Madam, - Recently, to the chagrin of many good Catholics, the Pope has banned any form of "share and share like" Eucharist participation in either Catholic or Protestant churches. In my opinion this is a poor decision as only good can come from any such practice, especially where mixed marriages are concerned.
He has also declared that confession on a "one to one" basis between penitent and priest is the correct way to celebrate the sacrament.
In his article on the history of confession, Father Humphrey O'Leary CssR, principal of the Catholic Institution of Theology in Auckland, New Zealand, disclosed the following facts:
1. Confession evolved over many centuries as a result of mixed groups of persons who were living holy lives together making a practice of confessing their transgressions to each other, and each advising the other on what his or her penance should be. No priest was involved. Eventually a lay group leader took over this task.
2. It wasn't until the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 that the faithful were directed by the Vatican to confess their sins annually to their parish priests. Prior to that date male and female lay persons heard "confessions".
In my opinion this is another poor decision as there is no need for an intermediary between a penitent and his or her creator, and certainly not a celibate man listening to a young person confessing his or her sins of the flesh.
Those priests who make a practice of giving "general absolution" before saying Mass are acting correctly and I hope they will continue doing do. - Yours, etc.,
W.G.A. SCOTT,
Friars Hill,
Wicklow Town,
Co Wicklow.