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"I can't chastise people for going to confession, but sometimes I wonder about the horrible lack of courtesy with long confessions when there are a dozen people waiting in line before mass. Universally, there will be one individual who is in there for 15 minutes. Somehow I think It's more likely that they're seeking counseling and a soapbox to bounce their thoughts off than confessing that long of a list of sins. I just wish they'd get a private appointment for their problems, which most priests prefer, than holding up the short 30-60 minute window most priests hear confession in a week."

"I see it with women the most. If there are more than 3 in front of me I know there's a good chance the priest is going to have to hear my confession after mass. The men usually are more interested in telling them in as few words as possible than going on a long tangent."

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I know what you mean too.

(And in our parish, it always seems to be the sweetest, most saintly, angelic women who take the longest in there! I know it is wrong to do, and I should really be minding my own business, and carefully re-examining my own conscience, and re-reviewing my own sins, but to while away the time, I sometimes start thinking, "Holy-moly, exactly what kinds of sins does a sweet old lady like that commit, and how many sins can such a dear old woman squeeze into just one week?!? And where in the world does she get the energy to sin so much?!?") (That's for the ones who go to confession every week.)

(Mea culpa! Mea culpa! Mea maxima culpa!) :-)