The Emerald Isle turns on her Church

Coming soon to a country near you. Under the guise of "protecting children" and to ensure reporting of abuse, Blarney Stone Bullies are looking to crack the seal of the confessional.
I'm wondering if these people are considering the ramifications of what they're seeking. Breaking that seal will lead people to NOT confess things, therefore negating it's intent. The other issue, lost in the emotional response of prosecuting the perverts and those who covered for them, is that once this seal is broken, the STATE will not "limit" their intrusion into abuse. As the STATE always does, you can be sure it will expand it's reach. Soon, nobody will confess anything.
Read all about it:
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2011/07/15/ireland-attacks-confessional-secrecy-after-catholic-sex-abuse-scandal/

While the crickets chirp away...

The Curt Jester had a post on New Year's Day about which Holy Day of Obligation is the most neglected, which led to some interesting discussions in the ComBox.
http://www.splendoroftruth.com/curtjester/archives/2009/01/feast-with-the.php

This cartoon was sparked recently when I heard a priest lament that only 37 people showed up for the Advent Penance Service. On a regular Sunday, I think we get upwards of 1000-1500 people for our 2 masses. I may be overshooting it a bit. So the 37 number was pretty sorry.

But in my 10 years back, I can count on one hand when I've heard a priest specifically mention something being a sin. And I think I can further count on this one hand while one finger is stuck in my ear. Abortion? Once. Birth Control? Once. Homosexuality? Once. The Big Three in our culture today, and I've heard them specifically mentioned probably just once each. And that's misleading, because the abortion and birth control issues were raised in one homily - by a transitional deacon, no less. (As a side note, I ran into this deacon the following week and told him that he hit a home run with his homily - he actually had tears in his eyes. My guess, and it's only a guess, is that he was probably upbraided for being so bold.)

If, in today's Church, practically NOTHING is a sin, then what exactly would need to be confessed? God loves everyone, He's never mad about what we do, and everything "bad" we do can be reasoned away with buckets full of Oprah & Dr. Phil psychological babble.