Non-Catholics invited to the confessional

Mar 5, 2016 by

by John Bingham, Telegraph:

The Roman Catholic Church is inviting non-Catholics to sample the experience of going to confession in an effort to promote the idea of forgiveness.

As part of a global 24-hour “confession drive” led by Pope Francis this weekend, churches in England and Wales are also encouraging non-Catholics to go to confessionals to speak in strict confidence to a priest about problems or issues in their own lives.

Unlike confession itself – which, as one of the Church’s sacraments is only open to Catholics – they will not have to go through formal steps of expressing penitence for their sins.

Nor will they be given formal absolution at the end but will be offered a blessing.

But senior clergy hope it will offer non-Catholics a similar experience of unburdening themselves to a listener duty-bound not divulge what they have said.

The idea was put forward by the Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Rev Mark O’Toole, who is also the overseeing plans in England and Wales, for the special confession drive, known as “24 hours for the Lord”, which runs until Saturday evening.

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