) things are different in Europe, where confessionals “located in an open place” are more usual – The priest is enclosed in a booth, but the penitents are outside of it, visible for all to see (though typically in a space large enough that they ought not be heard – How small is the small room you speak of, anyway?)

tee

 

[childofmary1143]

Canon law says:

That on the record, and especially section 3, I know of no preference expressed by the Church for face-to-face confession over a grill. If anything, I would lean the other way :twocents: For instance, I am told that face-to-face is an option first of the priest, and only then of the penitent. (That is: A penitent may request an “open” confession, but the priest may refuse and insist on a screen. And, of course, I believe a priest ought not force an open confession, but that begs your question)

Note however that in the US (in my experience) we are used to “closet”-style confessionals, but (again, in my experience) things are different in Europe, where confessionals “located in an open place” are more usual – The priest is enclosed in a booth, but the penitents are outside of it, visible for all to see (though typically in a space large enough that they ought not be heard – How small is the small room you speak of, anyway?)

tee

Approximately 20 feet by 30 feet.