Oswald Mallya
Oswald Mallya has just completed his Masters in Counselling. His dissertation is entitled: Will the Psychotherapist(s) eventually replace priest(s) as the physicians of the soul? The related question behind this research is to understand why some Catholics opt paying for the help of a psychotherapist instead of asking for spiritual direction from a priest who will welcome them free of charge. Why are some Catholics abandoning the Confession or the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which has been used as the
Sacrament of Healing by our Church for about 2000 years?
From those interviewed, the main reason mentioned is the issue of time. Basically, priests have no time to listen. They are too busy. Moreover, some of them are unfriendly or have an unapproachable character. Finally, the sacrament of reconciliation, in its actual form, does not allow people to share their inner self for lack of time. Oswald hopes to pursue his research once back to Serenje as parish priest.
John ITARU. M.Afr
My brother Oswald! Kida!
Let me say congrats for your dissertation. I am happy that you have touched a relevant study and in fact a need for the current issues especially in the Church. I was impressed by some comments of a group of lay people here in the Philippines when I wanted to know their reaction on the affirmation from your study that ‘priests do not seem to have time to listen’ to the people (Christians). One said, ‘Father, we are even told to hurry up in the confession during the holy week…..just to mention the sins…but myself as a married woman, I would like to talk to the priest more than mentioning my sins….it is for that matter I do not like to go anymore for confession unless I trust the priest…..’. I hope you will help us to be more listeners than……!