When Sacrament of Confession is refused

[LoveMercyGrace]

or perhaps avoided. arrangements made then avoided twice with no explanation.
not to an individual but to several persons.
what on earth could this mean
when it is refused.? or …who do we talk to?
please pray

 

[PaulfromIowa]

arrangements made then avoided twice with no explanation.

Is he ill, or dealing with some crisis? Is he celebrating Mass? Could he hear confessions before or after?

Can you seek out another priest for confession?

 

[acadiANNA]

Praying. Seek out another priest who is available. Real soon.

 

[Casilda]

Who do we talk to, indeed. I have sought out confession, waiting in long, unmoving lines of people, only to have mass start and confessions stop. Tried to make appointments, they get cancelled. I did have a few minutes to talk to a priest at a retreat. He acknowledged the crisis the church has been in. There is absolutely no spiritual direction, the faithful wander aimlessly. I talk to God a lot, I have since I was a small child. There simply aren’t enough priests to shepherd the flocks, and the wolves have gotten into the sheepfold.

 

[pensmama87]

In most situations I would highly doubt that it’s actually being refused; it’s just that priests are stretched very, very thin. People get sick and need hospital calls for Anointing, priests say Mass, etc.

One thing you could do is inquire at the parish office (or to your priest if he is able to respond to communications) if there are retired priests in your diocese who would be open to hearing confessions. Their schedules are not as full, even though they are often called on to help out because of the vocations crisis. I recently heard of one priest in our diocese who is disabled and not able to travel much, but was very willing to hear confessions of anybody who would travel to his home.

If there are religious orders nearby, they may also have some availability.

 

[Mary_Estelle]

I think it would be very rare for the refusal of the sacrament of confession. However, there are times and circumstanes where a priest is not - can not be available. That would not be the same as refusal. Peace.

 

[Bridgit_Andrews]

Is this part of an overall trend or just a thing regarding reconciliation and perhaps being stretched too thin?

Years ago, I had a priest who had a wee issue with alcohol and his behavior was subtly odd. Your post reminded me of his odd behavior. But it could really be any number of things going on with your priest, not necessarily a similar problem.

Have you spoken to him about the missed appointments? Were you given a solid reason such as a sudden death or accidentally overbooked? Or were you blown off?

I’ll add your priest to my prayer list.

Peace,
B

 

[PJM]

or perhaps avoided. arrangements made then avoided twice with no explanation.
not to an individual but to several persons.
what on earth could this mean
when it is refused.? or …who do we talk to?
please pray

Forgive MY ignorance here

Are you saying you made arrangements for Sacramental Confession and the Confessor backed out twice?

If So contact your local bishops office. The information contact CAN be GOOGLED

1. Be clear and SPECIFIC [dates and times; person you spoke to]
2. What was committed and cancelled
3. NOTE: with no “reasons provided”
4. Be as charitable as is possible
5. Provide ALL of your personal CONTACT information

BUT BEFORE DOING THIS

PERSONALLY CONTACT YOUR CONFESSOR TO DETERMINE IF THERE WERE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED TO THIS.

Priest are often called “out” for emergencies. We owe such a courtesy to our PRIEST.

IF no valid REASON is given; add that information to your Bishops communication.

As for your sins:

1. Make a Perfect act of Contrition this MEANS that your repentance is based PRIMARILY om offending God, FAR more so than the lass of heaven & fear of hell as possibilities.

“Perfect Contrition” CAN also be GOOGLED

God Bless you

Patrick

 

[LoveMercyGrace]

or perhaps avoided. arrangements made then avoided twice with no explanation.
not to an individual but to several persons.
what on earth could this mean
when it is refused.? or …who do we talk to?
please pray

Thank everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut, helpful to see all possibilities in situation. and what I can do

now until I see a priest. such as making a Perfect Act of Contrition- thank you for this.

I desire to receive Sacrament. but I also feel as through he needs prayers.

thank you

 

[GoGoDiego]

Thank everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut, helpful to see all possibilities in situation. and what I can do

now until I see a priest. such as making a Perfect Act of Contrition- thank you for this.

I desire to receive Sacrament. but I also feel as through he needs prayers.

thank you

Indeed. They need our prayers because the demands of his ministry can be heavy. I was refused once to have my confession since the priest was in a hurry to go to a chapel in a nearby community for their Mass.

 

[1ke]

Forgive MY ignorance here

Are you saying you made arrangements for Sacramental Confession and the Confessor backed out twice?

If So contact your local bishops office. The information contact CAN be GOOGLED

And we wonder why there is priest shortage. Because people think they need to run to the bishop with every little thing.

How about instead of contacting the bishop the OP and the other people ASK THE PRIEST. I know if someone has an issue with me, I appreciate it when they bring it to me instead of running around me to someone else.

Priests are very busy and stressed out people. He could have had an emergency sick call. He could have gotten sick himself or had some other emergency. Especially if he is the sole priest in that parish or like my priest covering multiple parishes.

So, give the guy a BREAK! And talk to him like a human being, who has feelings and pressures on him.

 

[PJM]

And we wonder why there is priest shortage. Because people think they need to run to the bishop with every little thing.

How about instead of contacting the bishop the OP and the other people ASK THE PRIEST. I know if someone has an issue with me, I appreciate it when they bring it to me instead of running around me to someone else.

Priests are very busy and stressed out people. He could have had an emergency sick call. He could have gotten sick himself or had some other emergency. Especially if he is the sole priest in that parish or like my priest covering multiple parishes.

So, give the guy a BREAK! And talk to him like a human being, who has feelings and pressures on him.

uhhhhhhhhh

1st I DID suggest that the OP FIRST contact her priest

2nd. IF as the OP relates a priest is negligent in his duty [HEAVEN FORBID], then there is a grave responsibility to contact the Local Ordinary. AMEN

GBY

 

[LoveMercyGrace]

Indeed. They need our prayers because the demands of his ministry can be heavy. I was refused once to have my confession since the priest was in a hurry to go to a chapel in a nearby community for their Mass.

thank you for insights

 

[acadiANNA]

I think you should call and make an appointment with the priest for Confession, unless there are regular hours on Saturday that you can go to. Remember the widow who was persistent until the judge finally heard her?

 

[mosher]

While this may not be the case here, there are some legitimate reasons why a priest might refuse confessions. I’ve had to do it on a two occasions myself. The first is when there is not sufficient time, the second is in a case of extreme scrupulosity (as distinct from simply a tender conscious). But, generally, if there is not enough time for confessions to be heard, then it seems to me that it’s time for the good priest to increase his offered times for confessions. Few things are more important.

 

[Casilda]

But, generally, if there is not enough time for confessions to be heard, then it seems to me that it’s time for the good priest to increase his offered times for confessions. Few things are more important.

St. John Vianney would agree

.

 

[LoveMercyGrace]

OP here…

Third attempt , made agreement for following week and the same happened, he did not hear confession…

no reason given.

very hurtful. please pray I do not fall into depression that I am not worthy to receive

sacrament. is there any reason Jesus would not desire to hear your confession?

mostly, please pray for this priest

.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

OP here…

Third attempt , made agreement for following week and the same happened, he did not hear confession…

no reason given.

very hurtful. please pray I do not fall into depression that I am not worthy to receive

sacrament. is there any reason Jesus would not desire to hear your confession?

mostly, please pray for this priest

.

If I understnd this correctly, you made an appointment and the priest did not show up?

Or did you make an appointment, the priest showed up, but refused to hear your confession?

Depending on which it is, there could be different approaches to take.

 

[Gorgias]

If I understnd this correctly, you made an appointment and the priest did not show up?

Or did you make an appointment, the priest showed up, but refused to hear your confession?

Or, a third possibility: did the OP double-check that he’d be at the normally-scheduled time, but when the time arrived, he was not present?

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

OP here…

Third attempt , made agreement for following week and the same happened, he did not hear confession…

no reason given.

very hurtful. please pray I do not fall into depression that I am not worthy to receive

sacrament. is there any reason Jesus would not desire to hear your confession?

mostly, please pray for this priest

.

I’m sorry you’re having such difficulty, but maybe you should consider giving up on this priest? At least, as it relates to hearing your confessions. If he’s so busy or so absent minded that he keeps not showing up to your appointed time, then maybe it’s time you sought out another priest.

Is there a nearby parish with regularly scheduled times you could go?

How often are you going to confession? Are you one of those people who feels the need to go every other day? Just asking.