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I'm psychic!
Feb. 22nd, 2007 08:07 amThe Washington Post reports that fewer Catholics are attending confession. They're not really sure why; one theology prof thinks it's because of the moment of penance that comes at the start of Mass now ("I think people misunderstood and thought they no longer had to go to confession" - uh... nobody I know, bud) or the "confessional" turn our culture has taken. You can pour out your troubles to a therapist or your blog now.
"[Priests and theologians] also worry that people are forgetting that confession involves more than, well, confessing. 'It's about coming to your senses, asking God's forgiveness, demonstrating if we did wrong we need to do something to prevent that,' Irwin, of Catholic University, said."
Two years ago, I finally got that. Note that I was raised on 13 years of Catholic school, and I was paying attention in Religion class. The actual higher purpose of Reconciliation is not well-served by either the Church's presentation or practice of the sacrament. Catholics aren't going to Reconciliation because, in general, it makes them feel lower than dirt rather than uplifted and at-peace. Worse, they think that's the point.
"[Priests and theologians] also worry that people are forgetting that confession involves more than, well, confessing. 'It's about coming to your senses, asking God's forgiveness, demonstrating if we did wrong we need to do something to prevent that,' Irwin, of Catholic University, said."
Two years ago, I finally got that. Note that I was raised on 13 years of Catholic school, and I was paying attention in Religion class. The actual higher purpose of Reconciliation is not well-served by either the Church's presentation or practice of the sacrament. Catholics aren't going to Reconciliation because, in general, it makes them feel lower than dirt rather than uplifted and at-peace. Worse, they think that's the point.
