Confession booths go silent

The Times Union ^ | June 24, 2007 | MARC PARRY

[Publius6961]

I am what is referred to as a "lapsed" Catholic.
For me the reasons are simple and clear.

One is the political activism of the church, or the leaders within it. Attempting to make "voluntary" virtues mandatory under the law. If I wanted to live in that environment I would become a muslim.

The other is that I have no desire to be part of the "homosexual perverts'" retirement fund.

[x_plus_one]

Confession is the original psychotherapy without the psychobabble of freudian frauds.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Only 26 percent of Catholics go to confession at least once a year, according to a 2005 poll by Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. A University of Notre Dame study in the early 1980s put the number at 74 percent.

It's an alarming trend for Catholic leaders, who see confession as essential to spiritual health. What's at stake is a route, laid out in the Bible, to examine your conscience, overcome sin and achieve grace.

Speaking as a Protestant, is this reported trend:

* due to more people confessing sin directly without a human mediator, or is it

* due to a lessened sense of sin and need for repentance?

I do not wish to see this thread become in any way Catholic-bashing. I ask this quite...sin-cerely ;^)

[Iscool]

"I feel like I don't need somebody between me and God," said Ginny Hartkern, 59, of St. Brigid's Church in Watervliet. "I think you can speak directly to God. You don't need an intermediary."

Sounds as tho the Lady has taken to reading the Bible...Good for her...

[donmeaker]

I guess all the homosexuality in the Seminary, the protection of pedophile priests, the hiding of the molestation of children, and the protection of illegal aliens is coming home.

A religion with no moral authority is what?

[ears_to_hear]

Confession is the original psychotherapy without the psychobabble of freudian frauds

Except it is not scriptual a oral confession and and the use of a confessional box did not enert the church till later

We are told to confess our sins TO ONE AND OTHER

Actually more healing and humbling that a secret confession

[NYer]

Hey Alex ... you stole my thread ;-)!

[gcruse]

“Confession is the original psychotherapy without the psychobabble of freudian frauds.”

I had a bipolar girlfriend once who stopped taking her meds and weirded out. She went to confession, where the priest told her she was under some kind of ‘spiritual attack.’ He didn’t suggest she resume her meds. Talk about fraud.

[livius]

This “trend” is due to the fact that few parishes have confessions very regularly anymore. People became perfect after Vatican II, you see, and we no longer had any need for such old fashioned nonsense...or so the “modern” clergy would tell you. We can all see how well that has done in the Catholic Church!

Once you eliminate the concept of sin and replace it with a therapeutic model where people just need a little adjustment, you’ve thrown open the door to the Devil. He likes nothing better than to have people believe he doesn’t exist and that there’s no such thing as sin, just minor, understandable peccadilloes.

But younger priests are being much more aggressive in demanding that their parishes have regular hours for confessions, more and more of them are beginning to study the spiritual masters of the past, and I think as Catholics find that confession is more readily available and taken seriously again, they’ll start going back.

[Salvation]

Unless you filled out a lot of paperwork and talked with a lot of people you are probably still a Catholic. There are answers to your questions. Find a priest that you can sit down and talk with and make an appointment.

We will welcome you back with open arms.

[Frank Sheed]

[Salvation]

So, did Peter heal? Did Peter forgive sins?

Did Paul heal? Did Paul forogive sins?

I could go on and on................................................................

[Salvation]

It is sciptural and God does forgive sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation:

 

1449 The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:

God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Salvation]

LOL! I saw it early this morning, too, and was going to post it, but didn’t.

[Frank Sheed]

Glad you didn’t. My sentiment is in Post #12.

[NYer]

For me the reasons are simple and clear. One is the political activism of the church, or the leaders within it. Attempting to make "voluntary" virtues mandatory under the law.

Interesting. The Sacrament of Confession is based on the Ten Commandments ... which one would you consider to be voluntary?

The other is that I have no desire to be part of the "homosexual perverts'" retirement fund.

You are a victim of the msm. The problem is far worse in the Protestant Church but harder to pin down because of the proliferation of denominations. The Catholic Church has enacted a plan to prevent future cases of abuse. Who will do that for the 33,000+ Protestant Churches? Perhaps you missed this news story.

Protestant Churches Report 260-Plus Child Sex Abuse Cases A Year

I am what is referred to as a "lapsed" Catholic.

Once Catholic

[Salvation]

Weren’t you the one who told me that the two marks of a great priest and church were two things:

How long the lines for Reconciliation are?

How many vocations to the religious life and priesthood a parish has?

I would add one more — Does the parish have a 24-7 Adoration Chapel?

(If not — I’m giving you credit at this time!!)

[Salvation]

Examination of Conscience

A Guide for Confession

How To Make a Good Confession (especially if you haven't gone in years)

Why Go to Confession? (Part 1) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte

Why Go to Confession? (Part 2) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte

Why Go to Confession? (Part 3) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte

Pulling Sin up by the Roots: The Need for Mortification

Reasons for Confession [Sacrament of Reconciliation]

Cardinal Stafford's Homily at Penitential Liturgy With an Examination of Conscience

How to Go to Confession

Fr. Z’s 20 Tips For Making A Good Confession

Learning to Confess

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What happened to confession – Changing mores reflective of use

Confession Comeback

Repentance and Confession - Introduction [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]

The Spiritual and Psychological Value of Frequent Confession

Pick a sin, any sin (Confession gone awry)

The Early Church Fathers on Confession / Reconciliation - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus

Catholics called from the idiot box to confession

[Iscool]

I could go on and on................................................................

No doubt you could...But you always stop short of this one:

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

And this one:

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

And may others, and then you send people to Mary and other dead saints to gain forgiveness, salvation, mercy, and a host of other things...

Perhaps this Lady knows something that you don't...