Hi, all

One of the Churches that we attend just built a new Church. I try to go to Confession a few times a month.

I went to the new Church tonight and walked into the Confessional. It was a wide open room with a Priest sitting in there. There was no privacy about it. If I want to sit face to face with the Priest than I want this to be my choice.

My question is, don't I have a right to ask for a private Confessional if there isn't one there as a Cathoic.

I didn't go to Confession because the Priest was leaving to get ready to celebrate the Holy Mass. But, I did question him about this, and he said, this is private because the Priest sits with his back to you. I disagreed with him, and then he just walked away.

Is it in writing anywhere where we should have our choice? I would like to read it.

Thanks in advance.

-- - (David@excite.com), November 16, 2003

Answers

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-- . (.@....), November 16, 2003.

Jmj
Hello, David.

Your negative reaction was appropriate. Your spiritual wisdom helped you to realize that something was rotten. The priest (or bishop, if he ordered this) is in direct violation of the 1983 Code of Canon Law. You can print the following out and show it to him, requiring that he fix the situation or you will report it to the bishop (or to the papal nuncio in Washington, D.C.) ...

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 -- provided, 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.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), November 16, 2003.

Thanks , John.

I knew I read that before, but I couldn't find the thread as it must of been trashed with the others.

I sent a e-mail to the Priest asking for the grill. I am prepared to do what ever is necesarry about this. I asked other people tonight about this, and they wanted the private Confessions too.

God bless you.

-- - (David@excite.com), November 16, 2003.

Greetinsgs: Jesus is the high priest, why would one sinful man go to another sinful man. God forbid that man could be molesting children, point is Jesus who know no sin, is he who we go to for sanctification, justification. If you truly care to be forgiven in God eyes, read Hebrews and see the truth as Gods way of mercy, Jesus Christ and he alone, no earthly man can change anothers sinners heart. God bless

-- Jesus is the high priest (truthisfreedom316@yahoo.com), November 16, 2003.

The real question is - why would a sinner go to anyone other than a priest for forgiveness, when GOD Himself gave priests - and no-one else - the power to minister forgiveness of men's sins in His name; and the Holy Spirit inspired the sacred writers to record the granting of this unique spiritual gift in the Word of God for all the world to read and know? (John 20:22-23) Do you read the Word of God? Do you believe it? If you truly care to be forgiven in God eyes, why not seek forgiveness the way GOD instructed us to do so, rather than following the traditions of the sinful men who founded your manmade religion?

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), November 16, 2003.

Greetinsgs: Jesus is the high priest, why would one sinful man go to another sinful man. God forbid that man could be molesting children, point is Jesus who know no sin, is he who we go to for sanctification, justification. If you truly care to be forgiven in God eyes, read Hebrews and see the truth as Gods way of mercy, Jesus Christ and he alone, no earthly man can change anothers sinners heart. God bless

Welcome back, Alex or is it David Park?

-- long winded (longwindedguy@hotmail.com), November 17, 2003.

No earthly man does forgive sin, God forgives sin through the Priest.

KeV

-- Kevin Wisniewski (Kez38spl@charter.net), November 17, 2003.

Why would one sinful man go to another sinful man for baptism? Why would one sinful man go to another sinful man for marriage? Why would one sinful man go to another sinful man for Holy Communion? Why would one sinful man go to another sinful man for spiritual counseling? Why would one sinful man go to another sinful man to hear the Word of God preached? Why would one sinful man go to another sinful man for ministry of forgiveness? The answer is the same in each case - because God said to! I assume you have no problem with the first five; so why is the last one such a stumbling block for you?

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), November 17, 2003.

Paul,

Your statement was quite useful to me! I've never thought of it like that, but Baptism is one thing that most of our Protastant friends agree is necessary, and yet they have no problem having another sinner perform this for them. This may allow them to see the parallel.

LTMI (laughing to myself inside) what could ALSO happen is that a sect of "self-baptizers" springs up, but that's for tomorrow's concerns.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), November 17, 2003.

Not only does Jesus work through the priest but confession to a human is also phycologically (sp) calming. As humans when we do something wrong we want to tell someone, if our conscience is developed. So by telling the priest we are not only being forgiven by God but we are also forgiving ourselves. God being all merciful will forgive you if you are truely sorry. But it takes much more effort to forgive oneself. But talking to the priest helps this. We can confide in someone that will not judge us or tell anyone.

Just telling God is not enough for our nature. If we just tell God are we really sorry? We might be but what is the likelyhood that we will continue to think about the sin? If we continue to punish ourselves for the sin than we are not forgiven because we do not trust in God. But telling the priest helps us to be truely sorry because it is easy to tell God because you have never seen God. It might be harder to tell someone that you see often in person.

-- Scott (papasquat10@hotmail.com), November 17, 2003.

Actually we confess our sins to a priest because we are commanded to: James 5:16

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

We actually do not have the option of going directly to Jesus.

-- David Park (truthisfreedom316@yahoo.com), November 18, 2003.

John,

They are going to install the fixed grates. The Pastor told me that there still is work that is going on in new Church, and they hoped to have them installed soon.

Thanks for the help bro.

-- - (Davd@excite.com), November 19, 2003.

Thanks for that news, David.
It sure is nice to get good news for a change.
Now you'll be able to go there and be comfortable.
JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), November 20, 2003.