Posted on 03/22/2008 11:00:23 AM PDT by big'ol_freeper
Today fewer people are going to church to confess their sins, and instead taking to the Internet to atone and repent.
A number of Protestant and evangelical churches are embracing the Web as a way to revive the ancient ritual of confession, but the trend is not without its critics.
The Rev. John Siebling, of The Life Church in Memphis, Tenn., runs a Web site called endthesecret.com, where people pour out their stories of cheating on boyfriends, hiding debt from spouses and drug abuse. "It's really a tool that will hopefully bring a first step as people begin to interact with God, and bring out the secrets of their heart to him," Siebling said.
Get Out of Jail Free Card? Some Christians believe online confessions are more about exhibitionism and voyeurism than about genuine repentance and atonement.
"Confession can really become a talisman, or a rabbit's foot, or a get out of jail free card," said Rev. Mac Brunson, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. "You know, 'I can go do what I want to do, come back here confess this thing online, and I'm free, I'm good. That's all I need to do.'"
The Catholic Church has specifically banned online confessions, arguing the only way to get absolved and reinstated in the community of God is to confess directly to a priest. Some Catholic priests are looking for other creative ways to allow people to unburden themselves. Priests in Colorado Springs, Colo., are hearing confessions in a shopping mall out of what used to be a shoe store.
"Well, we've said sometimes how in this space people had been selling soles and now we work to save souls," said the Rev. Curtis Carlson. Shoppers who visited the Catholic Center in the mall seemed to appreciate the convenience.
As confessor Elaine Gardner said: "I can mess up outside, come in here, make a confession and know that I'm forgiven and have that free soul spirit that I have. When I walk out of that room my heart soars."
Interesting topic, b.o.f. Do you know the reasoning why folks must confess “directly” (I reckon this means in person) to priests? I’m sure the Church has it’s reasons, but I’m not understanding...seems like remote confessions, as long as they were done in good faith, would be a help— especially in emergencies.
Freegards
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Do you know the reasoning why folks must confess “directly” (I reckon this means in person) to priests? I’m sure the Church has it’s reasons, but I’m not understanding...seems like remote confessions, as long as they were done in good faith, would be a help— especially in emergencies.
I found it interesting that the practice appears to be being adopted by some protestants. In my mind it’s obvious why online confession would not be allowed. Confession is a personal act between a person and God, with the priest in persona Christi (as they say). Being personal it must be in person. In any event, the links below should provide you with some information.
http://www.catholic.com/library/Confession.asp
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,51923/article.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article810503.ece
http://frpat.com/noconfess.htm
I reckon you are right about the priests role in the sacrament, and the need to be physically present. I guess I was thinking there wouldn’t be much difference in that most of the time (in my experience) the priest and the confessing person don’t even see each other. It seemed to me like the sacrament wouldn’t be limited by proximity in light of technology, but after reading some of your links I know I was wrong. I bet it’s not the last time today!
Freegards
And today most times confessions are face to face not behind a screen. That changed with Vatican II.
**Does a Confession Count If It’s Done Online?**
NO! No absolution available.
Further, when confessions are often done through the screen, the priest still often needs to ask questions, and he often asks the penitent to recite prayers with the priest. It is hard to do online if only for that reason, -- a confession is an act of intimate interaction between the penitent and the priest.
Lastly, there is no guarantee of privacy like with anything online.
Protestant confessions are a different matter of course; I can only speak of sacramental confession that confers absolution.
No, it must be done in the actual presence of a priest for the sacrament to be valid.
In the case of an emergency, anyone may confess directly to God, with the resolution to make a confession to a priest as soon as that is reasonably possible. For instance, if you fall over a cliff, best to confess your sins on the way down.
But doing it on-line—or over the phone, or on TV, or whatever—means nothing. Better to say a sincere act of contrition directly to God and then go to confession next chance you get.
To be more precise, it changed with the so-called “spirit” of Vatican II afterwards, not the Council.
Sorry, to elaborate for sake of clarity, I’m speaking here about the Sacrament of Penance as founded by Christ for the absolution of sins, and administered by a man in Holy Orders (priest, bishop, pope) “in persona Christi.”
Catholic law still states any penitent is entitled to an anonymous confession. Most churches are set up with a face-to-face arrangement, but with a screen to one side which the person can go behind in case he prefers that. If a church does not make this available, they are (technically) required to provide such an arrangement for a person who wants it, however, sort of hard to see how someone could request it and still remain anonymous.
Unfortunately, many now avoid confession because they are essentially forced into a face-to-face situation that feels awkward or embarrassing to them. This is one of a thousand examples of how Vatican II was misinterpreted and certain things forced on the faithful that are not really in keeping with Church teachings.
“Unfortunately, many now avoid confession because they are essentially forced into a face-to-face situation that feels awkward or embarrassing to them. This is one of a thousand examples of how Vatican II was misinterpreted and certain things forced on the faithful that are not really in keeping with Church teachings.”
I went to a “penance service” the other night at which some of the priests weren’t even in rooms. They just set up two chairs facing each other and people were confessing in full view of dozens of others.
I got in line for a room with a screen, but the priest didn’t say the customary beginning prayers, didn’t have me say an act of contrition, and didn’t assign any penance.
That was *after* that parish’s priest treated me with scorn for shaking my head sadly at the music. (And I wasn’t doing it for anyone’s benefit. I was walking in, and had no idea anyone was looking at me.)
This diocese is tearing me in a thousand pieces. I have *got* to get out of here.
I'm not sure I agree with you there. Anonymity may be "official," but it the "practical" sense it's pretty thin, and Catholics have ALWAYS known that. It's not hard for the priest to know who you are just by your voice.
Frankly, I think poor catechization is the culprit; many think they are confessing "to the priest" and with the reputation of priests these days, see no reason to do so.
Think of it as another kind of transubstantiation with little understanding to support the belief.
Our parish has priests come in for confession — we have only one priest full time and this way more people can confess anonymously. We usually have one priest in the church proper, in a face to face situation, and one in the traditional booth behind the screen which is what I prefer. I like my priest, but I would feel awkward and rather conversational confessing to him. Rather confess to someone I do not know.
I vote no.
I’m so sorry you had that experience. I know a few people who are scouring the country in an attempt to move somewhere with a decent, orthodox diocese and parish. They like Bishops Bruskewitz (Lincoln NE), Burke (St. Louis), and Vasa (Baker, OR), or the town of Front Royal, Virginia. If you can find some Tridentiners, or a parish that offers the Extraordinary Form, the priests in such places tend to be actually Catholic.
Many of us with “bad” bishops are counting the days to retirement, lots of the worst are in their 70’s, is yours one of those? If so, maybe things will gradually improve where you are with a new bishop...
I think this guy, Michael Driscoll, is 71.
Still, he leaves such a mess behind him that it will be a couple of generations before a good bishop could straighten things out.
I’m not saying anonymity is a farce or anythiing; just that the vail is pretty thin. You can maintain your anonymity if you work at it.
Personally, i’m not willing to let what ANY priest thinks of me stand between me and receiving Jesus in the Eucharist.
The confessional booth doesn’t appear to have really caught on until the 1500s.
Before then, the penitent would either sit or kneel face to face with the seated priest.
“The confessional booth doesn’t appear to have really caught on until the 1500s.”
Not every change has been for the worse.
Adopting the confessional booth was a good change. Dropping it is not.
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