Where in the CCC does it state that Confession should not be forced?

[mylana1022]

HI
I had a conversation with a priest who informed me that it was against the church teachings to make someone go to confession. He stated it was in the CCC. My daughter attends a catholic school and every month they make the children confess. They even direct them to which priest they need to confess. We attend confession as a family and I give my daughter the option of which confessor she chooses to go. I encourage her to go even if it is just to ask the priest a question on faith. I feel she will grow up feeling comfortable in reconciliation. I see the schools point of view but wanted to bring the teaching up to the parish priest. Unfortunately in my search through the catechism I have been unsuccessful in finding the right teachings. Can you help me?

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

It’s a matter of forcing or not forcing another person to go to Confession, but a matter of motivating that person. When I was a child, we went Confession so that we could receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of the month. Our motivation was based on being able to receive the Lord in Holy Communion. When THAT is important, then the desire to prepare ourselves just follows.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.