[Antioch]

Santilla writes some interesting observations here about the phenomena of the empty confesional.

[nmh]

People don't have to line up for this.

They can confess their sins to Jesus anytime, anywhere and any place. That is what they should have been doing in the first place.

[lastchance]

People forget that Confession or as it is now called Reconcilation is a sacrament. We forget that as such it is a true instrument of grace. Confession times should be available more than just on Sat afternoons. I need to go to confession but lack transporation today. I pray I can reach the priest sometime this week for a private session.

[polymuser]

I suspect it's a growing case of 'Religion Lite' - Great Feeling, Less Effort.

[tlRCta]

Ping! for your Catholic News list.

Slate isn't always the best, but this commentary isn't bad.

[siunevada]

The biggest barrier between Catholics and the confessional, however, may be the real effort it requires. ... But done right, Catholic confession demands a rigorous examination of conscience and real contrition, to say nothing of the prayers you may be assigned for penance and the thinking a priest may ask you to do about the ways you've let yourself and God down.

Yeah, it takes some effort. And some honesty. And a touch of humility. It might seem like an effort beforehand, but I've walked out with a smile on my face more than once.

Most practicing Catholics also do a daily examination of conscience, yes? And we do confess to and request forgiveness directly from Jesus, just like our good Protestant friends. Don't we? We're always praying to Him and our sins are a normal thing to talk to Him about.

And every week we stand up and say "I confess to Almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters...." and with some preparation and sincere contrition that and the Eucharist take care of our minor transgressions. I do believe some Protestants think that we think we are limited only to the sacrament of Confession. We do everything they do, don't we? However, there is ... even more available for our benefit.

I think one thing that hardly ever gets discussed is that there is more to Reconciliation than the absolution of your sins. There's also the benefit of actually being stregnthened to avoid sin in the future. And being reconciled to the Church. If St. Paul is on target, we each share the good done by the members of the Body but the entire Body is also wounded by my sins.

[Conservative til I die]

I've found some Protestants here and elsewhere use James 5:16 to prove that you do not need to confess your sins to a priest for absolution.

James 5:16 states "Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

This verse says nothing about forgiveness for sins, just that is good to be open about our faults to our brothers and that their prayers can help us.

[marshmallow]

Personally, I feel the urge to go to Confession when my conscience accuses me of sin. And that's often. Therefore, the fact that confession lines are dwindling indicates to me that there is no longer a sense of personal sin. That in turn is due to the near absence of preaching on the subject in many places.

The issue of personal sanctity and aviodance of sin is seldom mentioned and the "social gospel" is emphasized instead. In addition to the absence of preaching on personal sin, the consequences of dying in that state (i.e. eternal damnation) are likewise rarely broached.

Far too pre-Vatican II, don't you know. We're much more enlightened, nowadays!!

[narses]

Please help explain the Faith to those who do not understand it.

[Fzob]

Why have they stopped going? Perhaps it has something to do with the failure of the RC church to address the hundreds of pedophiles to whom people are confessing their sins.

Just a guess

[Nihil Obstat]

I went today. There were about 10 of us in line, maybe more. I got there late.

[Salvation]

Our priest has lines, but I think they could be much longer.

[Pajamajan]

I have been trying to go to Confession more often. It is very difficult to go and tell a priest what you've done, out loud. But, I do feel better afterward.

I think it is a greater act of humility to go to Confession as opposed to only "telling Jesus" about it. (no offense to those who feel "telling Jesus" is all that's necessary).

I agree with some of the posters here, who say Confession is not offered enough . Many people work on Saturday.

I also agree about "Confession by appointment", takes away the anonymity. Personally, I would never be able to do face to face confession ( I always go to the box, behind the screen.) I wouldn't want to call up and make an appointment.

[LadyDoc]

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.

The last parish I lived in that had regular confessions always had a few people in line...and I went about every two months. But when you have it rarely, it becomes only for Big SINS...

If the priest lets people know they have confession, people will show up...

[markomalley]

I know that there are lines every week at my parish for confession; the other places where I regularly go always have lines, as well (i.e., the shrine, the franciscan monastary, and St. Mary Mother of God). Not as much as there should be, but the priests are never sitting in the confessional alone!

It may be a matter of the orthodoxy of the parish, in all honesty.

[Rosary]

There are PLENTY of SINNERS out there-its the belittling of the SACRAMENT that has stopped them going...the belittling of the graveness of SIN-the LACK of preaching by the priests on this and HELL- nowhere else can sins be forgiven thats WHY Christ Himself instituted this SACRAMENT along with the 6 others.
St. John Vianney knew the NEED people have for making confession by hearing them for hours at a time-this is one JOB of the Catholic priest--its a SHAME not even some of them put to use the power they have been given in forgiving sins!

[clockwise]

This might help:

From the Vatican's website:

- H.E. Most. Rev. Cristián CARO CORDERO, Archbishop of Puerto Montt (CHILE)

My intervention refers to two points. Firstly, the relationship between Eucharist and Penance, and secondly, Eucharist and Pastoral for Vocations.
1. The relationship between the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance is dealt with in the Instrumentum Laboris in n. 22-24, and also when speaking of the Eucharist, source of Christian Morals (n. 72-72).
The “Year of the Eucharist” has brought with it obvious spiritual and pastoral fruits in the life of the Church in Chile, which are projected, in one way or another, in the life of society. It has been providential that the Year has coincided with the canonization of Fr. Alberto Hurtado, who was a social and Eucharistic man.
My proposal is that, given the close theological, spiritual and pastoral relationship between the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance, and taking into account the shadows in the latter sacrament’s field, a year be dedicated to the Sacrament of Penance, taking as fundamental points the following:
a) The meaning of the living and true God and his eclipse in modern culture
b) The need of salvation and the announcement of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
c) The sense of sin, which is diminished or annulled, due to the loss of God and moral relativism
d) Conversion and the virtue of penance
e)Spiritual direction or accompaniment
f) The celebration of the Sacrament of Penance as an encounter between the sinner, who converts from his misery, and God who, in his mercy in Christ, welcomes and forgives him
g) The conditions for receiving Holy Communion
h) New life in Christ, as His disciples and members of the Church
2. With respect to the relationship between the Eucharist and the Pastoral for vocations, I propose that in the “Year of Penance” priests be formed and motivated to give spiritual direction to young people and to give time to the Sacrament of Reconciliation that, together with the Eucharist are fundamental in spiritual direction.

[connectthedots]

could be that many Roman Catholics haved learned that they don't need to go through a priest to ask God for forgiveness.

[connectthedots]

Could be that many Roman Catholics haved learned that they don't need to go through a priest to ask God for forgiveness.

[wolfcreek]

I suspect, Catholic are using RONCO's new "Home Confessionals". Why go out when you can confess your sins at home.(TM)

[kindred]

[Why have Catholics stopped lining up at the confessional?]

Perhaps Catholics do not believe the bible anymore starting with "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth".
And why are so many of them liberal democrats?