Catholic FAQ #3: Why must we confess our sins to a priest?

Monsignor Eric Barr, Episcopal Vicar for Clergy and Religious for the Diocese of Rockford, IL, responds to the frequently asked question - "Why must we confess our sins to a priest?"

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Confession
• Catholic
• Reconciliation
• Penance
• Monsignor Eric Barr
• Catholic Church
• Forgive
• Priest
• Priesthood

[tampabayismyhome]

Can a priest tell the cops some ones confession. If no one was hurt or abused. it was a crime for money, like stolen Check? please let me know. Me and my friend where talking about this the other day and i want to know who was right.

[BigGrinStudios]

@tampabayismyhome No. The sacramental seal is inviolable, and thus it is absolutely wrong for a confessor in any way to betray the penitent, for any reason whatsoever, whether by word or in any other fashion.

[isurrender2win]

Humility is the springboard for success....physical, emotional or spiritual. When I humbly admit I have done wrong, it lightens my step. To go a step further and ask forgiveness, breaks down walls...mine and others. My best relationships grow when I can practice this humility... especially my relationship with God. Every 4 weeks, I clean up my side of the street through reconciliation and it really works for me! Why? How? I don't have all the answers. That must be why it's called 'FAITH'

[BigGrinStudios]

@isurrender2win Beautifully stated. Thanks for sharing.

[caycug1]

Wow, how convenient. You can sit back and sensor all comments. That way, you aren't letting people with questions think for themselves. Typical of RCC to try to hide/cover up things, because then they will loose their sense of power over others.

[BigGrinStudios]

@caycug1 When people, like yourself, are open to honest dialogue as a means of making the truth known, we love to enter into the conversation. Most of the comments we receive are vulgar and filled with hate. We are not trying to hide anything, but rather are being prudent about what should and should not be posted. Are you an ex-Catholic speaking from experience? May God's peace and joy fill your heart today.

[BigGrinStudios]

@caycug1 Sorry that you see confession as "Catholic guilt tripping." It's actually a beautiful gift that celebrates God's mercy in an intimate way! You quote the Bible as if it is opposed to the Sacrament, but did you notice you had to add "(to God)" to make it work? Here are two verses to think about: James 5:16 & John 20:22-23. The Catholic Church has always believed that Jesus gave the Apostles the authority to forgive sins. If there wasn't something to that, why mention it in the Gospel?

[rghunnicutt]

@tampabayismyhome no, the confessional is sealed.

[JesusDiedforMe01]

You do NOT confess sins to a priest. You confess them to GOD directly through prayer. You dont need priests to intercede for you. I dont care how you try to justify it you catholics are DEAD WRONG. i used to be catholic but now 100% chrisitian. Going with the bible 100% and adding nor taking anything from it. Catholicism is a mix a chrisitianty and pagansim. There is NO biblical support for catholicism.

[lovencare62]

@ruipx It was an accident because they were playing. But at least the kids confessed the truth to the priest, and the sin(has forgiven and god knew exactly what had happened)

[bradleesargent]

@MRGV7373 What if I go and kill your father and mother? According to you, I don't need to confess that to anyone??? I can just confess the murder of your parents to God and he will forgive me and that's it.

[MRGV7373]

The early church never taught going to a priest for small sins, Go to the person you sinned against and confess. God will forgive any sins accept not coming to Him as your Lord and savior.

[ruipx]

My granfather, when he was a kid, was playing with his friend and one of them was pushed and fall, and for some reason it died. When the police start the interrogation the kids didn't want to say who it was because they realise that it was an accident and they didn't want just one to sufer all the consequences since they were playing all together. Then the priest had the excelent idea to put them all confessing. When he finished the confessions gone straight to the police and tell who it was.

[OutsidedaBoxNFP]

@mollypop54321 "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." ~ James 5:16

[mollypop54321]

If you commit a sin, all you have to do is tell God that you are sorry. If you did someone wrong then apologize to them too. But ones sin doesn't need to be forgiven by a person who doesn't have anything to do with it. It's between God and the person who committed the sin. Jesus shed his blood for your sins, when he died on the cross. You Catholics need to read the recover version of the Bible. I love Jesus!!! Oh, lord Jesus!!!

[OutsidedaBoxNFP]

@sassylassy01 "If we say, 'We are without sin,' we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, 'We have not sinned,' we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." ~ 1 John 1:8-10

[sassylassy01]

How disrespectful. There is NO SUCH THING as CHEAP Grace. Ugh... Why do I bother to look at these catholic vids. ...if you truly knew the love of God and were really close to him? Grace, Mercy, and love are freely given and freely received. I was forgiven the day I accepted Jesus and being a new creature in Christ I don't sin. You can not be a sinner and a new creation in Christ at the same time.