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Catholics Try to Market Confession

Between Oprah and the therapist's couch, is there any role left for the church confession? Noting that the number of Catholics taking part in the key rite has plunged, the Archdiocese of Washington is launching its biggest marketing blitz this week, using ads on buses, subway cars, a Route 301 billboard, 100,000 brochures and radio spots in an effort to get people back to the confessional...

The unusual campaign—whose slogan, “The Light is On for You,” shouldn’t be confused with Motel 6’s promise to “Leave the Light On for You”—highlights the church’s alarm that Catholics are ignoring a fundamental ritual meant to keep them holy and close to God.

Priests and sociologists of Catholicism have theorized about the drop for years. Is it because of a culture that tells us we aren’t responsible for what we do wrong? Or could it be something less dark: that the traditional Saturday confession time has simply been gobbled up by youth soccer leagues and errand-mania? Or maybe something more dark: that we don’t even know what sin is anymore?

“People go online and confess all sorts of things, but they don’t do it in a way of apology. And it’s very hard to verbalize what you did wrong,” said archdiocese spokeswoman Susan Gibbs, letting loose an admission of her own: “That’s why I like to go when I’m in Rome, because I won’t know anyone.”

The campaign, the first big public endeavor by the new archbishop, Donald Wuerl, is timed to start with Lent, the 40-day period of reflection and penitence that started yesterday, Ash Wednesday. The 100,000 brochures that parishes are distributing lay out rules for the rusty, complete with a pop-out, wallet-size card ("Step 3: Confess all of your sins to the priest. If you are unsure or uneasy, tell him and ask for help."). Starting Wednesday, all 140 churches in the archdiocese will be open for confession from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday through Lent.

You can read more of this article at The Washington Post...

You can see their promotional website for this campaign here...

FOR DISCUSSION: I think it’s easier to market ‘forgivness’ than it is to market ‘confession’.  Any thoughts?

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This post has been viewed 98 times and was added on February 27, 2007 by Todd Rhoades.
Filed under: Engaging Culture  Trends in Today's Church  
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  There are 5 Comments:
  • Posted by

    On the one hand, I think you’re right. It’s easier to market “forgiveness” than “confession”..... But if we stop and really take inventory of today’s world, I don’t know. Look at all the people who want to go on to TV shows like Oprah or Dr Phil to “confess"… Look at the marketing endeavors of such. Look at Lifechurchtv....... look at their “confession” online tool and Craig’s own book.

    Still thinking it through obviously. lol

  • Posted by Brian

    While I don’t see reconciliation as a sacrament (especially since leaving the Catholic church back in the 80’s...), I like the idea of promoting reconciliation with God.

    In 2 Corinthians 5 it says we have the ministry of reconciliation, and part of our job is to help people become reconciled to God.  I’ve always loved that aspect of salvation and confession to God.

    This might be a door-opener for conversations with both Catholics and non-Catholics regarding how to be reconciled to God.

    Brian

  • Posted by

    I, too, like the idea of promoting reconciliation with God, but I don’t think confession to anyone other than God promotes reconciliation with God.

    During my years in the Army I’ve seen many struggle with PTSD and I am a big proponent of the benefits of counseling, for many of the struggles people deal with.  I don’t believe confession, as I understand the Catholic practice of it, to have the same benefit, or aim, as professional therapeutic counseling.

    I think confession of sin should be between an individual and God and should be communicated to God thru prayer.  As for the therapeutic effects of confession I agree there can be benefits, but again I don’t think confession to anyone other than God promotes reconciliation to God.  I do not see the necessity for that reconciliation to be facilitated by confession to a priest.

    If I struggle with sexual sin, is someone who’s taken a vow of celibacy the best person for me to talk to about it. Or about marital problems?  If I have wronged someone is it more appropriate for me to confess that to a priest or to the person I have wronged?

    I probably feel the way I do because I was raised to be independent by a very independent woman and taught to very strongly believe in the Priesthood of the believer.

    “Each believer is a priest, both before God for oneself and by caring for fellow believers and for persons in the world for whom Christ died.”

    From We Baptists, James Leo Garrett Jr.

  • Posted by Leonard

    While the priesthood of believers is a great biblical truth, it does not preclude confession of sins to one another.  I actually believe that when we confess our sins to one another as the bible instructs us to something amazing happens inside of us.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16

    It is pride/shame two different sides of the same coin that keeps me from doing this.  I guess I love darkness because my deeds are evil.  There is something very powerful to have someone pronounce the biblical truth of I am forgiven and free.  my 2cents

  • Posted by Brian

    Daniel, I think I see your point.  I’m not sure that Scripture commands confession to another person to GAIN forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

    However, as Leonard points out, confession to someone else is good.  I can think of a couple of reasons right off:

    1.  It puts us in a position of accountability that we all need.  That’s not to say you need to confess absolutely everything, but at least someone who understands your struggles and won’t beat you up when you fail.  They can also offer prayer and encouragement in that area, especially if it’s an area in which they struggle.

    2.  It opens up the opportunity for someone to declare the forgiveness of God in your life.  What I mean is this - if you were to tell me that you had sinned, my first question would be: Have you confessed it to God?  If you answered yes, then I could declare to you, based on the Word of God, that you have been forgiven.  By God, not by me.  When people have declared forgiveness in my life, it has been very freeing and uplifting.  This is not to say that God forgives because I say so; it is me saying God forgives because HE says so.

    As to your question about to whom you should confess, I think it depends.  As much as possible, we should confess to the person we’ve sinned against.  Sometimes that’s not always possible (or even prudent - depending on what the sin is...), but we should do it as we can.  And we should ALWAYS confess to God.

    A reminder: confession is not the act of informing God you’ve done something - He already knows!  Confession is the act of agreeing with God that what you have done is sin in His eyes.

    Brian

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