Other religions w/ confessionals?

I am Jewish. I do not know as much about the different branches of Christianity as I'd like. However, Judaism doesn't really have anything like a confessional, and whatever religion I make one of the characters in a story I'm writing, the religion needs to have a confessional. I could use Catholicism. The main reason I'm hesitant is because the character has a close relationship with his priest, which means I need to be able to try to describe his priest's home, etc, and I've heard that Catholic priests live in special places that aren't quite monasteries, but are closer to boarding houses than houses. So I'm trying to find a religion where the priest leads a decently typical life (although celibacy is still fine), but that still has a confessional, and preferably one that is common in families of eastern European or Mediterranean descent. Any ideas?

I don't know too much about Catholicism, but I think a lot of modern priests (at least in the US) live in normal houses. In older times they might have lived in the back or upper rooms of the church, but nowadays I believe the live-in Fathers are rare.

Yeah, I don't know where you picked up the 'Catholic priests live in special places' thing, but as far as I know, most priests just live in houses like the rest of us.

And for the rest, Catholicism perfectly fits your description: it has a confessional, is popular to the point of ubiquity in the Mediterranean, and allows for some... very close relationships with priests.

edited 25th Jan '12 2:58:23 AM by MidnightRambler

The priests I know do live in a house attached to the church property, one that also contains the parish office. Mainly I think it's because they get moved around every couple of years so it's just more convenient. They are supposed to avoid accumulating too much in the way of belongings, as well.

As far as a description of the house... just a regular house, but perhaps with some rooms designated as 'public' and used for church business. Say, a waiting/sitting room with some comfy chairs and an office downstairs, and the living quarters upstairs.

edited 25th Jan '12 2:55:51 AM by LoniJay

Midnight Rambler,

Gah, I didn't mean close like that! ...I guess I walked right into that, didn't I?

Loni Jay,

Thank you so much for your help!

I have an Anglican (High) and Methodist family background (it's weird, I know) - and a Baptist school thrown into the mix.

As far as the Anglican goes: some vicars do get parsonages (sometimes attached to the church, sometimes not). Most don't. Also, they're like many Rabbis and marry. And, in some parishes (area they're 'in charge of'), be female (other parishes hate that idea a lot). The closeness to their flock varies from vicar to vicar as well as from parish to parish. Confession isn't something that happens often, but there is scope for it in High Anglican rituals. It's just seen as something you don't really do. No need for it.

Methodist preachers and readers? Don't really stand out from the people they serve all that much in how they live. And, from the Anglican and Catholic standpoints, the services (and buildings) are Spartan, to say the least (but do have very comfy chairs, by and large. And, good strong tea afterwards). With the lessons and readings being very blunt and to the point. Music is big and enjoyable, but it's not like you get a whole service full of it like you can in High Anglican and Catholic circles (Sung Evensong, for example). Robust is the word for Methodism (and 'Low' Anglicanism), where intricate and embellished do for High Church and Catholicism.

Baptists are much like Methodists, but quite a bit more - um - touchy-feely. And very, very much louder. And you hang around longer singing. Good food, though. Communal eating is something that happens a lot.

Actually, the communal eating happens with all of them, depending on local likes and dislikes as to how. But, for a good, solid spread, go Methodist.

edited 25th Jan '12 8:57:58 PM by Euodiachloris

Oh, another thing - the sacrament isn't really called 'confession' anymore, it's called 'reconciliation'. My church (which is reasonably liberal Australian Catholic) doesn't use the confessional either; you just go and sit down with the priest in the Reconciliation Room.

These days priests are also a lot less likely to assign you arbitrary numbers of Our Fathers or Hail Marys as penance, I find.

All Roman Catholic and Orthodox priests and some Anglican priests will do the formal sacrament of confession with all the bells and whistles. Most Methodist and Baptist and Congregationalist priests are less formal with the sacraments.

Roman priests are forbidden to marry. Most priests in the other Churches are encouraged to marry and live with their families in a house near the Church. Anglican priests' homes are owned by the diocese, so when a priest is assigned to a different parish, the family moves. I guess the Other Churches would have similiar arrangements.

Roman and Orthodox Churches forbid priests to be women; most of the other churches permit priests to be women.

How often do priests have to move?

Depends heavily on the circumstances for most. In Anglicanism, if a parish council is happy with their vicar (and that vicar doesn't wish to advance within the church), they can keep them for what seems like forever.

I forget the exact length of Methodist rotations, but they're very regular. Off the top of my head, it's 7 years. But, I could be wrong.

EDIT: However, in all denominations, if there is a falling out between the 'priest' and the congregation (for whatever reason), movement happens often despite rotation schedules. With luck, pronto. Without luck, some idiot higher up delays to meet with rotation criteria - so the whole atmosphere within the church can sour badly in the interim. If extremely unlucky, the problem gets shelved for months if not years, should the issue not be seen as 'critical', despite the level of distrust amongst the congregation. Thankfully, that's less likely these days. It's got to be one of the most uncomfortable times in a church's life.

edited 26th Jan '12 11:23:41 PM by Euodiachloris

I don't know much about Catholicism in general, but I can try to describe the living quarters of nuns at a Catholic school if you want. I know the one I've been in wasn't used anymore, but… *shrugs*

Hm... sounds like Anglicanism / Episcopalianism might actually be my best bet. I forgot to consider priests moving locations.

edited 27th Jan '12 4:26:11 AM by Clevomon

Yes, probably. Specifically High Episcopalian or High Anglican, if you're looking to something with a parsonage and confessional set-up but (marginally) less strict than Catholicism. That, or Eastern Orthodox, but there are certain differences which are a bit harder to render faithfully if you don't know a lot about the faith.

edited 27th Jan '12 6:33:57 PM by JHM

Hm... I actually don't mind it being decently strict. The main character's family (and him as well) is supposed to be particularly sternly religious. Where is High Anglican / High Episcopalian practice common?

They're basically one in the same; Anglican is the original, British variety, while Episcopalian the American flavour.

So it would probably be, in effect, High Episcopalian, then. This could work pretty well. I noticed on a map when I was running a lookup that there are some Anglican churches in the Middle East, and so that can explain the Mediterranean origins of the family (and since I now have the origin of the family, I can finally choose a last name for them. Leaning toward Nazari now, by the way). I think this will work. Next step is to try to find some films that have good portrayals of Episcopalian families & churches (of course, there'll be a little artistic license, but it's a decent place to begin, anyway). Thank you so much for your help!

"Where is High Anglican / High Episcopalian practice common?"

Anglicans are common wherever Brits have been, America, Australia, India etc, about 1/3 each are High, Low, Liberal.

The whole church is called "the Anglican Communion", then each nation has its own branch, Church of England, Church of Ireland, Church of New Zealand etc; IIRC Protestant Episcopal Church of USA, Episcopal Church of Scotland, and Church in Wales are the only deviations from the Naming Convention "the Church of Placename"; likewise, the Churches of North and South India are the only deviation from the one Church per nation rule.

There are Anglican communities in the Middle East but not many http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Bishop_in_Jerusalem

"How often do priests have to move?"

Ball park Figures: the Priest is ordained age 25. He works as a deputy to more experienced priests until age 32 and moves through 3 parishes, then he is assigned a parish of his own and he stays there until age 60 when he retires unless he gets promoted.

Suppose by age 40, he shows a talent for singing or politics or healing or exorcism? The best political priest will get promoted and move to the better job. The best singing priest will be promoted to Precentor at the Cathedral. I have met one Priest who earnt a reputation as the best exorcist. He continued working in his own parish and the Bishop sent people who needed exorcism to his village. Maybe, some Bishops want their Exorcists to be close at hand and put them on the Cathedral staff?

edited 28th Jan '12 4:53:50 PM by Glyndwr