Written confession?

[carefullytread]

I just finished reading this article wherein a Spanish priest, Father Fortea, says that if a person if too ashamed to make a spoken confession, they can licitly do it in writing.

I had never heard of this before. Is it a common practice? What is the level of shame that would allow it? The adjective used in the article is ‘insurmountable’. Does that mean a clinical diagnosis?

 

[Bookcat]

Confessions are to be spoken.

A written confession - is not normal (in the article he discusses such…) but in cases such as where it is not possible for the person to confess - there can be exceptions.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I just finished reading this article wherein a Spanish priest, Father Fortea, says that if a person if too ashamed to make a spoken confession, they can licitly do it in writing.

I had never heard of this before. Is it a common practice? What is the level of shame that would allow it? The adjective used in the article is ‘insurmountable’. Does that mean a clinical diagnosis?

How remarkable…I just had occasion to refer to Don Fortea in another thread. Perhaps he is better known in North America and among Anglophones than I presumed.

There are any number of reasons why a penitent would confess in writing instead of verbally. I have had it occur more times over these many years than I would attempt to give any sort of enumeration. That said, I would not quantify it in any way as “common” – neither for me particularly or in general.

All else being equal, one does well to arrange this, with a priest, ahead of attempting to receive the sacrament. It should not be done for novelty. On the other hand, when there is a genuine need, there should be ready accommodation for this need.

Assuredly it does not require a clinical diagnosis…the confessor can make the determination quite capably, from the cirumstances/situation.

 

[Bridgit_Andrews]

One should make certain one does not leave any identifying name on the paper(s) used for such a confession once one is given permission to do this. Additionally, any paper(s) used for such a confessions should be thoroughly destroyed after one is finished with one’s reconciliation.

Peace,
B

 

[po18guy]

Certainly something to be discussed prior with Father. Some are simply very meek and have difficulty verbally confessing. As a police officer, I once investigated an incident where an intoxicated man was sexually harassing a woman passerby. She could not bring herself to repeat his comments, but at my request was able to write them and hand the paper to me. That is the only time in 31 years in which that occurred, but it fit the situation well.