Should parishes consider eliminating face-to-face confessions?

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In some old churches I visited the confessionals were built so that the priest was the only one who was not seen. No privacy for the penitents in those churches.
 
Well, if that were the case in my parish, I’d cross that bridge.
 
I think face to face confession is here to stay even if it will not always be the norm.

As to confessionals being a protection for priests, I’m not so sure.

Are there confessionals or screens in prisons? Maybe. I’m guessing the priests who hear prison confessions and those who hear the confessions of other priests are going to be the biggest targets of laws such as those in Australia. Such priests ARE likely to know who is confessing. Or they can probably make an educated guess.

It is still possible that priests could be asked for details of confessions they hear, even if they don’t know the identity of the person who confessed.
 
If the Church can accept online donations, maybe an online confession? 😂
 
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Titivillus said:
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TheLittleLady:
No, priests have the same right as any other Catholic to anonymous confession.
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I believe 2️⃣©️ it is mistaken that anyone has a right to anonymous confession. Every parish, however, should afford both penitent and confessor the opportunity to confess with a fixed grill separating the two.
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You’re correct, we’re not guaranteed anonymity, just confidentiality.

The confessionals I grew up with had the fixed grill with a sliding panel on the priest’s side. He’d slide the panel away from the grille on his side when it was your turn to confess. You could see him slightly but he really couldn’t see us because we were in the dark, the thick red velvet curtains didn’t admit much light from outside.

Odds are though, that if you are in a one-priest parish and confess regularly your priest knows your voice. I assume that even if he can’t see me my priest is aware that I’m the one confessing particularly when i recite the Act of Contrition in French. It’s the one prayer I don’t feel is meaningful unless I recite it in the language I learned it almost 60 years ago.
 
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Even when the green light is on, I still peek in the window before I enter. I can see the empty chair.
 
I have always confessed face-to-face. Being forced to a screen wouldn’t do me any good.

My own parish allows for both options. You walk into the confessional and you see a screen in front of you and a chair behind it to the right. You make your choice.
 
Phemie said:
In some old churches I visited the confessionals were built so that the priest was the only one who was not seen. No privacy for the penitents in those churches.
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I remember a few churches where they had confessionals of this kind, though I never used one myself. In fact I don’t think I ever saw one actually in use. I was under the impression that they were done away with many years ago.

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I would like to eliminate face to face confession. Not because it makes me uncomfortable, but sometimes the priest wants to chat afterward, and I think that diminishes the solemnity and awesomeness of what just happened at absolution. I would prefer to immediately go say my penitential prayers and a prayer of thanksgiving.
 
anon64350612 said:
I would like to eliminate face to face confession. Not because it makes me uncomfortable, but sometimes the priest wants to chat afterward, and I think that diminishes the solemnity and awesomeness of what just happened at absolution
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I feel the same way. Chatting makes it feel less holy and more like just a friendly visit.
 
I would love it if all parishes would put in confessionals like they used to have. 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. 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:. I actually don’t mind the penance services with open confession, but at those I always pick a priest who isn’t from my parish, haha.
 
Theo2 said:
If we want to stem off attacks from civil authorities, we, the church, have to handle future cases properly and come clean on the past history of secrecy to gain the people’s trust. Then, they will not support such laws.
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I doubt this will satisfy them.
 
I have seen one like that when my family went to visit some other country.
 
Go to St. Peter’s in Rome. That is what they have there, In fact Pope Francis used one.
 
I find face-to-face daunting, intimidating, and a little scary. With the screen I can hide from looking the priest in the eye and him looking right back at me.

Which is why I go face-to-face when I can.

But that’s beside the point. How would going into a little booth where no one can see what’s happening be safer than doing it out in the open? At our church, we often do it as described by @causer00000.

I think some people may want to use this tragedy to “reform” the Church back to the “good ol’ days.”
 
I am from the good old days and things were not that good. It was also recommended to go face to face by the Franciscan fathers who taught me in High School. They said that is how priest confess.

I tried it before Vatican II. I believe women were required to use the confessional.
 
TheLittleLady said:
I know a parish where the entire confessional is a clear plexiglass box. Just sitting there with two chairs inside. If I lived there I would drive 100 miles to avoid such a display!
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I understand your sentiments! It is normal in Eastern Churches (and thus what I am accustomed to) for confessions to occur in full view of the congregation. No plexiglass, no screen, no confessional. Out in the open, in front of the icon screen. People are generally respectful and keep their distance.
It definitely throws visitors off if they are not expecting it and I can see how it would be problematic, particularly if ones formation has emphasized anonymous confession.
 
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