Should couples confess sins together?

From Dr. Ed Peters:

The practice of spouses jointly celebrating the sacrament of confession recently garnered support from Catholic News Service veteran columnist Fr. John Deitzen. Provided that couples "approve and consider it helpful for their marriage", Deitzen holds that spouses may confess their sins in each other's presence and receive absolution. He notes only that each spouse would be bound by the seal of confession in regard to what he or she learned about the other.

I believe, however, that there are formidable canonical and practical objections to joint sacramental confession, and I set them out for consideration.

Read the entire post on the "In The Light of the Law" blog.

Comments

[Thomas A. Gill]

How could this possibly be a good idea?

[Colm O'Higgins]

Obviously Fr. John Deitzen has never been married, or else he would have known that husbands and wives are blessed already with the foreknowlege of every sin their spouse will commit and has committed. Such is the dynamic of married life, and thus rendering joint 'celebrations of reconciliation' redundant.

[Deacon Harold]

This is not a good idea from a very practical perspective. The penitent is supposed to confess all mortal sins that they remember, in kind and number. From the CCC #1456: "Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance: 'All mortal sins of which penitents after a diligent self-examination are conscious must be recounted by them in confession, even if they are most secret and have been committed against the last two precepts of the Decalogue; for these sins sometimes wound the soul more grievously and are more dangerous than those which are committed openly.'"

There is no question that, in at least some cases of joint confession, a husband, for example, would be reticent to confess sexual sin (e.g. acts of infidelity, self-gratification, issues with pornography, etc) with his wife present. Many men go to great lengths to hide sexual sins from their wives, and would be embarrassed to confess these with her present. In this case, the possibility exists that known mortal sins would not be confessed; the penitent would be sinning while in the confessional.

“husbands and wives are blessed already with the foreknowlege of every sin their spouse will commit and has committed”

Impossible! Only God has that kind of knowledge.

[Carl Olson]

Excellent thoughts, Deacon Harold.

“husbands and wives are blessed already with the foreknowlege of every sin their spouse will commit and has committed”

I think it was said in jest. At least I hope so! :-)

[rd]

what if the priest tells the person to confess to their spouse, as his/her penance?

[Catherine L]

Actually, I think I should be able to confess my husband's sins instead of my own. It would be so much easier. ;)

[Catherine L]

Actually, I think I should be able to confess my husband's sins instead of my own. It would be so much easier. ;)

[Catherine L]

Actually, I think I should be able to confess my husband's sins instead of my own. It would be so much easier. ;)

[Catherine L]

Actually, I think I should be able to confess my husband's sins instead of my own. It would be so much easier. ;)

[Catherine L]

Actually, I think I should be able to confess my husband's sins instead of my own. It would be so much easier. ;)

[Catherine L]

Actually, I think I should be able to confess my husband's sins instead of my own. It would be so much easier. ;)