Yes it is getting harder to do parody. Here is another instance of Prophetic Parity. First the real news story.
Terry Brown
From: Herald SunSINFUL drivers can repent on the run with the opening today of Australia’s first drive-through confessional.
The pray-as-you-go service is to become slicker, with a sin-selection board to be installed by Easter and a smartphone app on the way.
South Melbourne Catholic priest Fr Bob McGuire said yesterday that the move brought the church up to speed with modern life.
“Everybody drives past this place but no one comes in,” Fr McGuire said.
“Now they can stop at the window, open their window and confess their sins. Then I’ll reassure them that they’ll be right.”
Do you think the drive-through confessional is a good idea? Tell us below
The 60-second car wash for the soul includes a symbolically refreshing spray of rose water.
A flashing green light will signal when a driver’s sins have been forgiven. “When you’re driving out you’ll be clean as a whistle,” Fr McGuire said.
The seven cardinal sins – lust, gluttony, greed, laziness, wrath, envy and pride – will be numbered on a sign, Chinese menu-style.
Father Z has comments.
This is treating Confession like a joke.
This is Father McGuire – what the heck is he wearing? Not exactly a purple stole.
A picture of Father McGuire in action with his sprayer.
On 7 September 2009 Maguire announced on his blog that he had been contacted by church authorities and asked to tender his resignation on his upcoming 75th birthday. He replied with a public announcement that he would leave the decision of whether he should stay or go to his congregation.
His bishop wrote a column on why McGuire must retire, yet ended up leaving him in the parish till 2012 with the resulting public outcry. What he is doing now goes beyond embarrisment and must be stopped by Archbishop Hart.
Now for my previous parody:
The question though is what is the best method to get American to frequent the confessional? In this fast food culture maybe we could appeal to a fast food idea like drive thru confession. I propose a new company called Jiffy Shriven after the Old English term to go to confession.
Here would be my logo.
And a sample drive thru.
And to easily remind people when to return to confession, the following sticker could be placed on the driver side windshield.
While your there they could also check your holy water font or holy water bottle level to see if more fluids need to be added. Though you won’t have to worry about them trying to hawk other sacrament while there. You won’t hear “I noticed you are not looking so well. We can give you final unction as part of a package deal.”
12 comments
You know… it’s in person, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be valid. I really have a hard time criticizing anything that might actually increase the number of people making valid confessions. Who knows how many might come to this nutjob for the novelty, and end up returning to the practice in their own parish? Nah, can’t get my knickers in a twist about this. It’s still miles closer to the intent and form of confession than the plague of ‘general absolution’ penance services.
Kate, I didn’t say it was invalid. And if you use the number of people it helps argument you must add the number of people turned off by this and seeing confession as a joke. We have no idea which way people will respond. The whole water sprayer thing and the joking way the priest talks to those who drive up is scandalous. Just because good might result is no excuse to do this when there are much better ways to promote confession.
Some priests miss the cue to retire.
I love the sticker idea, but all the other parts, blech. I value REVERENCE and so does Jesus.
Shades of the Rev Will B. Dunn in the old Kudzu comisc strip by Doug Marlette!
Hey Jeff! “IT” really does work cause I’ve tried “IT” today, NOW, all my sins are in limbo waiting for that heavenly bleach spray which keeps atheist from pulling your leg so you won’t get UP SET if you know what I mean?
APRIL FOOL
God Bless Peace
Steal car–> Drive-by Shooting –> Drive-thru Confession –> Ditch Car.
What could possibly go wrong with this idea?
On the other hand, people might mix it up w/ the bank line and drop off cash. Could do a lot for that parish building fund.
I think you had better go to Byzcath as should Fr Z to see that this was an April Fools Day trick-to get people thinking though .It perhaps shows that the media and some priests were taken in.
good old Aussie humour. an Englishman, an Anerican,aNew Zealander,a South african and a Canadian were all at a party.
The Aussie tells a joke:
The Englishman immediately laughts his head off
The New Zealander quietly laughs and nods
The south African thinks he understands it
The Canadian says ” yes I get it”
Whilst the American says ” I do not understand it”.
I rest my case
The date of the story was: 1 April 2011
Doesn’t the sticker violate the seal of confession by listing the last confession? In case of mortal sin but no danger of death, I was under the impression that the penitent was to wait for the next regularly scheduled confession time rather than “immediately” (so as not to bother the priest at 2am).
It turns out the story was an April Fool’s joke. Thank heaven for that! I at first thought that was the most demeaning thing that a priest could do to that sacrament of reconciliation. Guess we should have realized that it was all a prank. Whether you find the prank funny or sacrilegious is another matter…
I am with Matthias. Also the priest in question is well known for courting the media, and treading a very fine line but not (generally)crossing it. Perhaps also it is a cultural thing.