L
LilyM
Guest
Our Cathedral has this dual door system - both sides are anonymous (with the grille). I’ve never known any other way than that you enter whichever side becomes free first (indicated by a light above each of their doors as well as the priest’s) and wait until the priest has heard the confession of the person on the other side. To do it any other way does indeed defeat the purpose of the system, which is to make the line move more quickly and smoothly.
Yes, there is the chance of overhearing, but in my experience it’s not significantly worse than the chances when one is sitting OUTSIDE the confessional, either way there’s only risk if the priest or penitent happens to be particuarly loud.
Bear in mind a lot of REALLY old-school confessionals had only the priest within a solid structure - the penitent knelt outside, with a perhaps a curtain concealing their upper body so their identity wasn’t known. Not much soundproofing in such a situation!
Yes, there is the chance of overhearing, but in my experience it’s not significantly worse than the chances when one is sitting OUTSIDE the confessional, either way there’s only risk if the priest or penitent happens to be particuarly loud.
Bear in mind a lot of REALLY old-school confessionals had only the priest within a solid structure - the penitent knelt outside, with a perhaps a curtain concealing their upper body so their identity wasn’t known. Not much soundproofing in such a situation!