“CALLING ALL SINNERS”
Matthew 9:9-13,18-26
The Rev. Ms. Laurie A. McNeill
Montclair, New Jersey
June 5, 2005
A new avenue for confession now is available to anyone with a 4-by-6 inch postcard and a 23-
cent stamp. If we have an offense we would like to share, anonymously, PostSecret.com is willing to
hear our confession. Actually, it is more appropriate to say that the internet website is willing to see our
confession.
Penitent persons may craft a confession an a postcard and mail it to PostSecret. Their editors
screen the postcards and place them on its internet blog. With complete privacy, individuals may make
a confession. The blog facilitates a public airing of transgressions, of which there is a wide range:
–
I don’t care about recycling. (but i pretend i do.)
– I think my actor roommate is ugly and untalented.
– I got a parking citation and so did the car next to me.
I replaced the ticket on the car next to me with mine.
My ticket got paid. And the one I took? I mailed it to PostSecret.
– I sit in public and pretend to READ,
but I’m actually eavesdropping on YOUR conversation.
– I have loving families...Because I don’t have one.
The molded plastic casing of a computer functions as a hi-tech confessional booth. Internet
blogs receive personal confessions online. These confessions are a modern art form that span
categories both whimsical and poignant.
Visitors to the website have affirmed the cathartic benefit of the art on the PostSecret blog.
“Thank you so much for building a window into so many souls, even if it only shines light on the darkest
part.” “Each is a silent prayer of hope, love, fear, joy, pain, sorrow, guilt, happiness, hatred,
confidence, strength, weakness and a million other things that we all share as human beings...there is no
fakeness here.” (“Bless Me, Blog, For I’ve Sinned,” by Sarah Boxer, The New York Times,
5/21/2005, pp. E1, E8)
The notion that one may share a confession publicly, while at the same time concealing one’s
identity, is like having a court session where a jury reaches a decision of guilty, yet the judge imposes no
sentence. There is safety when making a confession this way. Enormous relief is to be gained by
admitting one’s culpability.
We experienced the power of confession on a national scale this week when W. Mark Feldt
revealed himself to be the mystery man who helped unravel the Watergate scandal. By confirming the
accuracy of the information uncovered by The Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl
Bernstein, Mr. Feldt effectively brought down the White House. The transgression of the No. 2 F.B.I.
official was of enormous consequence. His clandestine meetings in a Washington, D.C., parking garage
resulted in the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon.
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