Vatican laments drop in confessions

[JButky]

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A Vatican official is lamenting that many faithful no longer confess their sins, and says some confuse a psychologist’s couch for a confessional booth.

AP Story Here

Joe B

 

[turtle18]

Oh, gee–let’s see maybe the priests could talk about Confession from the pulpit? Maybe the priests could talk about what is right & what is wrong so the congregation has a better idea of what a sin is.

When priests start canceling Confession because “no one is showing up”–definitely gives the wrong message to the Congregation. I asked the Archdiocese where I live to put a list of Confession times on the archdiocesan website and got back some bizarre answer that they couldn’t do that–in case the priests weren’t in the Confessional.

 

[scott1228]

People aren’t going to confession for two simple reasons

1. There isn’t enough availability. Big churches should have daily confession except Sunday, and priests should be present whether or not anyone comes.
2. Priests do not talk about sins and sinfulness from the pulpit. Abortion, pornography, adultery, etc. If they did, people would want to go to confession.

Padre Pio never had a problem getting people to come to confession.

Scott

 

[brigid12]

People aren’t going to confession for two simple reasons

1. There isn’t enough availability. Big churches should have daily confession except Sunday, and priests should be present whether or not anyone comes.
2. Priests do not talk about sins and sinfulness from the pulpit. Abortion, pornography, adultery, etc. If they did, people would want to go to confession.

Padre Pio never had a problem getting people to come to confession.

Scott

:yup:

I used to think priests didn’t discuss sin from the pulpit because they were told to give homilies on one of the Scripture readings, however I’ve never seen a priest have difficulty requesting donations (or having someone else do it for them, at least). So

 

[Nicandro]

The media imagines catholics queueing round the block confession. In my parish its once a week for an hour saturday morning and its deserted apart from a couple of old timers and myself. Then at mass next day 500 or more people receive the sacrament of the Eucharist! We must live in a saintly community.

A priest actually told me once that penetential rite- mea culpa at mass is enough to get you over the problem of receiving communion without reconcilation.

How many people are damned receiving communion in a state of mortal sin. I suspect millions and millions? [edited]).

Acquiescing to stereotypical attitudes and poor catechesis must have a lot to do with it. Recently a famous catholic TV soap and film writer here in England said in an interview that confession was old fashioned and nobody goes to confession (nervous laughter here ha ha ha!) We play to the notion that it is catholic guilt that always does the rounds esp in countries steeped in a history of anti-popery like England. Its not guilt its respect for the Eucharist and love of God. A confession out of fear is not proper so the answer is not brimstone from the pulpit as suggested above.

IMO disrespect of all the Holy Sacraments is to blame. Diss one Diss them all! We got to stick up for all of them and know why we do it.

 

[littlemac]

I have noticed that churches with behind the screen confessions tend to have lines of people waiting for their turn–it doesn’t matter when the time or day is. However many churches do not offer this. When speaking to people, they do not feel the privacy or connection to God speaking face to face with a priest.

So maybe churches should go back to the small separate room with a screen separating the confessor from the priest.

 

[brigid12]

1). Brimstone from the pulpit and catechesis from the pulpit are two different things. Did not Our Lady of Fatima not show Hell to the three children?

1. The Church teaches that confession out of love is preferable to one out of fear, however one made out of fear is better than none at all.

 

[brigid12]

I have noticed that churches with behind the screen confessions tend to have lines of people waiting for their turn–it doesn’t matter when the time or day is. However many churches do not offer this. When speaking to people, they do not feel the privacy or connection to God speaking face to face with a priest.

So maybe churches should go back to the small separate room with a screen separating the confessor from the priest.

That might well help. I definitely prefer using the screen.

 

[brigid12]

A priest actually told me once that penetential rite- mea culpa at mass is enough to get you over the problem of receiving communion without reconcilation.

It does absolve you of venial sins (not mortal sins), however one needs to be truly conscious of the venial sin.

 

[lakotak]

I am in a small parish and unfortunately, I have to leave a message for the pastor on Friday if I need to go to confession on Saturday.

 

[turtle18]

It does absolve you of venial sins (not mortal sins), however one needs to be truly conscious of the venial sin.

That explains is then. Most Catholics today do not know the difference between a grave sin and a venial sin. They are under the impression the only grave sins are murder & adultery.

 

[FastLearner]

1. There isn’t enough availability. Big churches should have daily confession except Sunday, and priests should be present whether or not anyone comes.

I have to agree. I live in one of the largest cities in the US, and there’s only one location that has confession on a day other than Saturday - a university center. And that university center doesn’t have confession in the Summer.

How can a parish with 5000 registered parishioners only have 1 hour of confession per week with only two confessionals? And how can an archdiocese with 1 million Catholics only have confession one day per week?

 

[Shin]

:yup:

I used to think priests didn’t discuss sin from the pulpit because they were told to give homilies on one of the Scripture readings, however I’ve never seen a priest have difficulty requesting donations (or having someone else do it for them, at least). So

:tsktsk: If the priests tell the parishioners they are sinners, what their sins are, and to come to Confession or Hell awaits, the people will go to Confession.

If the priests tell parishioners God loves them and forgives them no matter what they do, the people will go to Communion and not Confession.

 

[brittrossiter]

I am very, very blessed to be a member of our Cathedral’s parish, where we have multiple times allotted for Confessions each day. I’ve even seen the Bishop himself in there hearing Confessions.

I formerly attended a parish in California that offered regular Confessions immediately before Sunday Mass. (Incidentally, that is the tradition in the Eastern Catholic churches - Confessions heard immediately before Divine Liturgy. I’ve attended Divine Liturgies and seen priests standing up there with a parishoner before an Icon of Christ hearing a Confession just minutes before the Liturgy was to begin.)

Though inconvenient, Catholics are also able to make appointments for their Confessions to be heard.

I heartily agree that more emphasis needs to be placed on the graces and benefits of regular Confession and the need to prepare oneself properly for reception of the Holy Eucharist.

 

[brigid12]

That explains is then. Most Catholics today do not know the difference between a grave sin and a venial sin. They are under the impression the only grave sins are murder & adultery.

Considering the Catholics who are “pro-choice” (pro-murder?) and the sexual license pervasive in the western world, I don’t think they even consider those mortal. They have been taught/heard the three conditions for a sin to be mortal and don’t believe any human being ever meets those conditions.

 

[dachsiemom]

As stated above the Cathedral has confessions daily except Sunday. Many years ago, before my near 20 year absence from the church, I would go to confession at the Cathedral periodically and remember always being a line. Not sure about now. In the few months I have been back to church I have only heard confession discussed at mass once, and that was Divine Mercy Sunday. I don’t have a sense that there is an emphasis on Sacrament of Reconciliation. I did make an appointment for confession when I came back to church and the priest was very accomodating. Need to go again and thinking about going to the Cathedral this week.

 

[brittrossiter]

As stated above the Cathedral has confessions daily except Sunday. Many years ago, before my near 20 year absence from the church, I would go to confession at the Cathedral periodically and remember always being a line. Not sure about now. …

As far as the weekday confessions go (the ones that start at 11:30 a.m.), there is usually a line about 4-8 people deep.

 

[EasterJoy]

I know at least two priests who have seen their confession lines grow substantially over the past several years. They have really worked at it, though. They aren’t fire-and-brimstone, but they talk about sin and how much confession matters all of the time. Somehow, when they read the Scriptures, they find that in there!

I have noticed that churches with behind the screen confessions tend to have lines of people waiting for their turn–it doesn’t matter when the time or day is. However many churches do not offer this. When speaking to people, they do not feel the privacy or connection to God speaking face to face with a priest.

So maybe churches should go back to the small separate room with a screen separating the confessor from the priest.

Our parish has rooms with a screen and kneeler that keeps the door out of view and a chair that is in the confessor’s view, so each penitent has a choice. I like that.

I have never had a problem with face-to-face confession, which is a good thing, because I know my confessor knows my voice!

 

[acadian]

I think the average person in the pew is under the impression that confession is something old-fashioned that isn’t done much any more. I would guess that most haven’t been in many, many, many years and feel so lost and out of practice that even if the thought would cross their mind, that they would quickly put it out of their mind because they would be nervous and not have a clue where to start. Most just go “straight to God” with their sins and since it’s been working just fine like that for years, they see no reason to change.

I think there needs to be some basic catechesis on the sacrament and related practical aspects - probably during the homily. Starting off with why priests have the authority to bind and loose, what sins need to be confessed, the benefits of the sacrament, a how-to with a cheat sheet in the bulletin, a primer on how the lights work over the confessional, what to expect when you walk in the door (details on options like screen and face-to-face). All followed by a invitation - probably a repeated invitation - no RSVP needed.

The longer you don’t go, the easier it is to continue not to go. After all, we’re all basically good people, right? (except we’re not called to be good, we’re called to be holy)

Our parish has confession before daily Mass - that would be at 6:15 a.m. three days a week, so you know that the average Catholic in the pew is not going to be there at that hour. Noon on Wednesdays and from 3:00 to 3:30 on Saturdays. Our priest is an excellent confessor, but very rarely have I had to wait in a line.

 

[brigid12]

I think there needs to be some basic catechesis on the sacrament and related practical aspects - probably during the homily. Starting off with why priests have the authority to bind and loose, what sins need to be confessed, the benefits of the sacrament, a how-to with a cheat sheet in the bulletin, a primer on how the lights work over the confessional, what to expect when you walk in the door (details on options like screen and face-to-face). All followed by a invitation - probably a repeated invitation - no RSVP needed.