And, I am not disputing whether or not we as believers should or should not confess sins to each other. Clearly, James 5:16 says as much. BUT, the difference is that we are confessing for edification, NOT to gain the official stamp of approval.
Besides, how many times have you heard a “good” Roman Catholic say, “it’s ok if I get drunk and screw around, I can go to confession.” Do Roman Catholics believe that there must be REAL repentance? That lies at the heart of my serious concerns about the Roman system; it seems to me that no one cares what you BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART about Christ Jesus, rather, as long as you do an item on a long checklist, you are good to go. Do you think God is honored by cold ritualistic activity? I don’t.
I am 75 and I have never heard a "good" Catholic say that....nor would anyone who said that be a good Catholic. The most important factor in absolution through the Sacrament of penance or reconciliation as it is now called, is total and sincere repentance and a firm, honest intention to not repeat the offense....anything else is just a mechanical meaningless ritual....
Any 7 year old preparing for their First Confession knows this. Repent means you're sorry and you promise --- with the help of God's grace --- --- not to do it again.
There is not a single syllable in the billions of words written by Catholic authorities, Popes, bishops, priests, theologians, spiritual writers, or saints, in the entire 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church, that encourages cold ritualistic adherence to rules.
Just so you know.
I don't personally know any practicing Catholics who think that way. Think how embarrassing it would be to have to tell that to a Priest. It's an incentive to not to do it in the first place, but the primary reason to not sin should be love of God. I don't think a confession is valid if you don't have right intention and true contrition.
Not nearly so much as someone smiling over "once saved always saved" after snorting a few lines of coke before leaving the whore house.