Following The Truth: Confession – Is It Still Necessary? (Catholic or Open)

CE.com ^ | July 28th, 2009 | Gary Zimak

[Bobsvainbabblings]

Of course I can forgive you. And of course, I must forgive you however difficult that might be — depending on circumstances.

What circumstances would preclude you from forgiving the sin?

But can you forgive yourself?

No need to, it has no effect.

Can God forgive you for the damage that you might have done to my reputation? Etc.?

God can, and will, forgive me when I ask because I loosed that sin by asking you for forgiveness.

You stated you can and must forgive sins when asked. How does your ability to forgive sins differ from the ability to forgive sins given to the apostles?  

May God lead us all to His truth, BVB
 

Of course I can forgive you. And of course, I must forgive you however difficult that might be — depending on circumstances.

What circumstances would preclude you from forgiving the sin?

But can you forgive yourself?

No need to, it has no effect.

Can God forgive you for the damage that you might have done to my reputation? Etc.?

God can, and will, forgive me when I ask because I loosed that sin by asking you for forgiveness.

You stated you can and must forgive sins when asked. How does your ability to forgive sins differ from the ability to forgive sins given to the apostles?  

May God lead us all to His truth, BVB
 

[Biggirl]

It is important to have BOTH the unity of faith and a “personal” relationship with the Lord.

[SkyDancer]

So, if you’re not a priest you’re not called of G-d?

[SkyDancer]

Not wanting to seem argumentative but if you can’t get there and they can’t come to you then even if you confess your sins outside the Confessional they’re not forgiven because it wasn’t absolved by a priest?

[SkyDancer]

BTW - I believe G-d already knows your sins. It’s up to the individual to acknowledge them. That’s where the forgiveness comes in.

[bjcoop]

Everyone has a calling. The priest’s calling is God’s will in a different way which involves forgiveness of sins under his authority.

[bjcoop]

There are exceptions to this which are mentioned in the Catholic Catechism.

[bjcoop]

Those questions are answered in the Catechism. I encourage you to read it before you make your assumptions and merely denounce it as a “very poor stance”.

[SkyDancer]

I have no problem with that. I just remember reading that there is one G-d and one mediator between G-d and men, the man Yashua. 1 Timothy 2:5

I respect the fact that there are other Christians who have their beliefs. I just request they honor mine. In the end it's what's in your heart when you come to G-d for forgiveness, those sins He already knows but wants you to acknowledge them.

[stonehouse01]

The veil is torn - it opened the path.

We cannot go boldly ....

We remain in a fallen world.

[stonehouse01]

Yes! and the man Yashua gave his grace out to the priests - why?

Because we are fallen men (humankind).

We must go through a man (alter Christus) because we are not there yet.

[stonehouse01]

I agree - yet the new catechism is dreadful.

[Salvation]

Chuckling. Just because I might forgive you, does not mean that God also forgives you. Here are some links about the Sacrament of Penance. Open some and read them to find out the truth.

Contraception: The Reason Catholics Have Abandoned Confession
Penance and Reparation: A Lenten Meditation(Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)

Helping Penitents To Achieve True Conversion
Selling Confession
The Sacrament of Penance: (also known as "Confession" or "Reconciliation") [Catholic Caucus]
The Sacrament of Healing: Perfect and Imperfect Contrition [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Confession (Catholic Caucus)
Part 3 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Why do I have to confess my sins to a priest? [Catholic Caucus]
The Same Old Things.
Importance of Confession During Lent - Making a Good Confession
Need for Annual Confession - (is it necessary?)
Around the clock Confession to take place in New York City
Friday Fast Fact: Friday Penance
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Two: Channels of Grace, Penance
[Catholic Caucus] Confession – Is It Still Necessary?
Confession to God Alone? Scripture Alone?
Pope: There's an Answer to Empty Confessionals [Catholic Caucus]
Pope alarmed by decline in confessions
Part 2 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Church’s symbols help explain penance [Catholic Caucus]
Part 1 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Jesus placed great value on forgiveness [Catholic Caucus]
Confession Questions >From the Pew [Catholic Caucus] Introduction to 10 Part Series
Part 1 of 10: Sacrament of Penance, Jesus placed great value on forgiveness [Catholic Caucus]

Beginning Catholic: The Sacrament of Reconciliation: Rising Again to New Life [Ecumenical]
It’s Confession Time (Dioceses Nationwide Promoted the Sacrament of Penance This Lent )
Why do I have to confess my sins to a priest?
Why do Catholics have to confess their sins to a priest instead of praying straight to God? [Ecu]
When did confession to a priest start? [Ecumenical]
Confession, Confession Everywhere (Cardinal Says Youth Day Is Reviving the Sacrament)
In One Church, Confession Makes a Comeback (Catholic Caucus)
Priests should encourage recovery of Sacrament of Reconciliation
A Gift That is Always in Season (Sacrament of Penance) Catholic Caucus
The Epidemic and the Cure [The Sin of the World and the Sacrament of Reconciliation] (Confession)

Confessional Advice
Thinking Inside the Box: An Attitude for Confession
MORTAL SIN and HOLY CONFESSION - The Antidote of Death
A Comeback for Confession
What You [Catholics] Need to Know: Penance (Reconciliation, Confession) [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Confessing to 'sins' is booming in America (Evangelicals and Protestants take up practice)
Emerging Trends: The Return to the Confessional
Get Thee To A Confessional! (beautiful insight for those who dread going to Confession)
CONFESSION AND CONFUSION
Salvation: Just click and confess

MESSAGE FOR ALL CATHOLICS (in preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday - April 15)
Pope Hears Confessions of Youth
Priests say more Catholics returning to confession
Confession’s Comeback
Repentance and Confession - Introduction [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Catholics called from the idiot box to confession
Benedict XVI Extols Sacrament of Penance - Says Priests Need to Make It a Priority
The Early Church Fathers on Confession / Reconciliation - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
What happened to confession – Changing mores reflective of use
The Spiritual and Psychological Value of Frequent Confession

Pick a sin, any sin (Confession gone awry)
St. Ephraim the Syrian: On Repentance
Serious about God? Then get serious about confession
Lesson 20: Confession (Part 2) BY FATHER ROBERT ALTIER
Lesson 19: Confession (Part 1) BY FATHER ALTIER
Reasons for Confession [Sacrament of Reconciliation]
Holy Week Recovers Celebration of Penance (at St. Peter's Basilica) - photos!
Those in Mortal Sin Can't Go to Communion, Says Pope
Make a Good Confession
[Sacrament of]Confession

[Salvation]

Please look up the definition of a perfect Act of Contrition.

[SkyDancer]

Written by the Vatican. I’m a Messianic Jew. I don’t read or need Catholic literature to inform me on how to worship Yashua.

[Salvation]

Please look up the definition of a perfect Act of Contrition.

[SkyDancer]

Sorry, but Huh?

[Salvation]

Here are only three of the 55 entries about the Sacrament of Penance in the Catechism of the Catholic Church

1480 Like all the sacraments, Penance is a liturgical action. The elements of the celebration are ordinarily these: a greeting and blessing from the priest, reading the word of God to illuminate the conscience and elicit contrition, and an exhortation to repentance; the confession, which acknowledges sins and makes them known to the priest; the imposition and acceptance of a penance; the priest's absolution; a prayer of thanksgiving and praise and dismissal with the blessing of the priest.

1446 Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification. The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as "the second plank [of salvation] after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace."

1491 The sacrament of Penance is a whole consisting in three actions of the penitent and the priest's absolution. The penitent's acts are repentance, confession or disclosure of sins to the priest, and the intention to make reparation and do works of reparation.

[SkyDancer]

I’d be interested in your or your church’s definition of sin.

[Salvation]

Check here:

http://www.catholicreference.net/index.cfm?letter=S