Confession in Catholicism?

Question

Isn't confession in a catholic church a sort of redemption vending machine.

After each confession, a person's moral record with god is cleared, he/she could go back to the world to break the 10 commandmants again,
i.e. until the next visit to the confessional box.

Shouldn't the church impose a limit, like speeding, etc, so that if say, there's been more than 10
moral infringements, the sinner will never gain entry to heaven. Just like having one's driving permit revoked for repeated traffic infringements.

It is much more sensible and functional. For it makes one think twice before committing any further sin which might bar one forever entry to god's domain in the event of non-compliance.

Answer 1

Then Peter approaching asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22)

Surely God will forgive us at least as many times as we are commanded to forgive others.

You are also leaving out a big part of the sacrament of Reconciliation. That part is contrition.

Contrition is sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Personally I feel that if someone has done something atrocious such as molesting a child or raping someone, they should not be given a chance...they knew it was wrong and did it anyway. If there is a god and he does let people like that into heaven I dont want to be there!! However you make a good point as I have always held the belief that if you can do anything you want as many times as you want and still be forgiven for it by god and the church then what is the point of even feeling sorry for your actions and where is the punishment for it...I have long held that that is what truly gives religious fanatics thier "holier than thou" attitude they have free reign to commit whatever sins they want because in thier mind god will forgive them if they accept him into thier heart no matter what...Isnt that the true attraction to religion? Unconditional forgiveness for any wrong doing as long as you believe in god. In the words of Bart Simpson..."I prefer a life of sin followed by a death bed repentance"...... I myself prefer a life without sin and dying knowing I did good and had to ask for no ones forgiveness being secure in the knowledge that I didnt use forgiveness as a get out of jail free card.

Answer 3

While I am Catholic and believe in confession, confession is not a "get into Heaven" free card. The power of forgiving sins belongs only to God, but He uses a priest as a tool. Catholics need to be sincerely sorry for their sin and try not to do it again or the confession is useless.

I have more of an issue with those who claim "to be saved". If all it takes to get into Heaven is to say "I have faith in Jesus, save me", what is the incentive for living a better life with kindness towards others, if they already have a key into Heaven?

Lots to debate on this topic. Would be good if someone more versed in Catholicism than I am could weigh in on this topic.

Answer 4

I don't think it's supposed to work like that. I remember some story about a woman who confessed to using birth control but said she would do it again. The priest wouldn't give her absolution because she told him she intended to commit that "sin" again. (Actually, I think this was on Law and Order or something, because a real priest couldn't discuss what someone confessed.)
In the end, allegedly God would know what the person does and it wouldn't matter if this person went to confession or not, would it?
Just remember, it's all nonsense anyway.

Answer 5

Confession, known also as the Sacrament of Reconciliation, for Catholics, is a repeatable sacrament. This is because yes, one does sin over and over -- but yes, God also forgives us, beginning the moment we are sorry.

Remember the Prodigal Son? The father was already waiting with open arms and doesn't act as though he really needs to hear the words of confession. Reconcilation is actually just the formal completion of the whole process - it is actualling referred to as a celebration.

Confessing to a priest, who represents the community as much as he represents God, ideally brings a person a sense of reconciliation and re-integration with the community. Sin is as much about alienation from community as from God and self. And certainly, someone not properly disposed to receive a sacrament, such as the person who repeatedly confessed about having sex with her boyfriend until she gave up, no doubt recognzes that he or she is not at the proper point of spiritual acceptance for the sacrament to have its intended effect.

Therefore, God is actually the "redemption vending machine." In the economy of grace, God is continually saving us each day of our lifes. Catholics don't believe they are "saved" as much as they believe they are continually BEING saved by God, through Christ.

Answer 6

It is more about being truly sorry and trying to be a better person. The church can't impose a limit because confession is private. It is more of a moral cleansing as opposed to a free pass.

Answer 7

Domestically, within Catholicism confession allows people not to be condemned by its members but continue worship. In Christianity domestic condemnation of a member or something or someone outside of Christian beliefs is quite common and ugly, not official of course . Christians enjoying to violate their own teaching Judge Not...in Orthodox Christianity confession is common procedure, but not the legislated obligation, and people confess.

Answer 8

That's the thing, people who confess to men, usually do not regret what they have done, the confess out of "religious responsibility" When a protestant confesses his sins to God himself, and repents of his sins, they try their best not to commit them again.

Catholics may not see the meaning of confessing their sins as a yearly activity they must do. how many actually tell the preist the real deal.

I had a friend tell me she kept confessing to the preist but she kept on having sex with her boyfriend, she stopped confessing, becuase it wasnt causing a change , she did not regrest her sins and did not repent from them, she merely confessed them to a man, just like she told me what she had done.

Answer 9

Well, this is the way God said it worked.

"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ" (Rom. 6:23)

And, you don't need a priest to confess you sins---you can ask for forgiveness from God, immediately. But with the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life, your "conscience", are immediatley convicted in yourself that you have sinned and you will want to ask for forgiveness.

Now, as far as the levels of sin and pennance thing----there are no levels for sin. A liar is lumped in together with the person involved in sexual perversion, and the murderer with the liar. Sin is sin. There is no venial sin versus mortal sin thing. The Bible says, "the wages of sin is death," period.

NOW, if you are advocating consequences for actions, punishment for continuing to sin, etc.----why do you think Jesus was betrayed, beaten, hung on a cross, and died for you? He rose again, though, giving us victory over eternal death, spiritual death-----the wages of sin.

Christ saved us from our own damnation. We just have to accept, believe, confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and make Christ Lord of our lives. He died for us so that we wouldn't have to pay anything for "non-compliance."

Answer 10

No one is pure except God. You shall confess to God alone. The church can't save anyone but God.