The Sin Box: Why have Catholics stopped lining up at the confessional?

Slate ^ | Nov. 17, 2005 | Andrew Santella

[Antioch]

A Catholic friend of mine recently went to confession at her parish church for the first time in years. She had personal reasons for wanting to seek absolution, but there was this, too: She said she'd long felt a little sorry for the priests sitting alone in their confessional boxes, waiting for sinners to arrive.

A generation ago, you'd see a lot of us lined up inside Catholic churches on Saturday afternoons, waiting to take our turn in one of the confessionals. We'd recite the familiar phrases ("Bless me Father, for I have sinned"), list our transgressions and the number of times we'd committed them, maybe endure a priestly lecture, and emerge to recite a few Hail Marys as an act of penance. In some parishes, the machinery of forgiveness was so well-oiled you could see the line move. Confession was essential to Catholic faith and a badge of Catholic identity. It also carried with it the promise of personal renewal. Yet in most parishes, the lines for the confessionals have pretty much disappeared. Confession—or the sacrament of reconciliation, as it's officially known—has become the one sacrament casual Catholics feel free to skip. We'll get married in church, we'll be buried from church, and we'll take Communion at Mass. But regularly confessing one's sins to God and the parish priest seems to be a part of fewer and fewer Catholic lives. Where have all the sinners gone?

[Conservative til I die]

"...prideful Protestant thinking..."

Can you possibly see that your statement smacks of a superior, biased and general criticism of Protestants?

Not at all. My opinion is that Protestantism is in general, a very ego-centric religious philosophy. When a whole religious system is founded on one's own personal interpretation of Scripture, pretty easily it becomes one's own personal interpretation of Christ's teachings. The flipside of egocentrism is pride.

These Christians did not/do not have the sacrament of Reconciliation in their churches but somehow they knew right from wrong and led/lead lives as good people. Honestly, Catholics, even with confession, are no more holy than their Protestant brethren.

I don't disagree with either of your points. However, what is a crucial point, is what one believes is right and wrong. The Catholic Church teaches very specific things about right and wrong. Protestantism, largely lacking central authority figures, allows for a lot more wiggle room. For instance, is it OK to use contraception? Is it OK to have sex before marriage? Is it OK to divorce and then remarry? On a more extreme note, is abortion OK in some instances? Is homosexuality forbidden?

Depending on the Protestant, the answers to some of these questions may be 'Yes'. And that comes from the idea that we get to decide what is truly right and wrong, based on our own careful (and not-careful) interpretation of Scripture.

I'm sure you've met many a person who may call themselves a Christian and who does some sinful things, but says "But hey, I'm a good person." Just like I've met some Catholics that will say the same thing.

For those who believe that by confessing their sins to a priest, some would not need the help from the psychiatric/psychological doctors, I'm not here to argue the point, other than to say that priests, as a whole, are not skilled to deal with mental aberrations.

Well, I'm not sure where the psychiatric issue comes in, but Confession is really just for the confession and forgiveness of sins. I'm sure that a priest will give counseling in or out of the confessional, but it's not really for psychoanalytical purposes.

They may ask God's forgiveness when they have transgressed, express sorrow and regret, and truly believe that God has heard and forgiven them.

And that's the issue. A Protestant can do all of these things in the quiet of thought, and think that God's forgiven him. But how does the Protestant know? Do they hear God's voice? Or do they just say, "Well, I've confessed it, I'm sure God's forgiven me." For the Catholic, we can be sure when the priest, given the power to forgive sins in His name by way of the Apostles, tells us we are forgiven, that we are indeed forgiven.

[Conservative til I die]

Unfair analysis. That's why I'm going to bring up Teddy Kennedy. Confession, Catholic-style, obviously cannot help with a guy like that. Protestant-style wouldn't work either. I'd suspect a one-way trip to "Outer Darkness" is in his future, confession or not eh?!

Hey, I won't argue a Ted Kennedy with you there. When I talk about the differences between us, it's not to put Catholicism on a pedestal and to put Protestantism in the toilet. Having the Sacrament of Confession does not make a Catholic more impeccable of character. If that were true, then we wouldn't actually need the confessionals after awhile! However, it allows Catholics a more legitimate means of forgiveness.

My issue with Protestantism is that when you get down to YOPIOS, basically that opens the door to relativism, no matter how well meaning or slight. Catholics believe in revelatory truth, meaning it is decided by God, and unchangeable. When you allow your own personal interpretation to creep in, it becomes very easy to argue away a certain sinful behavior by saying Jesus didn't really teach it was a sin. A guy like Ted Kennedy does just that. He thinks that he can be a good Catholic (and get all the Catholic votes) and still be pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage. The thing is, whether he thinks so or not is irrelevant. God has deemed otherwise.

[Conservative til I die]

Ever read your Bible? The Bible says you don't need to confess your sins to a priest for absolution. Where does the Bible say we do are not to confess sins to a priest? Regards

See my post #21 on James 5 (I think). WHile it is good to confess our sins and "come clean" to our brothers, nowhere does it say our sins will be forgiven by our brothers. The power to forgive was given to Christs's apostles.

I take James as saying that confession is good for the soul, as it keeps us honest and open. If I cheat on my wife or abuse drugs, confessing to my brother will help me get guidance and get me back on the straight and narrow more than wrestling with my conscience in a solitary manner might.

[Conservative til I die]

With many liberal priests homilies, its as if sin and evil don't exist.

Ah, now we are getting somewhere on this thread. We have forgotten that sin is an offense against the Almighty God.

It's like I say, the confessionals are empty but the Communion lines are always full! I'd guess that at any given Mass I attend, not counting small children, 95-98% of the people receive Communion. I'd guess of those 200 or so people, not all of them are hitting the confessional from 4-5 on Saturdays. Thought far be it from me to judge other men's souls or consciences.

[Conservative til I die]

For example, do you find it acceptable to hear cheering and applause among parishoners during Mass? I certainly don't, under any circumstances. Yet in the past couple of months I was unfortunate enough to witness two such occurances, at two seperate Catholic churches. Needless to say, I was absolutely horrified both times.

Hear hear. I've experienced the same and never join in. The Mass turns almost into a celebration of ourselves at that point.

Worse was hearing "Happy Birthday" played on the piano while the parishioners sang along to a couple of the kids in CCD as the priest brought them up to stand beside him behind the altar. Well meaning of course, but just didn't seem kosher in my book.

[Conservative til I die]

I, for one, have enjoyed the introduction of different instruments playing music at Mass. Usually it's only one Mass while others have an organist. We have choices. While we have become acclimated to organ music, who ever said that other instruments are not appropriate? Maybe God appreciates all.

I don't think that we as Catholics should become frozen in time, but what sadly goes along with the innovations in instrumentation is an increasing banality (and in some rare cases, blasphemy) in *what* is being played and sung.

If anyone can find it online, I came across a hymn written in the late 20th century called "Just Like You" which reads almost as a lusty love note to Jesus (lyrics having to do with Jesus being one's only desire, and Jesus being their lover).

[Conservative til I die]

Ummm...empty confessional? Most churches have confession only before mass, or twice a year they import priests to hear everyone...that's why I rarely go...too busy.

I tried to go before Easter, and went at what I thought was the scheduled time and me and another parishioner stood around for 20 minutes looking for the priest. No luck.

My guess is that the priest stuck around for a few minutes, no one showed up, and he left.

[Conservative til I die]

You might think me uncharitable, and perhaps only four percent of priest are sexual criminals (misconduct? please), but the facts are that this continued for years and was enabled by RC church leadership well past the 60's and 70's. If you think that this scandal has not affected the perception of the RC church and of priests being viewed as conduits to God you really need to take a reality pill.

You're entitled to your opinion, and it may be an accurate one in some cases, but the larger problem of Confession has to do with a) priests not preaching enough about sin, and b) Catholics in general allowing themselves to become consumed by our vile, secular culture (i.e., "There's no such thing as sin anymore, just mistakes, and I'm a good person anyway. Jesus will understand.")

[Conservative til I die]

Ugh, the applause at the end of Mass is very common in a lot of parishes I've been to in here in Phoenix. Makes me cringe--along with the hand-holding during the Our Father and, to a lesser extent, the open-palmed "... and also with you" etc. hand gestures.

Yeah, we had the hand-holding a couple weeks ago. I thought that this was explicitly prohibited awhile back. I was lucky enough to be in a pew by myself so I didn't have to worry about somebody grabbing my hands against my will.

[marajade]

Where is the comparison to the apostles being priests in the Bible?

[marajade]

What parts are those?

[marajade]

Are all protestants ignorant? I really want it clarified.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Go Away

[nmh]

"Go away"

I've got better things to do that argue with blind people. I state the facts and let the darts fly. It's clear enough for ANYONE to see who values truth. It's not meant to be "personal".

What I state is truth. Just as I would label the Clinton's liars. Many wouldn't like that either and again, why bother to argue with those that defend lies and wish to believe lies? It makes no sense to me, so I don't argue the obvious - lies being taught as truth in "religion", religious leaders or politicians that are liars and worse. Truth is the enemy of many ... .

[A CA Guy]

Christ established the one Church while still here and in that one He established an Authority within it, not just the Bible.
The Authority He established says go to confession with the priest.
There are various levels of humanism involved in other forms of worship of the faith, but their one saving grace is they established Christ as their Lord and Savior for their salvation.

[frankiep]

Exactly Desdemona. The point I'm trying to make, and the reason why this bothers me so much, is that I was raised to treat Mass as a solemn event. For me, Mass, and especially the Eucharist, are to be treated with the utmost reverance and respect. I was taught that to take part in the Mass and the Eucharist that one must behave as if they are in the presence of Christ while he is on the cross suffering for our sins. So you can see why applause during such an event disgusts me to no end. The same goes for a priest playing a guitar and singing in what amounts to nothing more than vanity during the event.

When I'm at Mass I ask myself: is this the proper behavior that one would expect from a Catholic if he was standing before Christ on the cross? Applause, cheering, and guitar playing priests are certainly not proper in such circumstances in my opinion.

[RobbyS]

Confession is a development of the ancient church. The question arose in the early church, can an apostate/public sinner be reconciled to the Church? After along debate, itwas decided, yes. However groiups like the Donatists, strong opponents of St. Augustine, denied this. Once a traitor/reprobate, then always. For Catholics reconciliation came in the form of public confession, not the kind we see at Billy Graham rallies, but the full sackcloth and ashes bit, and public penance that might last for years. When monasticism developed, and purity became the great focus, the private confession became the vehicle of reconciliation, although the penace remained very, very public and hard--like the punishment handed out in military training camps.

[jo kus]

Why won't somebody here acknowledge that, along with the good academic education we received in the Catholic schools (in my opinion), we absorbed some not-too-healthy mental attitudes also?

I will acknowledge that. I went to Catholic school in the 1970's, and there was still that Jansenistic strand of adherence to legalism and the guilt that went along with it. I think we can agree that many a nun or priest has had a tendency to focus on the legalistic issues, rather than focusing on our relationship with Christ. Not that such legal matters are bad, but they became the focus. It was a sign of the times, though. We must try to remember that obedience to authority was formerly seen as a key issue in society in the 1950's and was being rebelled against as a result of the issues of the 1960's. Thus, we were seeing the remnants of that obedience to authority - which didn't work well for us because of the surrouding culture. The Church must teach the Gospel within the paradigm of the modern society. Thus, for the 1950's, it was reasonable to preach obedience. Now, we must preach a different way to reach people.

As adults, we know the the nuns and priests didn't always know what they were talking about. But then, we accepted them and their teachings as from the Church. This is why it is so important for our teachers to be educated on the faith. Limbo was a speculative teaching. But I don't recall it being taught with the same force that Purgatory was. Even if it was, we are taught to obey those above us, reserving judgment on issues that we are allowed to question (non-dogmatic matters).

I agree, a lot of it is pertinent to when we were being formed in our youth.

Regards

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

An internal discussion on the importance of Confession and you decide to jump right in with your Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Very Brave, very brave indeed.

[jo kus]

the confessionals are empty but the Communion lines are always full! I'd guess that at any given Mass I attend, not counting small children, 95-98% of the people receive Communion.

Well, one could say no one is sinning mortally! But I think it is more likely a lack of catechetical instruction. Here is where the priests need to step up and teach the faith during the Homily. It is sad that we as Catholics are often expecting to learn our faith during that 10 minute period...Few people actually READ on their own, I think.

Brother in Christ