Ultimate Clericalism: Not What You Think, by Dr. Jeff Mirus

By Dr. Jeff Mirus, Catholic Culture, Nov 07, 2023

Perhaps twenty or thirty years ago I went to confession to a priest in a neighboring parish where the lines were a bit shorter. I have conveniently forgotten the sin I had to confess, but as I was confessing it, I also mentioned something about the circumstances. The priest immediately cut me short and told me sternly not to say anything more than the minimum necessary. I asked, “But what if I have some question about the relevance of the circumstances to the gravity of the sin?” He answered in a tone that was little short of yelling: “I will determine what may be relevant!” I responded, “But what if I don’t agree that I shouldn’t mention something that you have not yet heard?” Then he told me, point blank, that I could choose to leave without absolution and go to another priest.

This was a confession that had taken well under a minute, even with the “give and take”. Of course, being me, there was no way I was going to stand in another line, so I just chuckled, said “Yes, Father”, received absolution, and came away with a good story (about an anonymous priest of course). I am not particularly sensitive, and I have never lacked confidence, so this did not particularly bother me. But I came away wondering how much this priest was harming more sensitive souls. …

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