The Seal of Confession

[ericlovejoy]

Is it wrong for a lay person to speak with other lay people about his/her own confession?

 

[dans0622]

Is it wrong for a lay person to speak with other lay people about his/her own confession?

Hello ericlovejoy,

A person is free to say whatever he wants about his own confession. The “seal” only binds the confessor to secrecy (c. 983).

Dan

 

[dconklin]

Just remember that the penance and counciling is coming from God.

 

[brotherjoe]

Hello ericlovejoy,

A person is free to say whatever he wants about his own confession. The “seal” only binds the confessor to secrecy (c. 983).

Dan

So why is the priest called the “confessor?” I would have thought the confess-or is the one doing the confessing. Why isn’t the priest called the confessee?

 

[Corki]

So why is the priest called the “confessor?” I would have thought the confess-or is the one doing the confessing. Why isn’t the priest called the confessee?

Because the priest conveys the Sacrament of Confession.

 

[Caesar517]

So why is the priest called the “confessor?” I would have thought the confess-or is the one doing the confessing. Why isn’t the priest called the confessee?

If you want employment, you go to an employer and you are an employee. If you want help, you go to a helper and you are a helpee. If you want confession, you go to a confessor and you are a confessee. It makes sense to me.

 

[svid2]

The person making the confession is called the penitant.

The term “confessor” also is used to describe a person who “confesses” Christ to the world by being a tremendous example to the world of what a Christian should be like. Edward the Confessor would be an example. He was an 11th century king, and not a priest. Just so you’re not confused.

 

[brotherjoe]

If you want employment, you go to an employer and you are an employee. If you want help, you go to a helper and you are a helpee. If you want confession, you go to a confessor and you are a confessee. It makes sense to me.

The employer is the one who employs, the helper is the one who helps, but the confessor is not the one who confesses his sins? The priest isn’t confessing anything.

I just LOVE the English language…Spanish was more logical.

 

[puzzleannie]

Is it wrong for a lay person to speak with other lay people about his/her own confession?

no the seal binds the confessor, but I don’t know that it is particularly helpful to speak to other people about your confession, spiritually or any other way.

 

[puzzleannie]

The employer is the one who employs, the helper is the one who helps, but the confessor is not the one who confesses his sins?

look at the ending, -er, vs. -or. Think “confessor” and “confessee” (good thing we use “penitent” instead).