Thanks for your insight! Looks liek i will be "shopping" for a confessor. I know I can confess to my parish priest but he knows me too well, I'd rather have a confessor who didn't know me as well, if that makes any sense.

__________________
"I think that anything that begins to give people a sense of their own worth and dignity is God."
John Shelby Spong

Congrats Phils 2008 World Champs!

Marnie, I think you are exactly right about the whole point of confession - unburdening the soul by sharing it with another human being. Confession is often perceived as an embarrassing, pointless experience - if God already knows what's in your heart, why would you need to confess it out loud? But when I admit my shortcomings and troubles to another human being, and he's able to offer me forgiveness, then I'm reminded of God's infintely greater capacity for forgiveness.

And Phillycatlady, I'm totally with you about "shopping" for a confessor. Sometimes it's much more comfortable to talk to an anonymous ear, and not to someone you'll end up seeing every week. I must admit that I didn't know that the Anglo-Catholic (is this the same as Anglican?) Church had confession also - is that a difference between this church and the Episcopal Church?

I thought you were episcopalian?
I wanted to go last night but got stuck at home.

__________________
"I'm sorry but it's not my fault that I am not infected with white liberal guilt syndrome like you are!"

My understanding is the episcopal church did away with confession back in the 40's or 50's I think. not sure.
But phillycat is right that the anglo's which is part of the church of england still has confession. The eastern orthodox churches have it as well.

__________________
"I'm sorry but it's not my fault that I am not infected with white liberal guilt syndrome like you are!"

I am Episcopalian.


The Episcopal Church does not have a mandatory "one-on-one confess to a priest" confession. Instead, a general confession is said by the whole congregation at the Sunday services and the priest absolves everyone in the room. You can confess anything privately to the priest if you so desire, but it is not a must.

Confessionals are not found in most Episcopal churches. However, there is a branch of the Episcopal church called Anglo-Catholic.. These churches are more Catholic in tradition and subscribe to the Oxford Movement, and will have the sacrament of confession to a priest available on a regular basis, and these churches will often have confessionals, statues of Mary and crucifixes in their churches.

St. Mark's and St. Clement's are 2 Anglo Catholic churches- both in downtown Philly.

And "Anglican" and "Episcopal" is the same thing. When the forefathers founded the USA and brought their Anglican faith with them, they felt "Anglican" sounded too English, and the country was separating from England, so they decided to name it "Episcopal" as a way of declaring independence. But it is the same faith/denomination.

__________________
"I think that anything that begins to give people a sense of their own worth and dignity is God."
John Shelby Spong

Congrats Phils 2008 World Champs!

This is what the Episcopal prayer book says about confession: "And if, in your preparation (i.e. to receive Holy Communion), you need help and counsel, then go and open your grief to a discreet and understanding priest, and confess your sins, that you may receive the benefit of absolution, and spiritual counsel and advice; to the removal of scruple and doubt, the assurance of pardon, and the strengthening of your faith." (BCP p317)

In the Catechism this refered to as the Sacremental Rite of Reconciliation of a Penitent. It goes on to say that these rites, "although they are means of grace, they are not necessary for all persons in the same way that Baptism and the Eucharist are." (BCP p860)

This is done at every Episcopal Church Sunday service:


Priest: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept.

Priest and People:

Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

The Bishop, when present, or the Priest, stands and says

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins
through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all
goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in
eternal life. Amen.

__________________
"I think that anything that begins to give people a sense of their own worth and dignity is God."
John Shelby Spong

Congrats Phils 2008 World Champs!

This is all really interesting...I'm glad to know a little more about the Episcopal Church than I did before.

The Catholic Mass also has a similar general confession, which happens shortly after the beginning of Mass. If you don't have any major sins on your conscience, participating in this short prayer allows you to achieve the proper state of grace for receiving Communion.

Does anyone know what times the churches open for confession on Weds?