Why do Catholics have to confess their sins to priest?Can't you just pray directly to God and ask for forgivness. Please tell me where I can find this in the bible.
2007-03-15 06:55:07 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's so the priests can get some fresh ideas for what they can do on a saturday night
2007-03-15 06:58:24 · answer #1 · answered by rosbif 6 · 1⤊ 5⤋
There's a difference between God's forgivness (which is the ultimate forgiveness) and the sacrament of reconciliation.
Forgiveness comes from God and God alone, and most Catholics will say that you can be forgiven without going to the sacrament of reconciliation. (I personally believe this, but shhhhh, don't tell some of my previous professors!) If it wasn't so, how could God be all-loving? The priest's job is to only represent God. I wish it was a representation that would be extended to others of the community, but that won't happen for a while, if ever.
So why receive the sacrament? We human beings have needs. We need to hear someone say "you are forgiven." We sometimes need to hear some words of guidance. And we often need to verbally express what we have done wrong to "get it off our chests."
The sacrament of reconciliation (which is about more than just confession) is a healing experience. It's a chance to say "yeah, I really screwed up and I know it. I'm sorry and I will do my best not to do it again." In some ways, you can think of the priest as representing the community and accepting your apology. (Unless, of course, you really want to get up in front of everyone and talk about your sins. I personally couldn't do it.)
2007-03-15 06:58:48 · answer #2 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Why do Catholics have to confess their sins to a priest?
I'll tell you why, because they are practicing commandment of men which is totally void of the truth of God.
Catholicism teaches that the priest is a mediator between God and man but, the Bible recognizes only one mediator.
No unclean person can enter God's kingdom Do you think the Pope and his goons can clean you with your sins?
RCC Catechism admits that these are not instructions from God, but traditions of men.
2007-03-16 13:56:48 · answer #3 · answered by House Speaker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a catholic, so i think that gives me the rights to answer since i have expierence with it.
You confess to a priest because it's not unlikely you'll actually get the chance to confess to a bishop, archbishop, a cardnial, or the pope.
Why not just pray? because if you can't tell someone of the church because you're too embarassed, or you think its none of thier business, it means the devil is near, and you're following him more than god. God doesn't care, he lets you chose. God doesn't hate. and you don't even have to go face-to-face. The priest doesn't have to know who you are. and Priests are Sworn to secrecy. No one else will know your sins. it's really not bad. I always feel alot better after confession, but trust me, i have asked myself the same thing, why not just pray.? but when you just pray, its not the same, like the thoughts of the sins are still lingering in your head, and i personally think its better to confess to a preist so you don't have to worry about your sins anymore.
2007-03-15 10:01:29 · answer #4 · answered by kat 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You can find it in:John 20:21-23
Jesus gives the Apostles the authority to forgive sins or retain them.
This authority is passed on to priests through the apostolic succession.
You can pray directly to God, but you would need to have perfect contrition when you do so. Most of us don't...most of us find ourselves back in sin.
Confessing to a priest who has the authority, through Jesus Christ, to absolve sins is an amazing experience. People have no problem with Priests marrying or baptizing...they seem to understand the authority that goes with that...but some how don't like the idea of confession. Why?
I guess because it's embarrassing...it's a lot easier to keep it tucked away. It's difficult to say our sins out loud...mostly becasue when we hear them ourselves they are painful.
The Sacrament of Confession is totally biblical and in no way goes against any of the teachings of Christ.
2007-03-15 07:09:42 · answer #5 · answered by Misty 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
John 14:6 Jesus replied, "i'm the way and the fact and the existence. no person involves the father different than with the aid of me. Matthew 18:20 For the place 2 or 3 have amassed mutually in My call, i'm there of their midst. Matthew 18:19 "returned, I inform you that if 2 of you in the international agree approximately something you ask for, it will be achieved for you by my Father in heaven. James 5:sixteen subsequently confess your sins to one yet another and pray for another so as which you would be healed. The prayer of a righteous guy is effectual and effectual. So, no you are able to no longer circulate to God and confess your sins with out dealing with Jesus, and Jesus tells us that it takes 2 people, no longer in basic terms one individual confessing their sins quietly to Him. Confession meets the standards that Jesus provides us, in that 2 each and every person is inquiring for the forgiveness of the confessors sins. In that subject, unlike your subject, Jesus is quite modern, and what's asked is granted when you consider that that's what He promised. There are extra factors to be made touching directly to this subject, yet i'm no longer in the prepare of typing partitions of textual content cloth.
2016-10-02 04:21:52 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not in the Bible - it is in the Catholic Cathechism.
One thing that supposedly occurs is that you get back "in good" with the Catholic Church if you confess to a priest.
Another intersting point is that lay Catholics can bless anything except people, that is reserved for the priests also.
2007-03-15 07:02:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is not written anywhere in the bible. You are forgiven of your sins by the blood of Jesus not some priests prayers. I confess my sins to God and pray for forgiveness from God through Jesus not to through some priest.
2007-03-15 07:14:11 · answer #8 · answered by Kenny 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Matthew 6:5 talks about hyprocrites who pray to be seen by men and are having their reward in full.
6 You however when you pray go into your private room and after shutting your door pray to your father whois in secret.
Then your father who looks on in secret will repay you.
when you go to a priest and make him a part of your life you are expected to pay for that priviledge. So it is a way they get money. Just like the super rich TV Evangelists.
False religion is all about making money.
2007-03-15 07:03:57 · answer #9 · answered by Ruth 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is how God set it up:
"'But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins' -- he then said to the paralytic -- 'Rise, take up your bed and go home.' And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men." (Matthew 9:6-8)
"Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'" (John 20:21-23)
2007-03-15 06:59:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because Constantine incorporated pagan doctrine into RC.It stems from the mystery religions.And yes,you can pray to God for forgiveness.
2007-03-15 07:59:59 · answer #11 · answered by kitz 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋