I stopped going years ago when I heard that there was a new routine that did away with the confessional's annonymity.

-- Drooly Whiner (Deseretravel@hotmail.com), December 30, 2001

Answers

Drooly,

You can still go to Confession and not be seen. Most Catholic Church's have both available for you. You can walk in Church and take a look for yourself. Going to Confession will bring you closer to God. You will fell like a thousand pounds is lifted off your stomach after you go.

Blessed be God a million, million, million, times.

David S

-- David S (asdzxc8176@aol.com), December 30, 2001.

Hello, Drooly.

The Catholic Church never "did away with the confessional's anonymity."

The Church left anonymity as an option that MUST be offered to the penitent, while making face-to-face confession an option that could be offered. (By a decision of my bishop or pastor, my parish church does not offer face-to-face confession, but only anonymity.)

Here is what the Code of Canon Law has to say on the subject:
Canon 964
§1 The proper place for hearing sacramental confessions is a church or oratory.
§2 As far as the confessional is concerned, norms are to be issued by the Episcopal Conference, with the proviso however that confessionals, which the faithful who so wish may freely use, are located in an open place, and fitted with a fixed grille between the penitent and the confessor.
§3 Except for a just reason, confessions are not to be heard elsewhere than in a confessional.

Drooly, if you ever find a Catholic parish that does not offer anonymity, that parish's pastor is breaking the law. He should be shown the above canon, and, if he rejects it, should be reported to his bishop.

Please do accept David S's good advice and encouragement. You won't regret it!

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 30, 2001.

Drooly, In our parish there is a support group for those who are returning to the Sacraments. One type of support that group gives is for going to the Sacrament of Penance after being away from it for a long time.

They provide a refresher course for returning Catholics. Concerning Confession, the group provides a paper on how to prepare for and make the Confession. They make an appointment with the priest for the person so he, or she, doesn't have to wait in line. They even have another person in the church praying while the person who has been away from the sacrament is in the confessional.

This support has made returning, and going to confession. an easier experience for lapsed Catholics.

You might ask in your parish and see if such a group exists there.

You will be in my prayers, and undoubtly in those of others on this board.

-- Dandi Kenoyer (hothamsound@hotmail.com), December 31, 2001.