[RnMomof7]

Actually I do not have a HUGE problem with the IDEA of confession.. I do take the admonition seriously that we are to confess our sins to one another. I think that we need to go to one we have sinned against and confess.

My "problem " with confession as practiced in the church are two fold .

First that the sin to be forgiven must be forgiven by the priest..but I do understand the RC believe he represents God..so in a representitive way I can live with that. But I think that the greater call is to confess to the offended and to forgive those that have offended you

My biggest problem is with penance.....

I believe that Christ paid for my sins..there is nothing I can do to pay the price..so to make absolution contingent on the completion of the penance looks like an attempt to pay the price for my own sin.

That is a price I could never pay ...one already paid on the cross.

I do not believe that confession is a matter of salvation one way or the other as long as the person understands that it is Christ not the priest that judges and forgives

[Not gonna take it anymore]

Your sins are forgiven when the words of absolution are spoken, however, temporal punishment remains. Penance is imposed by the confessor to make atonement for the temporal punishment. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains: “Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused. Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must ‘make satisfaction for’ or ‘expiate’ his sins. This satisfaction is also called “penance.’” (CCC 1459)

[Not gonna take it anymore]

Actually once the sin is forgiven it stays forgiven whether you do the penance or not.