Cardinal, pastors discuss general
absolution
By ROBERT McCLORY
Special to the National Catholic Reporter Chicago
A long festering controversy over the practice of general
absolution in Chicago-area parishes may be moving toward a resolution. During a
two-hour meeting in mid-June between Cardinal Francis George and some 100
pastors, tentative steps were taken toward rapprochement, though the two sides
are still far apart.
Many Chicago pastors favor general absolution -- one of three
forms for the sacrament of penance prescribed in the Roman Ritual -- as
a way of attracting more people to the sacrament and responding to a growing
shortage of priests. Pastors say the tradition is firmly established in the
archdiocese and should be respected.
George, however, says the Chicago practice does not meet criteria
established in canon law.
According to canon law, the rite of general absolution is reserved
for situations in which people are in danger of death or when the number
penitents is so large that there arent enough confessors to hear
confessions in a timely manner.
George said he would be willing to bring a report on our
experience with the rite directly to the Vaticans Congregation for Divine
Worship. But he immediately added, This does not mean I personally
believe that the conditions for the ordinary use of general absolution are met
here at this time; they are not.
For more than 25 years a sizable number of Chicago archdiocesan
parishes, especially large ones (and most often during Advent and Lent), have
followed the churchs rite for general absolution as an alternative to
individual confession to a priest. Some of the parishes using general
absolution in the Chicago area have more than 3,500 families. The rite consists
of a communal service involving prayer, scripture reading, an extended
examination of conscience, a joint statement of contrition, a silent imposing
of hands on each penitent by a priest, followed by a statement general
absolution for participants.
Though all present are absolved through this rite, the law states
that those conscious of mortal sin must intend to confess individually at a
later time.
The diocesan bishop is to determine if circumstances justify use
of general absolution.
Clearly, the sticking point is conflict between pastoral service
and episcopal authority.
I think were in dialogue with the cardinal, and
thats a good place to be, said Fr. Robert McLaughlin, rector of
Holy Name Cathedral and a leader of the Pastors Forum, a loose coalition
of some 125 pastors. Im not discouraged.
In a letter to pastors after the meeting, George wrote, The
reasons for making use of general absolution are not unpersuasive, and those
talking to the question were some of our most effective pastors, all of whom
are also giving time to hearing individual confessions. He added,
If we are to work toward change we have to work together, with mutual
trust and in obedience to the church, which gives us the only authority we
possess.
Pope John Paul II has inveighed against a too liberal use of the
rite in Australia and elsewhere, and George has stated repeatedly that he does
not believe the conditions for the third rite exist in Chicago.
Though the misuse of authority weakens the church, he
wrote, the pastoral question is how can we together come to some
alternative for general absolution which will still bring the forgiveness of
God into our peoples lives. This demands more discussion. He called
for another meeting with the priests in three months.
During the June meeting, the forum presented a history of
sacramental penance, noting that its form has changed many times over the
centuries. Cited was a mid-1980s poll that reported that 61 percent of
Catholics go to confession once a year at most or never.
The forum statement also said that Cardinal Joseph Bernardin in
June 1997 had prepared a letter to Vatican officials stating his intention to
permit general absolution in Chicago. Two months later, the cardinals
cancer returned and his decision was never promulgated.
Fr. William Stenzel, pastor of a large suburban parish, said
general absolution had long been of benefit to Catholics in Chicago. Why
should we abandon such an effective ministry when we have been mandated by
Jesus through the apostles to do this ministry, he said. I always
remember the elderly lady from Pullman who brought neighbors back to regular
church practice by inviting them to a penance service where they could
experience Gods love without risking a closeted conversation with a
stranger whose reaction was unpredictable. [She said] The pope ought to
go to one of these. Hed like it.
Fr. Donald Headley, a priest for 43 years, told George concerns
about making forgiveness too easy are unfounded. Grace is not
cheap, he said. Its free. It should be made available in as
many ways as possible.
McLaughlin said the pastors differences with the cardinal
derive from different views of church and authority. The pastors is
rooted in their experience of listening to parishioners and in their
understanding of service, while the cardinals is rooted in law and a
top-down approach to authority, he said.
National Catholic Reporter, July 27,
2001
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