Why do catholics have to confess to a priest? If you believe and accept god shouldn't that be enough?

Question

Why confess to a priest if you truly believe, accept and love god, isn't he all forgiving? Will he not forgive your sins because he can see in your heart?

Answer 1

You are correct. Ask a Catholic to present Biblical evidence for the doctrines and traditions they practice. They will not be able to support it. Christ is the only mediator between us and God. We are all sinners and have been alienated from God, and no mortal man can do anything to forgive us.

" So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13)

Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

Answer 2

I think it is based on the passage that says confess one to another. Priest are NOT Gods, there is only one God...

It is the way of the tradition the Catholics believe. Some truly do find comfort in confessing their sins one to another. We have a direct line to the Father, through His Son Jesus Christ.

We are to ask for forgiveness if we have sinned against our brother (fellow human). A brother (human) can forgive or not forgive. However, we are to ask God to forgive us of all sin, upon asking with a sincere heart, we are truly forgiven by the Father..

If the Catholics confess to a priest, so be it, they still have to confess with their tongue to God the Father and ask forgiveness, in order to be truly forgiven.

Answer 3

Catholics don't have to confess to a priest; they cannot take Holy Communion if they haven't been to confession and are contrite for their sins. Priests listen and give penance, only God forgives.

AS for paganism; have you ever seen a group of Holy Rollers writhing on the floor as though they are having epileptic seizures? Heard of those folks playing with serpents and the ones who regularly beat the 'devil' out of their children?Or people babbling like idiots , talking in ' tongues' and getting it off on the holy ghost? Why do Jehova Witnesses refuse blood transfusion, even if their child might die?

Man, those 'religions' make the confessional look pretty reasonable.

Answer 4

Confession is good for all Christians; Catholics simply go through a middle-man as opposed to confessing straight to God.

Confession, however, is very important for spiritual growth. To quote a passage from a book (it's a bit long, sorry):

"Confession is probaby the most neglected area in personal prayer today. ... We throw all of our sins onto a pile without so much as looking at them, and we say, "God, please cover the whole dirty heap."
This approach to confession, unfortunately, is a colossal cop-out. When I lump all my sins together and confess them en masse, it's not too painful or embarrassing. But if I take these sins out of the pile one by one and call them by name, it's a whole new ball game.
[For example] instead of admitting I had been less than the best husband, I would say, "Today I willfully determined to be self-centered, uncaring and insensitive. It was a calculated decision. I walked through the door thinking, 'I'm not going to serve her tonight. I had a hard day, and I deserve to have things my way.' I need your forgiveness for the sin of selfishness."
...
I don't think many of us Christians take confession seriously enough. If we did, our lives would be radically different. When you're totally honest about your sins, something happens. About the fifth day in a row that you have to call yourself a liar, a greedy person, a manipulator or whatever, you say to yourself, 'I'm tired of admitting that. With God's power, I've got to root it out of my life.'"

[Taken from "Too Busy Not to Pray" by Bill Hybels.]

Answer 5

1. Having someone trustworthy (a non gossiper) to confess to can be an emotional support and a mental health benefit.

2. Even protestants are encouraged by scripture to confess their sins one to another.

2. The Catholic practice results in some great jokes.

Answer 6

I used to be a protestant, but I converted to Catholicism. The reason we go to confession is because I am confessing to Jesus, not to the priest. Let me explain.

In the Bible, John 20: 21-23, Jesus gave the apostles the power to forgive sin, and to retain sin: '"Jesus said to them, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Recieve the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven, and whose sins you retain are retained."' This power and authority was passed down through through the centuries, known as apostolic authority. This is how the priests have to power to forgive sins. It is through this authority that is given to them by the Church, which was given to Her by Jesus Christ, that the priest can absolve my sins. When I go to confession, it is the Holy Spirit that forgives and absolves me of my sin. The priest, the man alone, without the Holy Spirit, cannot ever forgive me of my sins. Only the Holy Spirit can. So the priest, when working through the authority and power of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Church, is able to hear my confession and absolve my sins. Yes, I can pray to God by myself and ask for forgiveness, and I have faith that He will forgive me. I also know that to be forgiven, I have to be truly, perfectly sorry, which most times isn't the case. That's why I know that after I leave the confessional, I have been forgiven, without question.

I hope this helps to answer your question.

God bless,

Danny

Answer 7

It's ritual and tradition. It actually seems to work for some people because it causes them to do inward exploration about their behaviors. It also give them an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start over again by confessing and paying penance. If they confess sincerely and pay penance, their sins are forgiven. At least in their mind and really what else matters? They fool themselves about god so why not about confession.

Answer 8

They are deceived and also they have changed the word of God and days and times. A person confesses to God not to any man.For a man cannot forgive your sins only GOD.

Answer 9

Catholics do not confess to a priest -- they confess to God. The priest is a witness.


I bet you believe that Christians pray to Mary, too (they do not -- they ask her to pray for them -- much like you ask your grandmother to pray for you).

Learn the facts before you make any more idiotic statements.

Answer 10

According to the Bible, Jesus is our High Priest and the only one we need to confess to. Religions frequently hold tradition above Bible teachings in at least some areas.