In the Belly of a Whale - Part II

When defending or explaining the Sacrament of Penance I am tempted to run headlong into an apologetic argument, quoting Scriptures this way and that to show and prove its biblical foundation. And certainly the validity of the sacrament and the authority of the priest to forgive our sins can be proved through scripture without a doubt. (See Jn 20:19-23, 2 Cor 5:17-20, and James 5:13-16)

But I have a feeling that no such argument will bring the majority of us back to this much neglected sacrament, though it wouldn't hurt for you to have a look at the afore-mentioned scriptures. So, let me see if I can have a go at this from a total common sense point of view.

First, there is, on the congregation side of things, three groups of people. The first group complains that they can't find a confessional that hasn't been turned into a storage closet and they are not about to call Father and make a face to face appointment. The second sees no purpose in confessing their sins to a priest. The third is happy with the status quo (i.e. make an appointment, face to face, etc.). There is no need to deal with the happy third group. The second group will need it's own column (maybe next week). So, let's take a look at the first group.

These folks want to go to confession. They just want to do it anonymously. This is best accomplished when they can be just one more person in line at a scheduled confession hour and one more disembodied voice on the other side of the confessional screen. Their sins really are between themselves and God, with the priest acting in a purely sacramental role. And I believe that somewhere in the piles of canon laws, doctrinal teachings or what have you (I really don't know where to look) there is something that gives the Catholic believer a right to an anonymous confession.

In a practical vein this makes total sense from both sides of the screen. The penitent has a very human fear that his secret will "get out". Yes, we know that the priest has sworn a vow of secrecy. But confidence in this vow has been undermined by the familiar accessiblity of the modern clergy-something which is both an asset and a liability.

But from the priest's side of things, it is difficult to comprehend why he would not also want to keep things anonymous. Vow or no vow, he is still human and has a human memory. I don't know why a priest would want to take on the extra burden of knowing and possibly remembering a penitent's sin, the memory of which could be the tiny crack that is all Satan needs to wedge himself into the imagination.

The main argument from the priest's point of view against regularly scheduled confessions is that people don't come. I would like to respectfully propose here what I consider to be a simple two-fold solution.

First, schedule a regular confession time. One only has to witness the lines outside the confessional Saturday nights at 6pm at St. Anthony's in Tamuning to know that people will come to confession if they know when it is. (St. Anthony's is the only place I know of with a regularly scheduled confession hour. Perhaps there are others. If so, I propose that we make the schedules known through he Pacifc Voice and KOLG.) And do not give up on us, Father, if you spend a couple of Saturday nights in the confessional without any takers. "If you build it...they will come."

Second, please tell us about Sin, (read PERSONAL Sin) and our gnawing need for repentance. Teach us, Father, from the pulpit ordained for your words, of the death from sin, of the pain of purgatory, and of eternal fire that torments the damned. Then teach us of this most Holy Sacrament; this deep channel of Divine Mercy, designed and destined by Him whose last dying act, before commending Himself to the Father, was to hear one last confession (Luke 23:43), whose last drops of Blood bought the very opportunity to say the words, "Bless me Father, for I have sinned...", AND... whose final command to the apostles, from whom you are descended, was to PREACH penance for the remission of sins " (Lk 24:47)

It's almost shattering to realize that this was His parting instruction. He did not say "preach love". He did not say "preach mercy". He did not say "preach justice". He said "PREACH PENANCE". Our churches should ring with response to this last command! And I venture to submit that the priest who dares preach this with passion will have confessional lines to rival Padre Pio's. For our souls are parched for want of sacramental forgiveness, especially in this age when the road to hell is only a mouse click away, or two numbers on the remote.

Tim Rohr

November 21, 1999