Case LX: Feigning Scrupulousness in Confession

Case.—At a mission a female penitent confesses to one of the missionaries, and ad sextum she mentions that she includes everything, but that her regular confessor had forbidden her to go into details for the reason that he was convinced that her offences were only imaginary and due to scrupulousness. However, having listened to a sermon on invalid confessions, she had become troubled about the matter and feared that not everything was as it should be. Hence, she thought, she had better ask the advice of the missionary. In answer to some questions she admits that she had reason to think that she had simulated scrupulousness, partly because ashamed to state the facts, and partly “to get off easy,” as she puts it. The missionary decides that she must now tell him the full facts so that the past might be done with for good.

Question.—Is the decision correct?

Solution.—The decision is correct because it is connected with a mission, therefore with a general renovation. Also because, as a matter of fact, it happens that some penitents, especially women, simulate scrupulousness, and persist in it for a long time, to obtain leniency. While such a penitent makes confession, the confessor should be most kind, because such penitents need often a great deal of persuasion to come out with the full truth. However, when the penitent is through with the confession, the confessor may deem himself justified and in duty bound to talk very seriously and even severely to such a penitent.