Confession in the Catholic Church is simply a sacrament aimed at spiritual cleansing and reconciliation with God. For many believers, this is simply a minute of individual reflection and interior transformation. However, in fresh times, there has been an expanding volume of talk about cases where confessions by children and young people become stressful or even traumatic. The relation of a woman, who was inactive 10 years old, is peculiarly touching, erstwhile she heard words of force and accusations from the priest during her confession, which marked her relation with the Church.
Shocking relation of a female – a clergyman called the kid a “carrier”
Mrs. Alina, on social media on the X platform (old Twitter), described the situation she experienced at about the age of 10. During the Advent period, during the compulsory gathering of the peasants, she participated in an andrejkowa play. She decided to mention it in confession. However, your reaction was completely inadequate and very painful.
According to the account, the clergyman at the full church shouted at her: “You ungrateful, you whore, you sinner...”. specified a harsh and public reaction caused the girl strong fear and aversion to the sacrament. As she admitted, for a year after that situation, she did not return to confession.
In the following years, Mrs Alina experienced even more hard experiences associated with the clergy, which yet caused her complete disengagement from the Church. However, the details of these events stay undisclosed.
Confession of children – a spiritual work or a origin of trauma?
More and more discussions about the legitimacy and form of confession among the youngest appear in Polish society. Traditionally, this sacrament is compulsory for children who join the First Holy Communion and during liturgical periods specified as Advent or Lent. However, developmental psychology and pedagogy experts increasingly point out that an early and unthinkable approach to confession can have other effects.
Confession requires a kid to realize the essence of sin, remorse and the request for reconciliation. However, this is not always possible at the appropriate level of awareness in a ten-year-old, especially erstwhile confessional is simply a place of harsh assessments and tension.
Not preparing priests to talk to children
Another crucial problem is the fact that many priests do not have pedagogical or intellectual training, which would let appropriate and delicate conversation with children. erstwhile speaking of very individual and delicate matters of sin, guilt, or morality, they frequently usage language that is besides literal or disciplining, not adapted to the age and emotional maturity of the child.
This approach can not only origin stress and guilt, but besides perpetuate negative emotions toward the Church and the clergy. alternatively of experiencing a sense of safety and support, the kid feels fear, shame and danger.
Consequences of traumatic Confession Experience
The event described by Mrs. Alina is not isolated. Further testimonies of those who, as children, witnessed or were victims of maltreatment by clergymen during confession appear on the web.
The consequences of specified experience may be serious:
- Loss of assurance in the Church and the clergy – children and young people can completely deviate from spiritual practices.
- Negative intellectual Effects – a sense of shame, low value, and even fears and trauma.
- Problems in spiritual Development – no desire to participate in the sacraments, and consequently no contact with the spiritual community.
Social and spiritual Challenges of the Sacrament of Confession
In the context of specified relations, questions about the meaning and form of compulsory confession of children are increasingly raised. Is it not worth considering an individual approach that takes into account the emotional maturity of the child?
Psychologists and educators emphasize that confession should be first Acta mercy, support and hope, not a harsh assessment and punishment. This requires more empathy from the clergy, as well as appropriate preparation for conversation with children and young people.
In the light of revealed cases and experts' opinions, a number of courses can be identified that could improve the quality of confession among the youngest:
- Introduction of compulsory training for clergymen in developmental psychology and communication with children.
- Changing the approach to children's confession – a greater emphasis on supporting conversation alternatively than a strict assessment.
- The anticipation of an individual approach to the question of the age and readiness of the kid to the sacrament.
- Appreciating parents and guardians of the function and way of preparing children for confession so that it is not perceived as a coercion and a origin of fear.
Confession should be a spiritual experience that brings relief and a sense of reconciliation. Unfortunately, events specified as those described by Mrs. Alina show that in any cases it can origin trauma, especially erstwhile it is done in an inappropriate, harsh and unempathetic manner.
Changing the approach to the sacrament among children, introducing education and the preparation of clergy and greater social awareness are crucial for confession to cease as a origin of suffering and to become a support for the spiritual improvement of the young generation.
More here:
The priest's scandalous behaviour towards the kid during confession
