Sample Work

Fort Worth Star-Telegram
November 1, 1998
Section: HOMETOWN STAR-GRAND PRAIRIE
Edition: ARLINGTON AM
Page: 9

Repent and be healed

Confession cleanses conscience and soul
Ryan Sanders
Star-Telegram Writer

Father Jim Gigliotti eyed the shotgun nervously. The butt was perched between his penitent's knees, the muzzle under his chin.

"He's been asking for a priest," a police officer told Gigliotti. "I think he wants to confess."

Gigliotti's approach was gentle, but he caught the young man off guard.

"Where does it hurt?" he asked.

"What?"

"People don't kill themselves unless they're hurting," the priest said softly. "Where does it hurt?"

That was all the boy needed. From the deepest, most wounded parts of himself, he spilled out confessions and regrets.

His girlfriend left him.

His parents kicked him out.

He lost his job.

As he went on, he became more relaxed, and held the gun more loosely. Eventually, he put the weapon down so he could light a cigarette.

After 45 minutes of talking, the boy was finished, empty. He bent to pick up the gun, but Gigliotti stopped him.

"Would you mind if I took that? It's really making me nervous."

"Sure."

SOMEONE TO LISTEN

Episodes like that have assured the pastor of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church that confession, no matter how difficult, is important.

"Sometimes, people just need conversation," he said. "That young man just needed someone to listen. Confession is where healing happens."

The doctrine of confession is as old as sin to be confessed. God himself heard the first confession after Adam and Eve sinned.

In the Roman Catholic Church, confession has gained a lot of trimmings since Eden - confessionals, kneelers, robes and screens. Gigliotti said the purpose is the same.

"It's the emptying out of one's sins to be filled up then with God's grace," he said. "It gives grace to turn away from sin and toward God."

Gigliotti said he has heard confessions in some unorthodox places. The young man with the shotgun was standing in a mall parking lot. The priest said he's heard confessions over the phone, in his office, or just wherever someone opens up to him. The traditional method, of course, is in a confessional, though even that has changed.

In 1973, the Catholic Church added a face-to-face option to the sacrament of confession. At St. Maria Goretti, where there was once a priest's booth with a screen on each side, now there is an open room to one side where penitents can sit with the priest to confess.

"A lot of people now prefer to confess face-to-face," he said.

"But the option is always offered of anonymity."

In fact, Gigliotti said many parishioners protect their anonymity by going to other churches to confess.

"I know I'm getting a lot of people from other parishes," he said. "It's something of a pilgrimage."

At St. Joseph's Catholic Community, confessions are done by appointment only. Father Jim Miller said his parishioners get more than just absolution.

"There are tremendous psychological impacts, as well as spiritual benefits," he said. "One of the lowest suicide rates in the world is among practicing Catholics because they don't have to carry their guilt around with them.

"If you talk to many Catholics, a lot of them will tell you when they come out of the confession, it feels like they're floating about a foot off the ground."

TOUGH LOVE

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Grand Prairie offers confession to more than 1,600 parish members. Father Denny O'Mara said he sees opportunity through the screened confession window.

"I find it to be a great opportunity to encourage people to believe in God's forgiveness," he said. "Sometimes, people find peace or help or strength they need in life. So I find it to be a good ministry."

Confession isn't just about forgiveness and good feelings. Gigliotti said he has heard confessions of murder twice.

"In that case, I ask to see them afterward," he said. "And they agreed both times. When they come to confess that, it's a cry for help. They're tormented and they want help."

Of course, priests can't report offenses to police, but Gigliotti said penitents in those situations are often willing to admit their crimes publicly.

"You're still held to the seal of confidentiality," he said. "But you work with that person and try to get them some counseling."

In fact, Gigliotti said he often recommends counseling to parishioners. Likewise, local therapists will sometimes recommend confession as part of a patient's therapy.

"Often therapists know this person has their faith and the person will bring up a need to feel forgiven," he said.

Gigliotti said the church recommends monthly trips to the confessional. He recommends more frequent confession for people in therapy or recovering from addiction.

"One of the first rules of coming out of addiction is, `Don't keep secrets,' " he said. "So if someone is an alcoholic or a sex addict or something, I recommend weekly confession to get them through the harder parts of overcoming their abusing something."

PENANCE

Even forgiven sin has consequences. Gigliotti recommends an act of penance to everyone who confesses. He said the penance should fit the sin.

"I'll ask them to do an act or say a prayer," he said. "If they've stolen something, I'll ask them to return it or, if that's not possible, to give to the poor or a charity the amount that was taken and then some. If the person is having an affair, I'll ask `Is it terminated? ' If not, we'll need to talk further. In confession, it's understood that we're trying to amend our lives."

That's the positive side of the rite.

"It's a celebration. It's not to focus on one's terrible self," he said. "Never to be frightened or fearful of God, but to pray together and heal."

CATHOLIC CUSTOM

For Catholics, hearing confession is reserved for priests, but Protestant churches practice confession, too, minus the kneelers and screens.

"The difference between Protestants and Catholics is that we believe Jesus is our high priest. We can go directly to the Father through Jesus. So we don't feel like there's a need for that extra step to take your sins to a priest," said Pastor Dan Grindstaff of South Park Baptist Church in Grand Prairie. "But I understand our Catholic friends. Sometimes you just need someone to talk to, and there is something therapeutic in baring your soul to someone else."

Grindstaff quotes James 5:16, which says, "Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

"We need to have an accountability partner that we are real and transparent with, but not especially someone in the clergy," he said. "Confession is definitely good for the soul."

Whatever the context - confession booth, living room or parking lot - local clergy say confession can be one of the most rewarding, if not humbling, disciplines of the Christian religion.

Father O'Mara said, "I think Jesus Christ knew what he was doing when he said the sins you forgive will be forgiven and the sins you hold back will be held back."

posted by Unknown  # 5:31 PM