Was the Seal of Confession Broken?

[Eastwind]

I have voiced my displeasure with our music director’s habit of going off-script with the reading of the Psalms during Mass. Also, on one occasion, he sang a song during Mass that he created concerning the thoughts of Saint Joseph, which, in my opinion, was not based on Biblical evidence, or in the prescribed hymnal. Anyway, I discussed my feeling about this director during Confession, and how his tendency to do his own thing was spiritually disruptive. The priest did not share my concerns or opinion that the singing of the Mass was becoming more of a musical production than the adoration of Christ. He told me to be more forgiving and understanding of the music director. I relented. Then, a week later, before the Mass was concluded a musical video was shown, which I thought had no place in the Mass, considering we just received the Body and Blood of Our Savior. To me, this post-theatrical addendum degraded the Mass.

I wrote a letter of my concerns to our pastor, which was shared by my confessor. This fact became obvious after Sunday Mass the following week. He (my confessor) confronted me as I was leaving church, with the admonition and striking of his hand upon my person, saying, “You know what you did.”

I have not returned to that church since that altercation. I feel the seal of Confession was violated by his actions and public humiliation (there were perhaps four other parishioners present). What is my recourse?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Just noting that this somehow was posted in the Site Feedback category, which is for feedback about the forum website features. I moved it to “Liturgy and Sacraments” since it’s about confession.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I wrote a letter of my concerns to our pastor, which was shared by my confessor.

You wrote a letter of your concerns to your pastor. The letter didn’t fall under the seal of confession.
Presumably the pastor discussed the letter with the priest. The discussion didn’t fall under the seal of confession.

The priest was annoyed that you wrote to the pastor and “admonished” you. While it may have been insensitive for him to do this in front of other parishioners, he didn’t break the seal of confession when you already wrote a letter to the pastor.

As for you “not returning to that church”, I would think that’s the best outcome, given that the priest may have been insensitive and that you have an ongoing problem with how the Masses are being conducted. It might be better for you to find another Catholic church to attend where the Mass is more to your liking and you don’t have to deal with a priest with whom you don’t get along. I would note however that we don’t have to rely on “Biblical evidence” for everything in the church and that it’s okay to speculate on St. Joseph’s thoughts in a reverent way - there are a lot of theological books on St. Joseph over the centuries that draw from many sources other than the Bible.

It’s also a bit questionable that you apparently used confession as a time to complain to the priest about what he was doing at Mass rather than to just tell him your sins and leave. That’s not the proper use of confession. Confession isn’t where we’re supposed to bring up our criticisms about the Mass or our criticisms about the priest. If you have a problem with a priest or with a Mass in the future, then you should be discussing it with the priest at a time other than confession.

 

[Eastwind]

I was not using Confession to complain, but to temper my hostel feeling during Mass when I should be more involved in the spiritual aspect of the sacrament.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

He (my confessor) confronted me as I was leaving church, with the admonition and striking of his hand upon my person, saying, “You know what you did.”

I get the sense English may not be your first language, so maybe I’m misreading this, but he hit you?

 

[OurLadyofSorrows]

Did you, during the Sacrament of Confession, show this letter of concern to the Priest ?

 

[1ke]

I wrote a letter of my concerns to our pastor, which was shared by my confessor.

You wrote a complaint letter. The letter was shared. Not your confession.

No, the seal of confession was NOT broken in any way by sharing your complaint letter.