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San Jose diocese to put windows in confessionals
KCAL9 ^ | August 11, 2002 | Unknown

Posted on 08/12/2002 8:14:13 AM PDT by gubamyster

Sunday August 11, 2002

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose is taking the recently established ``no tolerance'' policy on sexual misconduct to a new level.

Bishop Patrick J. McGrath has ordered that windows be placed in all confessionals, allowing others to see inside while parishioners reconcile their sins. The windows have been mandated in all of the diocese's 52 parishes and are to be installed over the coming year.

The policy is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, although new and renovated Catholic churches in Europe have windows and glass walls in their confessional boxes.

``I want to make sure people feel safe, that everything's aboveboard, and that confession is visible, but not audible,'' McGrath said. ``If anybody had it in the back of their mind that they were going to do anything wrong, they'd realize that it wasn't beyond discovery.''

The bishop says he realizes the windows will mean a loss of privacy, but maintains he has no choice. He says he has to ensure parishioners feel safe when they are alone with clerics, and he also wants to protect priests from false accusations.

The Rev. Francis Cilia, the diocese's vicar general, said the new regulations are a trade-off between privacy and prudence.

``We're just living in a strange environment,'' Cilia said.

The diocese's measure isn't inspired by cases where abuse took place inside confessionals, but is meant to prevent sexual misconduct from occurring there.

Cora Tomalinas, a member of St. Maria Goretti Parish, said she would feel awkward going into a glass-doored confessional.

``You pour your heart out in confessional. I'd like to reserve the right to draw the curtains and shut everybody else out,'' she said.

The Rev. Larry Hendel of St. John Vianney Parish worried the glass might discourage parishioners from confessing, and he lamented that priests have become figures of suspicion.

He said he used to place his hands on parishioners during confession, but said he's no longer sure that's appropriate.

``There's this second-guessing now,'' he said. ``It was my practice years ago to put my hands on their shoulders.''


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: catholic; catholiclist; confessional; sanfrancisco; sanjose
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To: Chemist_Geek
Hit CTRL + ALT + AMEN
21 posted on 08/12/2002 10:44:22 AM PDT by Paul Atreides
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To: gubamyster
Dear Bishop McGrath, please read the FR posts.
Even the heathens find the idea entertaining.
22 posted on 08/12/2002 10:50:04 AM PDT by heyheyhey
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To: dighton; aculeus; general_re
What a pain. Now I have to bring my laptop into the confessional.
23 posted on 08/12/2002 2:41:24 PM PDT by Orual
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To: Paul Atreides; Chemist_Geek; Orual
Microsoft to Buy Catholic Church
24 posted on 08/12/2002 2:47:01 PM PDT by dighton
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To: Desdemona
Wait a second, hold the phone...what happened to the solid wall with the screen and the little window-sized sliding door which assured privacy and safety and was TOTALLY ANONYMOUS.

In our church, the confessionals are at the far left and right, and the part of the wall facing the outside is glass, but only where the priest is sitting. Those who wish to confess behind the screen have walls all around them; only the part where the priest sits, and those who desire a face-to-face confession, are by the window. I think this is what the Diocese of San Jose has in mind.

25 posted on 08/12/2002 2:50:22 PM PDT by COBOL2Java
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To: American Preservative
I have to confess...I'm not Catholic...so I have no say on their policies. Whatever bloats their boat. Let the market decide, I suppose.
26 posted on 08/12/2002 4:38:14 PM PDT by CounterCounterCulture
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To: CounterCounterCulture; Paul Atreides
: ) Funny, CCC. BTW, same here....I just thought 'twas an interesting article worthy of a Bay Area ping. : )

Hey, did you see #17, #19, and #21? Very clever Mr. Atreides. : )

27 posted on 08/12/2002 5:42:17 PM PDT by American Preservative
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To: American Preservative
Funny indeed. Where's my smite button? ;-)
28 posted on 08/12/2002 5:44:21 PM PDT by CounterCounterCulture
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To: gubamyster
Sounds like the ridiculous, contort-yourself policies liberals would impose.
29 posted on 08/12/2002 5:50:17 PM PDT by Conservative til I die
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To: Paul Atreides
LOL
30 posted on 08/12/2002 5:56:02 PM PDT by dtel
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To: American Preservative
I can't say as I am surprised, considering that Adam and Eve were brought down by an Apple.
31 posted on 08/12/2002 6:04:21 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
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To: CounterCounterCulture
Where's my smite button? ;-)

Mine only says, "Shift." (The "f" is silent, sometimes.) ; )

32 posted on 08/12/2002 6:04:53 PM PDT by American Preservative
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To: American Preservative
Maybe yours just says flame. I HAD to get the upgrade just for FreeRepublic!
33 posted on 08/12/2002 6:07:35 PM PDT by CounterCounterCulture
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To: CounterCounterCulture
I see - X out those no-good posts....and look fashionable while you're doing it. ; )
34 posted on 08/12/2002 6:29:20 PM PDT by American Preservative
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To: Paul Atreides
And Adam and Eve went forth from the Garden....on a new venture.....

: )

35 posted on 08/12/2002 6:35:19 PM PDT by American Preservative
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To: American Preservative
LOL
36 posted on 08/12/2002 6:37:40 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
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