Why do Catholics confess their sins to the Pope when he is just another sinful man. Shouldn't it be God?

Answer 1

The Bible says to confess our sins to each other.

James 5:16 - Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.

Acts 19:18 - Many of those who had become believers came forward and openly acknowledged their former practices.

Matthew 3:5-6 - At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him (John the Baptist) and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

Mark 1:5 - People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him (John the Baptist) and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

1 Timothy 6:12 - Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 John 1:9 - If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.

Numbers 5:6-7 - "Tell the Israelites: If a man (or a woman) commits a fault against his fellow man and wrongs him, thus breaking faith with the LORD, he shall confess the wrong he has done, restore his ill-gotten goods in full, and in addition give one fifth of their value to the one he has wronged."

Nehemiah 9:2 - Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all who were of foreign extraction, then stood forward and confessed their sins and the guilty deeds of their fathers.

Sirach 4:26 - Be not ashamed to acknowledge your guilt, but of your ignorance rather be ashamed.

The Catholic Church believes that "Only God forgives sin."

When a penitent person asks God for forgiveness, his (or her) sins are immediately forgiven.

Catholics also believe that when someone sins they not only hurt their relationship with God, they also injure the entire church, the body of Christ.

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation with a priest ordained in the name Jesus Christ not only reconciles the sinner to God but with the entire church, including you and me.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Catholics do not confess their sins to the Pope.

Confession occurs with a priest, who is a representative of God.

All Popes start out as a priests and may migrate up the ladder of
authority through bishop, archbishop, and eventually to a Cardinal.

It is the College of Cardinals that votes on candidates for Pope selected from their fellow cardinals.

Answer 3

Catholics do not confess their sins to the pope or to a priest. They confess their sins to God and they do so in the presence of a priest.

A priest is indeed another sinful human being. But he, like the person confessing, is trying to live a better life and get closer to God. He has also studied God's word and may be able to help the person confessing to better face up to, understand and make amends for their sinful behaviour.

It is very easy and very comfortable for me to confess my sins privately to God. It is much harder and much more uncomfortable to do so in the presence of another human being. I think that makes it more valid.

Christ said "Where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I". So confessing to God in the presence of another Christian - whether or not that person is a priest - confers a special blessing upon the action. It is through the fellowship in Christ - with our fellow sinners - that we understand and gain the strength to try to transcend our own sinful nature.

Why do alcoholics often achieve sobriety only through fellowship with other alcoholics? They look to a higher power to remove their alcoholism, and they recognise that they can do nothing alone.

Answer 4

Father K was thorough in giving the Scripture verses. It is true that in the early Church there were public confessions but as someone mentioned this cause scandal and the practice was started for private confession. It was always the priest or bishop that granted absolution through the authority given by Christ to the Church and is passed on through apostolic succession. this practice has nothing to do with the common belief of all Christians that Christ is the sole mediator between man and the Father as the priest in all Sacraments is acting in persona Christi. In Christ Fr. Joseph

Answer 5

I'm Catholic and I don't go to "Confession" I just pray to God at home.. I don't agree with the idea of confessing to a man either... he is a Priest but.. still a man so it's not going to get me anywhere as far as I feel.

So instead I just pray wherever I am.

I disagree with so many people here because I AM Catholic and I ONLY talk to God in fact I don't even like my local Priest.. he has a creepy feeling about him...

Jesus said God is everywhere, so I don't see why I need to tell my Priest my sins. God already knows I did them, and it is him I am sorry.

I ask many times why can't the Catholic church be reformed and it is, but it is taking a LONG time... my Bishop told me that because so many old people base there life around old ways of doing things you can't just send out a notice and cancel everything they depend upon.

Catholic church changes slowly because they are responsible for the spirituality of so many people so they don't want anyone to be discouraged by a fast reform.

Answer 6

I am Catholic and I have never even seen the pope. Further more, I dont confess my sins to any other church leader. Many Catholics will agree with me, that you can always confess to the good lord himself. But, for some, I guess its best to let it out to someone human, right?

Answer 7

I am Catholic and i can tell you that all people are that "people" . and i can tell you that alot of the things the church come from its past such as eating fish on Fridays. this was started to provide a income for fishermen. So I'm told we confess our sins to a priest who is a disciple. but do i relay believe that? what i do belive is that im being descriminated agents for my belifes. My son goes to a cathloc school and he has a good heart. look around you and you will see what i mean. our country was founded by religious men and they had sins to deal with but today our children are killing eachother for nothing. so we should be confessing to someone. and that someone is God. we should beg his forgivness for what we have done with the life he gave us.

Answer 8

They don't confess their sins to the Pope..

This is just an idiotic question.

Answer 9

jesus set uo his church the popes are run off through time representatives by leading just a bout best they can as he does. ifhteres a problem with a pope some time or percieved problem its cuase they are capable and have succeedded in failing through sin. now if you dont confess to like you say the pope or down the chain of the church like a priest is where it stops not a deacon or tv or telephone or internet, they are powerlessly nonauthoritative. jesus is through church and he said no one can get to father except through me forgiveness and communication telling you are sincerly sorry. dont worry about the true church christ is coming back for it its real worth confessing through. jc and the pope are married to it?.

Answer 10

I really don't understand it either. I always confess directly to God. I'm a really private person, so I'm not sure I would feel comfortable telling everything to someone else.

My guess is that people want a man who devotes his life to loving and serving God to intercede for them. I suppose there is nothing wrong with someone else praying for you. Where I think it gets problematic is when people think they can't go directly to God. Nobody is too sinful to be beyond God's power to forgive.