Priests re-learning how to listen to sins

VATICAN CITY, March 6 (UPI) -- Catholic priests in Italy are taking a refresher confession course in what the Vatican says is an effort to bring sinners back to the confessional.

The number of people confessing their sins has declined, with some blaming the drop-off on actions of the priests hearing transgressions, the BBC reported Thursday. In fact, critics say, may priests simply can't cope with penitent Catholics and aren't necessary for the confessional process.

Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, leader the tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, told the British broadcaster the sacrament of confession was in a "serious state of difficulty."

The training developed by his department includes some role-playing of real-life examples involving non-traditional and traditional couples seeking absolution.

The latest available data indicates about 30 percent of Italian Catholics don't think it's necessary to have priests in the confession process while another 10 percent said they thought the priest's presence "impedes direct dialogue with the Lord."