Should parishes consider eliminating face-to-face confessions?

[brian_custer]

i don’t “prefer” to confess face to face; although that is the norm

there are many parishes & shrines where “face to face” is just not done

i seek those out;

but when i am in the the state of mortal sin (often) ; i’ll take any port in a storm…

 

[Shasta-Rose]

I agree with that–separate doors for priest and penitent. Mainly to protect the priests. They should also be seen to never be alone with kids. Sad but true–they have to cover their…butts.

 

[Nigel7]

I am not attempting to impose what the Church does not impose. I personally find it spiritually beneficial to stick to one Confessor, but it is definitely a personal preference and one that is probably driven, in part, by mild social anxiety.

So people who don’t stick to one confessor probably suffer social anxiety disorder? Ok, doctor. Nice message board diagnosis for us, but based on what again? That he doesn’t frequent just one single confessor?
I’m not trying to be rude, but c’mon with that stuff. It’s more harmful than helpful in a message board setting.

so my brother who travels to various parishes & shrines to confess to different priests is doing something wrong?

Your brother’s confession habits sound fine and he can go to whichever confessor he pleases.

I don’t go to any particular confessor. I go to whichever parish is closest to me at the time, and then to whichever line is shortest to the next open confessional.

Peace.

 

[EnglishTeacher]

So people who don’t stick to one confessor probably suffer social anxiety disorder?

While I don’t want to speak for babochka, I took what she said to mean that she prefers to stick to one confessor in part because she has mild social anxiety. Either way, I don’t think it’s necessary to become defensive. Ultimately, either way (sticking with one confessor or visiting different ones) is fine, and everyone in the discussion has agreed on that.

 

[babochka]

babochka:

I am not attempting to impose what the Church does not impose. I personally find it spiritually beneficial to stick to one Confessor, but it is definitely a personal preference and one that is probably driven, in part, by mild social anxiety.

So people who don’t stick to one confessor probably suffer social anxiety disorder? Ok, doctor. Nice message board diagnosis for us, but based on what again? That he doesn’t frequent just one single confessor?

You’re reading a whole lot into my post that simply wasn’t there.

First of all, one can have social anxiety without having a disorder. We don’t need to pathologize everything.

Second, I was referring to my own mild social anxiety in my own choice for sticking with one Confessor. I find it easier to bare my soul to somebody that I know. This has nothing to do with anybody else.

No diagnosis. No disorder. Just self-awareness.

 

[Nigel7]

Good. My apologies.

 

[JackMcCoy]

I believe a person going to confession should have the option of face to face or behind a screen.
I would be interested in knowing how priests feel about face to face or screen confessions?

 

[Titivillus]

A penitent may choose to confess face-to-face only if the confessor allows that option.

 

[Axsenex]

Nah no thanks

 

[tafan2]

It is my understanding, having been told this from two different priests, that face-to-face is and option, not required. The priest is who first decides if he wants to do face-face confession. Any priest is within is right to say: only behind a screen.
During the design of our church, our pastor at one point stated he wanted the confessionals made to not support face-to-face. He had two reasons. He thought that with the scandals of the church, it was better for everyone to keep the priest and penitent completely separated. His other reason was he thought many people had developed the wrong idea about confession due to going f2f. That too many people tried to turn confession into either a counseling session or a spiritual direction session, instead of a means of forgiveness between the penitent and God.

He eventually changed his mind with regards to the confessionals designs because he realized that was his thoughts and future pastors may not agree.

 

[Reverent_Howler]

We had a penance service just before Easter, with mostly face-to-face. Some of the priests wished to hold hands with the penitent. This was a bad idea as I received a cut on the underside of one hand. Discovered it later.