Posted on 08/12/2002 8:14:13 AM PDT by gubamyster
Sunday August 11, 2002
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose is taking the recently established ``no tolerance'' policy on sexual misconduct to a new level.
Bishop Patrick J. McGrath has ordered that windows be placed in all confessionals, allowing others to see inside while parishioners reconcile their sins. The windows have been mandated in all of the diocese's 52 parishes and are to be installed over the coming year.
The policy is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, although new and renovated Catholic churches in Europe have windows and glass walls in their confessional boxes.
``I want to make sure people feel safe, that everything's aboveboard, and that confession is visible, but not audible,'' McGrath said. ``If anybody had it in the back of their mind that they were going to do anything wrong, they'd realize that it wasn't beyond discovery.''
The bishop says he realizes the windows will mean a loss of privacy, but maintains he has no choice. He says he has to ensure parishioners feel safe when they are alone with clerics, and he also wants to protect priests from false accusations.
The Rev. Francis Cilia, the diocese's vicar general, said the new regulations are a trade-off between privacy and prudence.
``We're just living in a strange environment,'' Cilia said.
The diocese's measure isn't inspired by cases where abuse took place inside confessionals, but is meant to prevent sexual misconduct from occurring there.
Cora Tomalinas, a member of St. Maria Goretti Parish, said she would feel awkward going into a glass-doored confessional.
``You pour your heart out in confessional. I'd like to reserve the right to draw the curtains and shut everybody else out,'' she said.
The Rev. Larry Hendel of St. John Vianney Parish worried the glass might discourage parishioners from confessing, and he lamented that priests have become figures of suspicion.
He said he used to place his hands on parishioners during confession, but said he's no longer sure that's appropriate.
``There's this second-guessing now,'' he said. ``It was my practice years ago to put my hands on their shoulders.''
My very first thought, exactly!
AHHH! That's what happens in the confessional.
Do we need another?
Christ empowered His Apostles and in turn their successors to forgive sins in His name, Persona Christi. You need to review John 20:19-23, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 and James 5:13-16. So according to Jesus Christ Himself, the answer to your question is a resounding yes.
Incidentally, who ever said that when a penitent wishes to confess through a screen, he must also kneel? Nobody. Yet, I have never seen a confessional or "reconciliation room" in which the penitent who wants anonymity is not forced to use a kneeler. There's no reason that those confessing through a screen could not sit in a chair, just like those confessing "face-to-face."
Some time you pick up the Holy Bible and read it.
Since you have heard about Christ Jesus, our Mediator, Savior, Advocate, High Priest, Counselor, King, you will learn from the Bible that He founded the Church. He is present in His Church to the end of time, and the gates of hell will not prevail over His Church.
I still say that Churches with traditional confessionals, like OurLady Of Peace, should be exempted. If there is a wall between the Priest and the penitent, what could possily happen? A better mandate would be that all churches must install the traditional confessionals and let us keep our privacy!! In an age when the church needs to encourage parishioners to take advantage of the graces of reconciliation, taking away privacy like this will only discourage people.
Blast that Bill Gates!
San Jose diocese to put windows in confessionals
Blast that Bill Gates!
So, what happens if you get stuck in an infinite loop while saying a Hail Mary?
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