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Thank you, quite an interesting perspective. I have a friend who left the Roman Catholic church for the Episcopal Church, claiming it was 'easier' and the people were 'friendlier' (I told her to join a club if she wanted new friends, that's what her particular church reminded me of).

So far, I have stood firm and 2 new members are also baffled by this push for general absolution. Our current pastor is opposed. Ironically, or not, 2 members who still push for it are educators in the Catholic school system, one of whom worked with me with kids making their First Reconciliation.

Occurring as it does in the middle of the Mass, there's no time for an examination of conscience, no time to think about one's individual sins, and no opportunity to form true contrition or a purpose of amendment.

I will point this out at the upcoming meeting. One of the dissenting priests had a 'special' prayer service outside of Mass to try to get around this, it had a huge turn out.

So it's really a "feel-good" waste of time, that's all.

BTTT! That really sums it up.

You are lucky to be in a parish where these issues and those who raise them are few and far between and you have the support of a Monsignor who runs a tight ship. My Bishop has quietly looked the other way, tacitly approving. He has been 'called to Rome' in the past to explain himself and to be told in person to stop. It quiets him for awhile...

I have a friend who left the Roman Catholic church for the Episcopal Church, claiming it was 'easier'

. . . yeah, it's always easier to have no standards.

. . . and the people were 'friendlier'

. . . with friends like that . . .