Should parishes consider eliminating face-to-face confessions?

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As someone who does face-to-face, I would prefer it if it continued for as long as possible. That said, in the event that countries start passing laws attempting to force priests to break the seal of confession, it would be prudent to forbid it for the sake of the priests.
Gingersnaps4 said:
As it is at my parish, we have a reconciliation room and if you ask for the screen father will use it, but by then he already knows who you are so it seems pointless :roll_eyes:.
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At my parish, the reconciliation room is set up so that the priest is behind the screen and can’t see you when you walk in. He just listens for the door to close. It’s entirely optional to let him see you.
 
the reason i “don’t like it” is because i’ve seen that it causes increasingly long lines for confession in an ever narrowing window of availability for this sacrament

some faithful take ten, fifteen minute blocks of time seeking, essentially. counseling

mean while a half dozen are timed out by the time vigal Mass starts

at least in my case (and i am sure i am not the only one) we struggle to block off time on saturday to receive penance
 
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Gingersnaps4 said:
I personally don’t see any value to a face to face confession. The priest is acting in the person of Christ so there isn’t a real need for him to personally see you.
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If you don’t personally see any value in face-to-face confession, I’m glad that there is an option for you. I would hate for the option to disappear for those of us who do see value in face-to-face confession.

I find confession behind a screen to be awkward. I greatly prefer face-to-face confession with a priest who knows me.
 
brian_custer said:
the reason i “don’t like it” is because i’ve seen that it causes increasingly long lines for confession in an ever narrowing window of availability for this sacrament

some faithful take ten, fifteen minute blocks of time seeking, essentially. counseling
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I get that this can be a problem sometimes. I’m just not sure that the blame can be entirely placed with face-to-face confession. Perhaps it is more about changing attitudes toward confession, and those changes coincided with the renewal of confession face to face.
 
good for you; can you please get it done in five minutes or less?

there are people waiting in line behind you, shipmate…
 
brian_custer said:
the reason i “don’t like it” is because i’ve seen that it causes increasingly long lines for confession in an ever narrowing window of availability for this sacrament
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Out of curiosity, how do you know that they’re doing it face-to-face, that they are receiving counselling, and that them going behind a screen would improve matters at all? The former two don’t seem like things we can know unless we watched or listened in, and the latter doesn’t seem to be an automatic fix if that’s just how the priest or the individual is.
 
brian_custer said:
good for you; can you please get it done in five minutes or less?

there are people waiting in line behind you, shipmate…
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My part of the confession usually takes less than a minute. I don’t really control what the priest has to say, what questions he might ask, or what advice he might give.

I would say my average confession lasts between 5 and 10 minutes. I’m pretty brief and to the point. My confessor takes his role as physician very seriously and takes the time necessary to diagnose the soul’s ailment and give an appropriate remedy.
 
Yes, I didn’t mean to imply that there is no value for anyone, I’m just talking about myself and the way I see it. The way it’s done in my parish now, anonymous confession is impossible as there is just a reconciliation room with a screen they get behind upon request. With an old fashion confessional we would get the best of both worlds, you could do face to face, or anonymous. I do confess face to face by the way, as it seems stupid to ask for the screen in the reconciliation room. But I think I would go to confession much more often if we had a confessional booth.
 
you make a great point

essentially; imo’ there is a difference between “counseling” & confession

in just my anecdotal observation certain individuals seem to “clog” the confession with what seems me to be narratives & requests for the priest’s opinion on their life issues

is that what 'penance" is supposed to be?

especially since there are PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE behind you
 
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Gingersnaps4 said:
Yes, I didn’t mean to imply that there is no value for anyone, I’m just talking about myself and the way I see it. The way it’s done in my parish now, anonymous confession is impossible as there is just a reconciliation room with a screen they get behind upon request. With an old fashion confessional we would get the best of both worlds, you could do face to face, or anonymous. I do confess face to face by the way, as it seems stupid to ask for the screen in the reconciliation room. But I think I would go to confession much more often if we had a confessional booth.
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For a Latin Rite parish, this seems to be bordering on a violation of canon law. It seems like a strange set up.
 
does anyone remember the dark, quiet confessional “booths” with a kneeler & a dark screen?

you could always recognize the priest’s voice; and odds are’ if you were a regular parishioner; the priest could recognize yours

what was so horrible about that?

it was warm & comforting

who made the decision the priest & penitent need to eyeball each other?
 
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brian_custer said:
you make a great point

essentially; imo’ there is a difference between “counseling” & confession

in just my anecdotal observation certain individuals seem to “clog” the confession with what seems me to be narratives & requests for the priest’s opinion on their life issues

is that what 'penance" is supposed to be?

especially since there are PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE behind you
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But what does that have to do with face-to-face confession? I’ve heard similar complaints at an FSSP parish that does not have a face-to-face option. Some people won’t be stopped by a screen.
 
you keep missing my point. 10-15-20 minute face to face confessions “block out” many parishioners who have gone out of their way to attempt to receive the sacrament of penance
 
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brian_custer said:
you keep missing my point. 10-15-20 minute face to face confessions “block out” many parishioners who have gone out of their way to receive the sacrament of penance
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But what about equally lengthy confessions behind a screen? Have you never experienced that? I have been in such a confession and in line behind such a confession. Yes, it is problematic. I don’t see the correlation with face-to-face.
 
i guess you might be right

i haven’t "seen (completely anecdotal) long lines in “non-face to face” confessions

the priests try to move these along rapidly; so that as many as possible may receive the sacrament
 
brian_custer said:
does anyone remember the dark, quiet confessional “booths” with a kneeler & a dark screen?

you could always recognize the priest’s voice; and odds are’ if you were a regular parishioner; the priest could recognize yours

what was so horrible about that?

it was warm & comforting

who made the decision the priest & penitent need to eyeball each other?
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I don’t find that to be warm and comforting. I find it to be awkward and disorienting.

You know what I find to be warm and comforting? In the Byzantine Rite, the priest puts his stole on the penitent head and lays his hands on the stole as he gives absolution. This kind of close, physical contact would really make some people uncomfortable.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Thankfully, we have options.
 
It is tough when the confession time only lasts for half an hour.
 
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