Where can a confession be heard

[mfox01]

Good Sunday everyone,
I was wondering where a confession can be heard at? I know that priests can’t hear confessions in places like a grocery store and all, but within the church. I know my priest will use the confessional, but I have also seen him use the vestibule and his front porch at his rectory, which adjoins our church? Is this allowed specifically in the vestibule. My concern is that people use that entrance before mass due to where parking is at our church and I’m afraid it may cause the pentinents to have here confessions overheard. I happened to be victim of this circumstance and I felt bad, but as there was no sign on the door alerting that confessions were being heard in that area I had no idea.

 

[exnihilo]

As far as I know there aren’t any restrictions on where confession can be heard. A priest should be able to hear a confession in a grocery store. I’ve confessed in an alley because the priest forgot his keys to the chapel. Of course consideration should be given to privacy. If a penitent is worried about privacy he could mention that to the priest. And he could always chose to forgo confession if he feels the conditions are not private enough. It might be that the sacrament is more of a priority for the penitent than is privacy.

 

[Nigel7]

Anywhere there’s sufficient privacy to not be overheard. Last year a priest heard my confession while we stood in the middle of a field.

 

[e_c]

Can. 964 §1. The proper place to hear sacramental confessions is a church or oratory.

§2. The conference of bishops is to establish norms regarding the confessional; it is to take care, however, that there are always confessionals with a fixed grate between the penitent and the confessor in an open place so that the faithful who wish to can use them freely.

§3. Confessions are not to be heard outside a confessional without a just cause.

There is room for flexibility but the preference is clearly a confessional in a church or oratory. This protects penitents but also protects the priest. It also helps raise the heart and mind to God.

 

[novusCatholic]

I once met a priest for lunch, and as we were walking from the restaurant back to the rectory, he heard my confession.

It was a short walk, so we had to make a detour around the block (it was a small block, I’m not THAT bad).

In a way, I think it was kind of neat to be out in public as he made the sign of the cross and gave me absolution. If someone happened to see us from their home window, they either thought we were nuts or it was a good witness.

Either way, it was a nice experience and a pleasant walk back.

 

[TimothyH]

There is room for flexibility but the preference is clearly a confessional in a church or oratory. This protects penitents but also protects the priest. It also helps raise the heart and mind to God.

I don’t know of any priest who would deny someone God’s mercy and healing because they were not in a church or oratory.

-Tim-

 

[Miyuki_Char]

I had often wondered the same thing,

I go for sonfession tomorrow evening before mass and I am scared, I will admit. But knowing that a preist can hear my confession at any time, in almost any circumstances, as long as privacy is given, it is something new to me, and makes me feel comforted.

Charlotte

 

[Church_Militant]

Don’t be scared Miyuki chan. The priest will be great and you will feel very richly blessed.

Imagine you were me and had been away from the church for about 35 years. The priest was terrific and I left walking about 6 inches above the floor. one fo the best experiences of my whole life.

 

[e_c]

I don’t know of any priest who would deny someone God’s mercy and healing because they were not in a church or oratory.

-Tim-

Good! Me neither! But that doesn’t mean it’s not preferable. For instance, if there is going to be a penance service for the parish school, Father ought to favor using the parish church over using the school gym. If they are ripping up the floors in the church because of asbestos or something, then the gym is fine! Or if there are soooo many kids that there’s not enough space in the church for enough confessors, use the gym, by all means. Etc.

 

[adamhovey1988]

Good Sunday everyone,
I was wondering where a confession can be heard at? I know that priests can’t hear confessions in places like a grocery store and all, but within the church. I know my priest will use the confessional, but I have also seen him use the vestibule and his front porch at his rectory, which adjoins our church? Is this allowed specifically in the vestibule. My concern is that people use that entrance before mass due to where parking is at our church and I’m afraid it may cause the pentinents to have here confessions overheard. I happened to be victim of this circumstance and I felt bad, but as there was no sign on the door alerting that confessions were being heard in that area I had no idea.

I have had confessions 1) In a confessional. In a 2) Parish office, and 3) a few times in front of a Church. Each one of those though, was what circumstances allowed. If I am on my death bed and able to confess my sins, I don’t think that I would be rushed to the church for confession.