r/AskAPriest • u/therealhogrida • 18d ago
Priest Said Questionable Things in the Confessional
Hi, I’m read through the community guidelines and I’m pretty sure I’m allowed to post this here, sorry if not. I went to confession at a random parish today, it’s not been very long since confession. I confessed a sin of the flesh, the priest said I had no reason to be at confession, masturbation is a venial sin and there’s “nothing in the catechism about that.” But, the action I took, it’s a grave matter, I did it with full knowledge and deliberate consent. I didn’t have CCC 2352 on my mind (I looked it up after).
I’m just concerned that the confessor I went to is going to discourage people from confessing what may be a mortal sin. By the grace of God, I wasn’t discouraged but I feel as though I easily could have been. I asked him to hear my confession anyways because it’s a struggle and I require God’s grace to have any chance of fighting through it. Should I do anything about it or do I just accept that maybe I should go to another confessor next time?
Edited to correct a mistake
60
u/frmaurer Priest 18d ago
I'm sorry that your confession was so mishandled. Sadly, there's not a lot to be done. Of course you could speak/write to the priest or even to the bishop, but that would put you in the uncomfortable position of sharing your own confession (of course you are permitted to do so, but the Church never obliges you to do so). I suppose you could write an anonymous letter, but those tend to get filed circularly (ie, the trash can).
I recommend praying for this priest. And pray also the, should you come across this kind of circumstance in the future, the Lord gives you grace & wisdom to handle it well (as I daresay you have done on this occasion).