Why don't We Have Confessionals in England?

[Brendan_64]

London does indeed have some very fine churches, and almost all the central ones have a sung Latin mass sung to a polyphonic setting every Sunday.

I am a big fan of the liturgy at Westminster Cathedral (full sung Vespers and sung mass every day) which has a warm Catholicism.

I also like Farm street church in Mayfair : farmstreet.org.uk/default.php

St James in Marylebone: sjrcc.org.uk/

But a hidden gem is St Etheldreda, a beautiful and one of the oldest churches in London. A full sung Latin mass every Sunday: stetheldreda.com/

I am not so keen on the Brompton Oratory - despite the beauty of the building and the fine choir, I find the liturgy rather stiff and uninspiring.

I must call in and see St Etheldreda then, thanks for that.

However I’ll disagree with you on the Brompton Oratory, I love it there (and the Calvary chapel is a beautiful place to kneel and pray the Rosary). I agree with you about Westminster Cathedral though.

Another great central London church is St Patrick’s on Soho Square. Well worth a visit (my wife’s favourite church in London). Amazingly restored. A fine example of how to refurbish a church. stpatricksoho.org/

I realise we may be taking this off topic a bit, but all the churches listed on this thread offer Confession in traditional Confessionals.

 

[27lw]

In the US I believe penitents have a RIGHT to confession behind a screen. I’m not sure how this is documented, and if it is the same in other countries?

 

[Brendan_64]

In the US I believe penitents have a RIGHT to confession behind a screen. I’m not sure how this is documented, and if it is the same in other countries?

I believe that that is a universal right is enshrined in Canon Law.

 

[veilofveronica]

I’m in Canada, and it seems to depend here on the architecture of the parish.

My home parish has confessionals but almost never use them…they have a Reconciliation room where you can kneel behind a curtain or sit facing the priest.

It’s a sign of the times…a lot of modern-style churches are more in favour of Reconciliation rooms.

I prefer the old fashioned confessionals myself as I have a lot of anxiety about sitting face to face, but it’s really a matter of preference…the Sacrament of Penance is valid when performed by a priest no matter where you are.

 

[Polyphony]

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

This is WAY off topic, but I’m curious. What, in your opinion, does the CCC envision when it speaks of “just cause” in this case?

 

[babochka]

This is WAY off topic, but I’m curious. What, in your opinion, does the CCC envision when it speaks of “just cause” in this case?

“Just cause” is the lowest standard in canon law. According to the New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, it includes “the very many circumstances outside of churches and oratories, whether homes or hospitals or entirely secular places, where the hearing of confessions is reasonably requested.” It is a pretty broad exception to the rule. I’ve never heard of a priest turning down a request for confession for lack of a proper confessional in a church. I’ve confessed in my own home, in my confessor’s home, on a park bench, in the pastor’s office, and on a camping trip. I’ve heard of confessions in parking lots and on boats and in cars. I suspect that the good of souls is the primary guiding principle.

 

[Polyphony]

I suspect that the good of souls is the primary guiding principle.

Thanks for your response, it’s very informative.

I think this illustrates the value of a good commentary on canon law. Simply reading a canon can make a person think perfectly normal happenings at their own parish are somehow illicit.

For example, at my parish, we have two confessionals, but there’s often a third priest who’s hearing confessions out in the open. Obviously, this is due to the amount of penitents. It’s nice to know I shouldn’t have to wonder about this sort of thing.

 

[Brendan_64]

This is WAY off topic, but I’m curious. What, in your opinion, does the CCC envision when it speaks of “just cause” in this case?

I would guess it would be as simple as, when no confessional is available. I would also imagine that it would be reasonable that a church would take measures to ensure that a confessional was provided as a permanant feature of the church, either as a traditional box with a grille, or as a confessional room with the facility for those who wish to to use a grille (a movable screen and kneeler would do). Canon Law states that the option of Confession through a grille must always be made available (whereas the option of face to face Confession does not have to made available). Personally, think it is best to always have both options available (I swap between the two options regularly).

 

[Don_Ruggero]

In the US I believe penitents have a RIGHT to confession behind a screen. I’m not sure how this is documented, and if it is the same in other countries?

No, this is not correct at all. A right to one imposes an obligation on another.

A penitent has a right, which is encoded in law, to have their confession heard, provided it is sought in a timely manner. They do not, of course, have a right to absolution. The imparting of absolution is necessarily and essentially contingent on what is confessed.

Also, what constitutes a timely manner varies according to circumstance.

This right of the penitent imposes an obligation on a priest…firstly the priest who has the cura animarum for this soul. From there it, the obligation broadens concomitantly with the seriousness of the penitent’s need. At the approach of death, it includes even priests who have been laicised. The dying penitent can seek absolution from a laicised priest, even if the bishop himself is present, because of the favour of the law toward the one who is about to pass from this life. This applies throughout the Code as elements that depend upon jurisdiction are set aside to accommodate someone in the throes of death.

Returning to the matter at hand, there are a vast many occasions when it is not possible to confess behind a screen and, however much the penitent may or may not want it, it cannot be provided.

 

[sudy]

I live in England and have been to confession at various parishes …all of which have confessionals. I’d go as far as to say that I haven’t seen a parish without a confessional. However, if I were to approach a priest to make a confession outside of a scheduled time, it would be done face to face. I will add that some of the screens don’t screen very well and are pretty much face to face anyway

Canon Law states that Confessions are not to be held other than in a Confessional except for a good reason. Canon Law also states that Confessional must be fitted with a fixed screen. Confessionals without fixed screens breach Canon Law.

Can. 964

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

Hmm… Is this correct then? What constitutes a just cause? I’m confused about this as I’ve confessed on a number of occasions outside of the scheduled confession times and face to face.

 

[Yeoman]

Maybe this is answered in this thread, but to Anglican Churches have confessionals?

I know that confessionals were created first by the Church in Ireland, and spread throughout the Latin Rite from there, so I was wondering if perhaps that came before or after the Anglican separation form the Church, and if perhaps that might play a role in this.

 

[Yeoman]

I believe that that is a universal right is enshrined in Canon Law.

In the Latin Rite, correct?

Surely it must not be in the Eastern Rites, as they do not, I believe, have confessionals.

 

[babochka]

Maybe this is answered in this thread, but to Anglican Churches have confessionals?

I know that confessionals were created first by the Church in Ireland, and spread throughout the Latin Rite from there, so I was wondering if perhaps that came before or after the Anglican separation form the Church, and if perhaps that might play a role in this.

This is not accurate. The confessional was introduced by St. Charles Borromeo, in the 16th century.

Irish missionaries introduced the practice of individual confession in the west…

 

[Brendan_64]

In the Latin Rite, correct?

Surely it must not be in the Eastern Rites, as they do not, I believe, have confessionals.

I believe it is in the Code of Canon Law. How that applies to the Eastern Rites, I do not know.

 

[babochka]

I believe it is in the Code of Canon Law. How that applies to the Eastern Rites, I do not know.

The Code of Canon Law does not apply to Eastern Churches, but we do have our own laws (which do not require a screen). Regardless, there is no indication that the OP was referring to an Eastern Church in his inquiry.