Nooooooooooooooo!
Julie at Connecticut Catholic Corner relays her story of the Priest talking and then texting on his cell phone while hearing her children’s confessions.
My youngest went right after me and after a few moments everyone in the pews could hear a cell phone going off. I didn’t pay much attention to it because I thought it was coming from downstairs in the parish hall, but when my daughter came out her eyes were huge and she gave me ‘that look’ and whispered “Did you hear the cell phone?”
I nodded and shushed her, but she continued, “Father’s cell phone went off when I was confessing and I didn’t know if I should keep talking or let him finish with his call.”
My mouth dropped open.
I simply could not believe a priest would bother taking his cell phone into the Confessional with him, but since I had just confessed my own sins I didn’t want to create new ones by getting angry about it. I shrugged it off as “He must have forgotten to turn it off” and I let it go.
My eldest daughter went in, came out, prayed and we all left the parish. Once in the car, my youngest brought up the cell phone ringing during her confession and my eldest responded, “You think that is bad, Father was TEXTING during my confession.”
I hit the breaks on the car and turned around with a “WHAT?”
That is beyond crazy. Neither priest or penitent should ever bring a cellphone into confession, never mind answering it or texting.
I will leave it to the experts to discuss validity of the sacrament if the confessor is distracted to the point where he does not understand what is confessed. But at the very least this is a most serious abuse.
I wouldn’t hesitate to call the pastor and complain. Man I shudder at the punishments in purgatory for such behavior.
April 15, 2014 at 7:33 am
So….desecrating a sacrament only incurs purgatory? mmmkay. Maybe that's the attitude that causes this type of behavior? Anyway, I'm not surprised about this. If the Mass becomes a puppet show or a circus, why not make confession into a phone booth?
April 15, 2014 at 10:55 am
It won't be purgatory he'll be a going if he doesn't step up!
It is true that many priests don't like to hear confession, but come on. Children are under formation and worthy to be listened to. If not more so.
Sincerely concerned over his attitude and behavior! Makes you kinda' wonder about other things. Like Mass?
April 15, 2014 at 11:29 am
Looks like they are on their way to do the DNC thing. They are suffering from a little undersight, must have forgotten to mention the elimination of God, too!
Polititions are nothing but a pack of handled "dogs"! Purebreds, inbreds, rabids, mongrels, mutts and curs. No matter where those dogs come from, they are cleaned up, clipped, trotted out and paraded around like they are some big deal. Looks like the GOP just got neutered! Well, I guess what it comes right down to is. They "all" are just someone's yapping and whining paid #itch!
April 15, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Rebecca. Not my job to condemn anyone to hell.
April 15, 2014 at 1:03 pm
A priest of my acquaintance played a recording of a country-and-western come-to-Jaysus song in lieu of the Communion hymn several weeks ago. When this sort of racket is blaring down from the loudspeakers, one could wish he were talking on the 'phone instead, not that these should be alternatives, of course.
April 15, 2014 at 1:10 pm
The convergence of social and economic liberals continues.
April 15, 2014 at 1:11 pm
I used my iPhone i the confessional yesterday. I think it was the MeaCulpa app. Of course, I had the ringer off and I certainly would not respond to any text or calls – stayed focused on the confession. It worked out well for me because I did not need to read a copy of the AoC by dim light, and it kept me on track.
But to the point of the post, yes, if true, this Priest is wrong to do this, unless there was some emergency he had to deal with.
April 15, 2014 at 1:51 pm
Um. No. ESPECIALLY with children. His behavior sent a clear message to them that confession isn't important. He needs to be called on it, no pun intended.
April 15, 2014 at 1:53 pm
If this becomes the norm then they'll be no viable opposition at all.
April 15, 2014 at 3:41 pm
In fairness, I have used a Confession app on my phone to keep track of my sins so I don't forget them. My mind always goes blank as soon as I step in there.
April 15, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Church Authority: Was the priest a traditionalist?
Mother: No.
Church Authority: In that case, there's nothing I can do, but pray for him.
April 15, 2014 at 5:32 pm
I updated my post about the priest and his cellphone in the Confessional…
If you are Catholic, you should listen to this (if you haven't already)…
http://www.romans10seventeen.org/audio-files/20070930-No-cellphones-in-the-Confessional-Healing-and-making-our-souls-new-in-Christ.mp3
April 15, 2014 at 5:36 pm
Why would you need to? This priest seems to be doing a bang up job all by himself…
April 16, 2014 at 5:38 am
why even mention purgatory then since that is judging just as much the state of a persons soul?
April 16, 2014 at 2:55 pm
This reminds of the new and obviously inferior Star Wars movies, where the evil sith emporer sets up two armies to fight each other and also takes over the will of the people in the parliament. I see the evil one setting up two political parties to fight over issues with the bulk of the evil being gradually normalized in the process. But as long as we are angry and fighting each other, satan is content.
April 18, 2014 at 1:42 am
As a priest, I many times have my phone with me, though silenced and in my pocket. This is because I am usually on call for the hospital and that is how the hospital contacts me. It could be a similar case here.
April 20, 2014 at 8:54 am
I would surely call the attention of the priest and pointed to him that's it's not proper.. but of course with prudence and respect because he is still a priest of jesus.
April 20, 2014 at 8:57 am
A priest is a priest. None of our doctrines and teachings are for "traditionalist" or "modern" if you want to say that way. For us CATHOLICS the CHURCH is ONE.