Short Story

The Confession

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for MLMM Monday Wordle #459.
Our prompt words this week are: front,
thrum, mix, echo, memory, fear, think,
hold, mass, never, ready, and late.
Here’s where the prompt words took me.

Image by Me & Copilot

Father Francis stood at the front of the empty church, the memory of the day 18 years ago when he took his vows. It had not always been easy but he kept his covenant with God sacred; now his commitment was being tested like never before.

The mass had ended hours ago and it was getting late, yet he remained, paralyzed by worry, uncertainty and fear. One word from him could alter years of deceit, shame and grief.

“Think, man”, he whispered, a loud thrum pounding in his ears. “Hold it together and think this through.”

But the echo of that woman’s confession haunted him …. a crime he was bound by sacred oath to keep secret, though innocent lives hung in the balance. His vows commanded silence but his conscience screamed otherwise.

“Are you ready, Francis?” Monsignor Bouchard’s voice from the doorway startled him.

“Ready? For what?” he asked.

“To do what’s right. I heard the woman; these old walls carry sound, you know. When we mix our duties with our humanity, we walk a fine line. It’s burdensome, but now you must choose.”

Father Francis met the monsignor’s knowing gaze. Perhaps some secrets were never meant to be kept.


NAR©2025
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This is “Take Me To Church” by Hozier

MLMM Monday Wordle #450

All text and graphics are copyright for Nancy Richy and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

39 thoughts on “The Confession”

  6. A priest cannot report a crime confessed to them because they are bound by the Seal of Confession, which is a sacred and inviolable obligation not to disclose what they hear in the sacrament. Breaking this seal is considered a grave offense and can lead to automatic excommunication. While priests cannot report the crime, they are allowed and expected to encourage the person confessing to confess to the authorities, turn themselves in, or make amends. Nice story, Nancy.

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    1. Thank you, Jim. Your information is spot on, as usual. Now, suppose the confession revealed that the person found guilty of the crime of murder is actually innocent and serving a life sentence with no hope of early release. Let’s take that one step further; the woman who made her confession is the actual killer. That is a tremendous burden for a priest to carry. There are criminals who confess their sins just to get them off their chest with no real sincerity behind the confession. They know the priest cannot refuse them absolution nor can he turn them in to the police. The priest absolves them and they are free to leave and sin again. Maybe even kill again. That certainly doesn’t sound right to me. Perhaps it is time for some of the archaic laws of the priesthood to be changed.

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      1. Religion as a whole is a big mess, as there are countless religions and denominations, each with its own unique beliefs, practices, sacred texts, histories, and cultural contexts and every religion wants you to believe that they are telling you the truth. No religion is based on facts, and it is entirely up to each individual’s personal perspective, faith, and philosophical views as to what story they will believe.

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          1. Just a small theological correction,,. If a penitent is not truly remorseful for their grievous sin they are not forgiven even if the priest gives them absolution. I think it is highly unlikely a killer would confess their murder to a priest even though they know a priest is not permitted to tell anyone. The priest however would tell them to hand themselves into the police . A priest cannot give absolution if they know the penitent is not remorseful and is going to continue to commit the same grievous sin. Priests are human and are lied to. Also they cannot give the sacraments if they know the person is in a state of grievous sin. If they do so they themselves are guilty of a grievous sin.

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            1. Thank you for this information, Rall. It’s wonderful to open a discussion on this topic. Still, we must bear in mind that this is a work of fiction and the storyline must be taken with a grain of salt.

              While it is true that a priest can refuse to absolve sins if the penitent lacks sincere contrition or a firm purpose of amendment to stop sinning, it’s impossible for anyone (even a priest) to know without a doubt if a person is being totally sincere. That is a judgement call reserved solely for the Almighty.

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  9. A great story Nancy, and a very thorny one too.

    Its like these solemn paths that bind priests and doctors…. A trials sent to totally try us. They say he never gives us more to cope with with than we can manage…. Sometimes I wonder, don’t you?

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    1. No, Willow. I’m sorry to say I don’t believe that any longer. How some people are expected to put one foot in front of the other despite the horrors in their lives is beyond me.
      I didn’t expect my story to lead to such a discussion but since it has, I have to say it’s long overdue for the laws of the priesthood to be changed, starting with allowing priests to marry and for women to enter the priesthood.
      Thanks for sharing your thoughts as well as the video.

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      1. yes indeed the rules are archaic.. A married Priest or Nun could do the job as well… We have non Catholic female priest my niece in law is one.

        As for God never giving up more than we can cope with….. It’s tosh! Bless it’s good to open up conversation. 💜💜💜

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        1. I was raised Presbyterian before converting to catholicism (long story). Our pastor was a married man whose wife was the head of our religious ed program. They were wonderful people, good christians who were excellent examples and advisors to their congregation. It was a lovely, wholesome upbringing. If I ever decide to go back to church, it will not be as a Roman Catholic.

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