John Cornwell, Archbishop Nichols and Confession

I havejust read an interesting account of the response of Archbishop Nichos to a John Cornwell on the subject of Confession. Cornwell a well known novelist claims that he was the victim of child abuse in the Confessional and is calling for an end to childhood confessions. Archbishop Nichols ignores this and instead cals for an examination of the decline of Confession. I know that at Westminster Cathedral there is always confession for those who wish and have indeed gone to Confession there. But again what happened to Confession in the Portsmouth. Now here there is a Uriah Heap approach to the subject. In order to consolidate the Revolution in the seventies stories were circulated about how Catholics children were filled with the fear of Hell, grew up guilt ridden, and God was seen as a fearsome avenger. Confession was indeed for those who let sin upset them. Traditionally for decades there was the Saturday morning Mass followed by Conession and this was well attended but he reformers came to the conclusion that there was too many important things to do on a Saturday morning in the Parish so the Mass and Confession was abandoned for the more important things. As in all things there was no consultation with the parishioners for the gang who ruled were the `experts`. But confession was available just prior to the Saturday evening Mass for about half an hour. What generosity, what care for people`s souls. Yet, rubbingh their hand like Uriah Heep they elders rued the decline in Confession. (I must tell you about the elders some other time, it is a hilarious story). But what about John Cornwell and his claim to abuse. I am sure he was. There is in my parish and in many others one of those little reconciliation rooms which has replaced orthodox confessionals. I know a priest who insisted the door was left open when a child came into the room he was really afraid at he time the abuse scandal was at its height. I have in the past pointed out the dangers of this room to children but despite all the child safety measures complaints froma Roman Catholic does not have a high priority with the elders.