Pope Francis Critique To Priests Out of Touch With Reality: Don't Turn the Confessional Into a "Torture Chamber"

(Vatican) The times have changed. Previously, the progressives have accused the Popes of "being out of touch with reality". Pope Francis is viewed by the faithful Catholic of being out of touch with reality. How so? We continue the study of the Apostolic Letter Gospel Gaudium continued by Pope Francis. So far, this appeared Gospel Gaudium - Clear Words to Live Right (John Paul II) and Francis the Pope, who Abolishes the Papacy - The Revolution The Cardinals Wanted . [Coming up]

The word "sin" is mentioned many times. However, the context in which it is mentioned, is complex and would require a separate in-depth analysis. Thus, there are in addition to the personal sin there is  "social" sin that emerges in different places. How, then, can one  overcome sin and obtain salvation, is not mentioned. The words "repent" and "repentance" are missing completely. The word "conversion" occurs only once as a quotation from an instruction of the CDF. The word "repentance" on the other hand is repeated often. How this reversal is to be completed, however, remains open. The word "confession"  [or Penance] is not found in the papal document. Thus, the decisive act of reconciliation  with God through conversion, repentance, confession and penance remains unexpressed. It seems to play no role in the "joyful" evangelization.

But not only is there no mention of confession: The only indirect mention of  confession in Evangelii Gaudium occurs negatively in the form of criticism. The Pope mentioned  the "confessional" once in 44. In this context, he tells the priest, "that confession can not be a torture chamber." In reading this point, the only indirect mention of  confession, the question arises: "Yes, where does this pope live?" The statement is characterized by being out of touch with reality. The reality is the exact opposite, that the introduction to the catechesis in confession and instruction of the faithful for decades, hardly plays any role that the children are guided without confession to First Communion in the Western world in many places that the confessionals are torn out of many churches were that many priests do not hear confessions any  more that  "Confession and Consultation" is offered in some parishes in the "confessional" but  there is a  pastoral assistant sitting. The list about the decline of the Sacrament of Penance could be continued for long. The confession seems to fit so little into a "happy" Christianity that its last mention  must be placed under a negative sign.

The out of touch character of that statement by Pope Francis is reminiscent of yet other, equally unrealistic remarks of the Pope at  the end of September. At that time Pope Francis held as his "main concern" whether priests had already had the children of unmarried mothers baptized.

It was the same Pope, last Holy Thursday, two weeks after his election, who is said to have said in a private conversation with priests of the diocese of Rome: "I insist: Let the doors of the churches open, and people will come, and turn on the light in the confessionals, to show that you are there and you will see that a queue forms in front of it. "One of the many contradictions of this pontificate. Where the statement of Holy Thursday still does not officially occupy   part of the Magisterium, while Evangelii Gaudium does.

44. Moreover, pastors and the lay faithful who accompany their brothers and sisters in faith or on a journey of openness to God must always remember what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches quite clearly: “Imputability and responsibility for an action can be diminished or even nullified by ignorance, inadvertence, duress, fear, habit, inordinate attachments, and other psychological or social factors”.[49] Consequently, without detracting from the evangelical ideal, they need to accompany with mercy and patience the eventual stages of personal growth as these progressively occur.[50] I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs us on to do our best. A small step, in the midst of great human limitations, can be more pleasing to God than a life which appears outwardly in order but moves through the day without confronting great difficulties. Everyone needs to be touched by the comfort and attraction of God’s saving love, which is mysteriously at work in each person, above and beyond their faults and failings.

Link to Encyclical...

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Formiche
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotamail.com
Link to Katholisches...

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