[Married with Children]

If they would just go to the source and confess to God himself you can eliminate all of this nonsence.

[subterfuge]

Uh-oh. You've done it now. Your post will cause this thread to top 500 posts.

[bornacatholic]

http://www.scripturecatholic.com/confession.html

[Pyro7480]

Was Jesus lying when He said "Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained" (John 20:23). Besides, before the priest grants absolution, the confessor must say the Act of Contrition sincerely (Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all of my sins....), or the absolution is not effective.

[Gumdrop]

"this nonsense" is a poor term to describe the wonderful sense of peace and the graces that comes with a truly penitential confession. It requires a thorough evaluation of conscience and a firm resolution of remorse and resolve to overcome the sin in the future. Of course, we humans being flawed, mostly return to the bad habits we have, but I have found that the more frequently I go to confession, the easier it is for me to avoid my past sinful behaviors. So, you see, graces flow from a good confession; a sort of divine suit of armor against the forces of evil which try to control us by appealing to our weaker impulses.

Humbleness before God, and an admission of guilt as a sinner is the beginning of holiness.

[WriteOn]

But that wouldn't be scriptural.