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Submitted by kaunteya on January 30, 2007 - 9:25am.
by Kaunteya Das The major Italian weekly magazine “L’Espresso” has published a piece of investigative journalism on how Catholic priests handle their confessions; the Vatican became enraged at the disclosures (link to the article, written in Italian). A journalist pretended to be a normal Christian follower asking the confessors for absolution from his sins, or rather asking if what he claimed to be doing was sinful. He visited confessionals—the booths where priests sit to hear confessions—in five major Italian cities, submitting tales of involvement in activities ranging from homosexuality to research into embryonic cells, from euthanasia to sex with minors, living with a woman without being married, abortion, taking cocaine, and even cheating on the accounts for monetary gains. What the article exposed is that often the confessors’ opinion and advice on the issues drastically differed from the official position of the Church. And this is probably what made the Vatican so furious, although they claimed outrage at the divulgation of exchanges that should have remained confidential, sacredly secret in their sacramental status. Here I am not going to attempt to delve into the deep, convoluted, and likely controversial details of what constitutes acceptable moral behavior in the areas mentioned above. And I am not going to support or oppose the Vatican in their indignant reaction (but I admit that I found the journalistic operation instructive). What I am more interested in is the theme—extremely relevant for us—of the need for religious or spiritual organizations to:
We don’t have a sacrament of confession as such; nonetheless private sharing of challenges in following dharma (or doubts about what is dharmic in a given situation) is certainly not alien to Vaisnava pastoral practice. The revelations from this journalistic initiative were certainly embarrassing for the Catholic Church, revealing dichotomous, contradictory standpoints between the grassroots confessors and their bosses in Rome. But, I wonder, how would we perform as a movement if journalists were to individually interview different devotees on the same issues?
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Search Content Channels Srila Prabhupada: "I am pleased to know that all of you are enthusiastically engaged in distributing our books. In this modern Godless civilization, everyone is greatly suffering due to lack of the real knowledge of Krishna consciousness, and our task is very great and very important. We must deliver this pure science of God to everyone and give them the chance to make their lives successful. So you continue this book distribution program very nicely, and at the same time take advantage of these books yourselves. Not that you just distribute but neglect reading them yourself. en/View User login Group categories Non-vaisnava PreachingRecent comments
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confessions
Submitted by Non-registered Visitor (not verified) on January 30, 2007 - 3:34pm.Very insightful. I went to the link but it was in Italian and I couldn't see where I could read it in English.
Sorry, only in Italian
Submitted by kaunteya on January 30, 2007 - 6:38pm.I am sorry, as far as I know the original article is available only in Italian.
Your servant, Kaunteya Das
That is why we don't have confessions ...
Submitted by Non-registered Visitor (not verified) on January 31, 2007 - 4:09am.That is why we don't have confessions as such, it's much easier in Vaisnava tradition - whatever wrong you did just chant Hare Krishna and you will be freed. (even it's one of the ten offenses of the Holy Name we hope to come to stage where we will not commit sins hopping Holy Name will purify us)
I think it does make sense when religious people don't know about reincarnation - they think this life is the last (after which they go to heaven or hell forever) and they are very serious about making it right (according what pastors teach them) without hoping for another chance.
Devotees know about eternal life in material world and about power of the Holy Name. We don't have fear of hell, we know that even if we go to hell for sins, it's not forever, there will be another chance. Therefore we are more relaxed, we allow to ourself to do wrong things.
Hipocrisy the main problem
Submitted by Iksvaku dasa on January 31, 2007 - 10:32am.It has ben observed in the Catholic church (and in our Iskcon) that even though there may be an 'official' position re certain issues, still followers may or may not comply with them. Beyond the technicalities of an institutionalised approach to the problems of the world, it seems that the foundation is the individual acceptance (and/or understanding) of the spiritual principles.
It is common to find articles of this sort in known magazines.. I have seen a couple lately in Times and Newsweek ( I think) and they paint prettty much the same picture. However, we (Iskcon) also have had our share of wrongdoings and misunderstandings at times. Again, it comes down to individual sincerity. Although 'religions' may have to produce formal stands or opinions, when things are happening 'under the table', everything goes to the drain... Whether the priests give a unified set of instructions or not. This is mostly seen when priests themselves are unable to follow their principles. Once more, we also had similar situations.
In our case it is important that we take to the process seriously and understand the proper way to apply devotional service, otherwise it may be also 'a show' -as Srila Prabhupada warned. To reveal our mind in confidence is advised by Srila Rupa Goswami in the Nectar of Instruction. How seriously we take it, it may be up to us, but we need to understand that unless we (generalising) give up duplitious desires, we are stuck in our advancement. Srila Prabhupada often said that there is no room for hypocrisy. If we are unable to follow strictly we should admit it (to the Lord, to our guru, or to those whom we trust). Also we may have to adjust our act and our 'profile' in front of others. It may require a bit (or a lot of humility) to change but it may be the starting point of real transformation. After all that is the aim of any 'real' religion.
If we are to be researched, I guess that the outcome may depend on how honest we are re first, our own condition. And then -in that capacity-, to be able to help others (counsel, preach, etc). Hipocrisy looks bad in the eyes of God and the public as well.
Your servant, Iksvaku dasa.
English article link
Submitted by CCd (not verified) on January 12, 2008 - 11:20pm.This is the english article link in WP (USA)
link