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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
confessing at another parish?	brenda	Friday, September 3, 2004
Question: i need to go to reconciliation, but i do not want to go to my own parish because i know the priests there and i'm embarrassed about many of the things i've done. my parish doesn't even seem to have regular confessions, and they don't use screens. i honestly think that i will chicken out if i go to them and end up not confessing what i know i should. i've also been given bad advice by the priest there, so i don't think i should anyhow. (the priest told me that it was NEVER wrong to recieve holy communion, when i know that there are circumstances that forbid it) does it really matter if go to my parish or not? (pleeeeaase tell me it doesn't matter where i go, just so long as i go )
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Brenda: You can go to any priest for confession even if that priest is not assigned to a parish. If you want to travel 100 miles to receive confession totally outside of your area, you may. It does sound like there are some serious problems at your parish. First of all, no priest has the authority to deny anonymous confession. Confession behind a veil is the norm and must be offered to the Faithful. Second, if this priest said that one can always receive the Eucharist even when one is in mortal sin then this priest is committing a grave sin himself, and perhaps a heresy. This needs to be reported to the bishop. As far as confession goes, however, you go wherever you want to go, to any available priest, anywhere. Never avoid confession out of embarrassment of knowing the priest. Go where you need to go to be anonymous. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

confessing at another parish?

brenda

Friday, September 3, 2004

Question:

i need to go to reconciliation, but i do not want to go to my own parish because i know the priests there and i'm embarrassed about many of the things i've done. my parish doesn't even seem to have regular confessions, and they don't use screens. i honestly think that i will chicken out if i go to them and end up not confessing what i know i should.

i've also been given bad advice by the priest there, so i don't think i should anyhow. (the priest told me that it was NEVER wrong to recieve holy communion, when i know that there are circumstances that forbid it) does it really matter if go to my parish or not?

(pleeeeaase tell me it doesn't matter where i go, just so long as i go )

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Brenda:

You can go to any priest for confession even if that priest is not assigned to a parish. If you want to travel 100 miles to receive confession totally outside of your area, you may.

It does sound like there are some serious problems at your parish. First of all, no priest has the authority to deny anonymous confession. Confession behind a veil is the norm and must be offered to the Faithful.

Second, if this priest said that one can always receive the Eucharist even when one is in mortal sin then this priest is committing a grave sin himself, and perhaps a heresy. This needs to be reported to the bishop.

As far as confession goes, however, you go wherever you want to go, to any available priest, anywhere. Never avoid confession out of embarrassment of knowing the priest. Go where you need to go to be anonymous.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum