Let women hear confession and grant absolution, says bishop

Telegraph.co.uk ^ | 28/08/2003 | Jonathan Petre

[dsc]

Women should be allowed to hear confessions and absolve sinners, a Roman Catholic bishop has suggested.

Bishop Vincent Malone, auxiliary bishop in Liverpool, said that the Church should consider choosing lay women to be confessors because some people might prefer disclosing their sins to a woman rather than a man.

Writing in a new book, he also said that other sacraments reserved for the all-male clergy might be opened to lay people, including the annointing of the sick.

Bishop Malone said he was merely raising questions rather than "starting a revolution", and stressed that any reforms would have to be agreed by the whole Church before they could be implemented.

But his radical views will challenge the traditional image of the male priest hearing confessions and reignite the debate over the role of women in the Church.

Bishop Malone's comments will carry particular weight because he is the liaison between the English and Welsh Bishops' Conference and the National Board of Catholic Women.

In his contribution to Healing Priesthood: Women's Voices Worldwide, he said the Church's tradition "may sometimes seem only to inhibit the freedom to engage with difficult questions".

But some practices could be varied. Although the Pope had ruled out women priests, the Church had "not so ruled in other areas which might yield surprising fruit".

He added: "It is not difficult to conceive circumstances in which a female minister could more appropriately than a man be the receiver of the humble confession that opens a soul to hear the glad words of the Lord's forgiveness.

"Common practice in our society today would expect equal access in many professions to either a man or a woman at the client's choice. It would be an unusual medical practice that did not have both male and female practitioners. Similarly with a firm of solicitors or a team of counsellors.

"Has the time come to expect a similar availability in even more sacred areas of our lives - without thinking that this is impossible without the ordination of women?"

The bishop argued that the Church broadly decreed that only priests could administer the sacraments, and yet lay people were involved in the sacrament of marriage and, in cases of necessity, the sacrament of baptism.

He told The Catholic Herald that he was "not banging a drum" or trying to prompt disobedience among Catholics, but was merely issuing a "gentle invitation to reflect".

Such reforms might "in part answer the complaint that women can't do anything" in the Church.

But while liberals, including fellow bishops, will welcome his ideas, the newspaper said in an editorial: "The simple answer is that the time has not come for such a thing."

The bishop's comments follow the decision by some churches and cathedrals to introduce glass-fronted confessionals after a series of sex scandals in the Church.

The aim is to allow others to see what is happening, protecting children and adults from any risk of abuse by priests and to protect priests from false allegations.

[dsc]

Seems like I never even get a chance to think it's safe to go back in the water again before they hit me with another one.

[drstevej]

Is this an extension of Hillary's Listening Tour???

[Pyro7480]

They've gone mad...

[dsc]

Well, it looks like they both work for the same boss.

[PlutoPlatter]

Here is a concept: Why don't they go directly to Jesus and ask him to forgive their sins being as though He is the only one who can forgive sins anyway. Cut out the middleman/woman....

What'cha think about that?

[A.A. Cunningham]

Auxiliary Bishop

The Right Reverend Vincent Malone BSc DipEd FCollP
Titular Bishop of Abora

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Born Liverpool 11 September 1931. Ordained St Oswald's, Old Swan 18 September 1955. Ordained Titular Bishop of Abora and Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool by Archbishop Worlock 3 July 1989. Residence: 17 West Oakhill Park, Liverpool L13 4BN Tel: 0151 228 7637 Fax: 0151 475 0841 Email: vmalone@onetel.net.uk OR: v.malone@rcaol.co.uk

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©2002 Archdiocese of Liverpool

[Fifthmark]

Sounds good...but when's the last time you heard Jesus tell you in a clear voice, "I absolve thee from thy sins"? Assuming never, does that leave you with any doubt? Does the devil enjoy playing with that doubt? Is there a better way?

Unbelievable article, by the way. How about instead of evolving, progressing, pressing forward, we cling to what has always been true? Is that too hard to ask?

[drstevej]

***but when's the last time you heard Jesus tell you in a clear voice, "I absolve thee from thy sins"? ***

1 John 1:9 [He even gave us it in writing!]

[A.A. Cunningham]

How about explaining why Christ gave the Apostles the authority to forgive, or not to forgive, sins in John 20:19-23?

[PlutoPlatter]

1 John 5-12

5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[2] sin.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Good enough for me.... I'll go right to the source thank you.

[RaginCajunTrad]

What kind of cigarettes does this guy smoke?

[conservonator]

What'cha think about that?

I think heretics, ABC Christians, apostates, schismatics, et all are a poor source of theological advice.

[PlutoPlatter]

1 John 1

7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[1] sin.

[sydney smith]

Good thing he didn't suggest allowing more TLM's. That offense might have gotten him censured. SSPX is looking better and better with each passing day. Maybe they really do hold the truth. Certainly the post conciliar church has lost it.

[sydney smith]

What's an ABC Christian?

[RobbyS]

I think we have heard your arguments and rejected them.

[PlutoPlatter]

Matthew 23:8-12

8"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

[conservonator]

What would possibly make you think that YOPIOS holds more weight than the instructions of Christ through His Church?

[PlutoPlatter]

Sad

[conservonator]

What's an ABC Christian?

Anything
But
Catholic