[LurkingSince'98]

actually if you read back thru the 2nd and 3rd century Apostolic Fathers they did confess their sins to one another - BUT they had certain unscrupulous persons in the flock who used those sins publicly confessed against the penitent.

To avoid this abuse the Bishops of the 2nd or 3rd council voted to have confession privately to the presbyters.

Now you may not accept the validity or authority, but that is how it came down to us today in the church.

For the Greater Glory of god

[Elsie]

To avoid this abuse the Bishops of the 2nd or 3rd council voted to have confession privately to the presbyters.

And that solved the problem: Cool!

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Thanks for the explanation. It doesn’t overrule God’s instructions in His Word, but it at least explains how the train went off the track.