Vatican criticizes manipulation of Confession

[Timidity]

From this article:The Vatican newspaper, “L’Osservatore Romano,” has sharply criticized an article published by a weekly Italian newspaper based on a series of false confessions throughout Italy, calling it an "attack on religious sensitivities,” and a breach of “professional ethics.”
And from another article on the same story: The reporter made his false confessions to 24 different priests in five Italian cities, including Rome. The magazine said the idea was to see how priests handle difficult pastoral situations and whether they followed the strict norms laid out by church teaching…

…More than once, the magazine said, priests gave quite different advice on his supposed “sins,” which included matters relating to homosexuality, divorce, stem-cell research, euthanasia and prostitution.

 

[Timidity]

One apparent bright point pointed out in the second article is that abortion was universally condemned.

 

[awalt]

There sure are a lot of sinners in this Church. Oh wait - that’s all of us.

I sure am glad Jesus runs this Church, if he quit I see no one to take his place.

 

[Dandelion_Wine]

the idea was to see how priests handle difficult pastoral situations and whether they followed the strict norms laid out by church teaching…

I didn’t read the article - but this line JUMPED out at me. I know that when I confess the same sin to several different priests I get a variety of responses and penances. Are there actual norms?

 

[JimG]

Confession is by nature a pastoral sacrament. It’s not like consulting a moral theologian. A confessor tries to judge the individual as best he can, and provide individualized advice. That’s hardly possible when the alleged penitent is lying to him.

 

[beckers]

First off i offended that this got by an editor.The editor should have a little dignity for the church escpecially in Italy.One should not be using the confessional as a way to find out what priest thought on subjects. It also should be to no one’s shock that the priest gave different answers to the same sins. There is no check book that the priest has that says for this sin do this many hail mary’s. The pennance is varied by the priest and the particpates sins and other personal issues. The church is not as rigided as people think. She is loving!

catholicnews.com/data/sto…ns/0700574.htm

Well on another note at least they all got the abortion question correct.

“One issue that found unanimous condemnation by confessors was abortion, the magazine said.”​

I posted this over in moral theology but was told it was already posted over here.

 

[Al_Masetti]

The confessional is not a venue for a counseling session or a quasi-political discussion.

The job of the confessor is to give absolution for sins.

And maybe a two-sentence attempt at guidance to assist the penitent in avoiding sin in the future.

If the penitent wants or needs counseling, he or she should make an appointment for an hour of spiritual direction or of counseling with a priest (or lay person) specifically trained to do that.

If the penitent wants or needs a quasi-political discussion, he or she should seek out a pub and bring his or her credit card.

 

[estesbob]

How do we know the reporter is telling the truth? He can say anything he wants knowing the priest he “confessed” to cant refute what he says.

 

[b_justb]

Is the reporter that did this Italy’s Geraldo Rivera?

 

[stellina]

How do we know the reporter is telling the truth? He can say anything he wants knowing the priest he “confessed” to cant refute what he says.

Exactly. We’ve seen a lot of this sort of thing on this side of the pond lately (New York Times, etc. having to retract stories because the writer made up the “facts”). There has also been a strong anti-clerical element in Italy for many years, going back to the time of unification in the mid-nineteenth century & perhaps before that. Sadly, I fear that those in the media are pretty much the same all over & more concerned with sensationalism & selling their stories than the truth.

 

[WenckebachCath]

So, these were like ‘secret shoppers’ of the confessional? They posed as people confessing sins to see if they got orthodox counsel?

 

[beckers]

So, these were like ‘secret shoppers’ of the confessional? They posed as people confessing sins to see if they got orthodox counsel?

Man can you imagine sitting through 24 confessions? Some catholic can’t even make it once a year!

 

[Al_Masetti]

Man can you imagine sitting through 24 confessions? Some catholic can’t even make it once a year!

Gosh!! Imagine what torture it must be for the priests!!!

Like being stoned to death with popcorn.

 

[beckers]

Gosh!! Imagine what torture it must be for the priests!!!

Like being stoned to death with popcorn.

Popcorn???

 

[Richardols]

I didn’t read the article - but this line JUMPED out at me. I know that when I confess the same sin to several different priests I get a variety of responses and penances. Are there actual norms?

I don’t think so. My son told me that if he confesses in his local parish, the priest gives a more thoughtful response to him, whereas if he goes to the production line Confessions at St. Francis Church on 32nd St and 7th Ave in midtown Manhattan, he has the impression that it’s still three Our Fathers and three Hail Maries for either cursing or murder.

 

[Spirithound]

I didn’t read the article - but this line JUMPED out at me. I know that when I confess the same sin to several different priests I get a variety of responses and penances. Are there actual norms?

There aren’t norms for penance…for the same sins, i’ve been given 3 decades, or 1 Our Father. What there are norms for, is when to tell the penitent that it’s ok to use a condom when having sex with his GIRLFRIEND, when he has AIDS.

 

[Sheeniac]

Popcorn???

Archbishop Sheen once said that hearing the confession of nuns was like being stoned to death with popcorn. It’s a well-known quote, so the above comment probably was a reference to it.

 

[Sheeniac]

I don’t think so. My son told me that if he confesses in his local parish, the priest gives a more thoughtful response to him, whereas if he goes to the production line Confessions at St. Francis Church on 32nd St and 7th Ave in midtown Manhattan, he has the impression that it’s still three Our Fathers and three Hail Maries for either cursing or murder.

I believe that we’re not to expect a penance that is in any way proportional to the acts being confessed. I made a confession at St. Peter’s (Vatican) and was given a more hefty penance than I’ve gotten at my home parish.

 

[Catherine_S]

From this article:The Vatican newspaper, “L’Osservatore Romano,” has sharply criticized an article published by a weekly Italian newspaper based on a series of false confessions throughout Italy, calling it an "attack on religious sensitivities,” and a breach of “professional ethics.”

And from another article on the same story:The reporter made his false confessions to 24 different priests in five Italian cities, including Rome. The magazine said the idea was to see how priests handle difficult pastoral situations and whether they followed the strict norms laid out by church teaching……More than once, the magazine said, priests gave quite different advice on his supposed “sins,” which included matters relating to homosexuality, divorce, stem-cell research, euthanasia and prostitution.

For what purpose would a journalist gather this type of information and why would a magazine want to publish it?
What was the point they were trying to make?

Why the **interest **in what goes on in Catholic confessionals?
I do not believe for one minute that it was the reason they stated :nope: .
Only those who want to smear or mock that which is held sacred by others and an opportunity while at it to rile the **pro-abortion crowd **would do this kind of thing.

Who knows **if **the story is fact or fiction?
Is one to believe a journalist who lied and **deceived **up to 34 priests?
Looks like the work of him who is the father of all lies to me!

At best, a swat at the Catholic Church and a sure sign that the Church remains a thorn in the side for many.

I hope they have a Catholic Legal Group there and they take this magazine to task… pronto!

A useless journalistic abuse indeed! (second article above)
.

 

[Firefox]

Well, here’s my take on the example of AIDS. One priest said no, a good answer, the other said it was a question of conscience. Do you break the rules of the Church on contraception, or give your girlfriend AIDS? Neither is a good option, and who knows what the reporter left off. Probably at least something, because it’s pretty likely that both priests would also point out that you should not have sex with your girlfriend in the first place, along with what he did report.