Catholic Confessors Get Vatican Crash Course

One terrifying aspect of the current ecclesial mess is the crisis of the confessional. In Rome, measures are being taken…

A crash course for priests who hear confessions is being held at the Vatican this week, as part of an effort to restore confidence in the practice among the Catholic faithful.

The sacrament of penance has been “in a serious state of difficulty” for years, said Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, organizer of the course and head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Church tribunal responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sins. Quoting figures from the most recent Catholic survey on confessions, from 1998, Girotti said that about 30 percent of Italian Catholics believe there is no need for priests in confessionals, while 10 percent believe the presence of a priest “impedes direct dialogue with the Lord.” [Full Story]