Catholics--Whats the deal with confession?

Question

(I was raised catholic by the way)

Why do you guys go to this. Confession was created to the church as a way to scam people out of their money. Today however we still use this tradition (however it is free of cost)I personally think you should repent to God in your house. Not repent to some priest.

Churches used to scare people into going to confession and they charged them money to go to confession.

Answer 1

well, it sure helps develop the virtue of humility!

Answer 2

"I personally think you should repent to God in your house. Not repent to some priest."

Well I think I should have my sins heard by a priest, not alone in my room, because a fellow human - educated - can give me a possible resolution or an idea to change my life for the better. As you state it's free and far better help than some pill pushing know-it-all stranger.
Also as you know, sort of, what people are going to say, being raised Catholic - why ask? You already know what the deal is.
You just took a different path, and are curious if it's good or not.
Be happy or return.
But be at peace with yourself.

Answer 3

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.

Jesus said, "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,"Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (Luke 20:22-23)

Oral confessing of sins is recommended over and over in both the Old and New Testaments:
+ James 5:16
+ Acts 19:18
+ Matthew 3:5-6
+ Mark 1:5
+ 1 Timothy 6:12
+ 1 John 1:9
+ Numbers 5:6-7
+ Nehemiah 9:2
+ Sirach 4:26

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

Remember all sacraments are encounters with God. This sacrament is a healing encounter between God and the penitent.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1422 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

No one pays a cent when they go to confession. Confession is used to make people understand that they are responsible and accountable for their actions, and also to train help them be more mindful of their actions.

Confession is "Biblical". There is a verse which says we should confess our sins to each other. That can take the form of confessing to our PEERS (which is actually the preferred method) *or* confessing to a priest. The difference is that the priest is much more likely to give advice, much like a therapist.

Answer 5

FORGIVENESS OF SIN

But how can man in his weakness, regain sanctifying grace once lost?

God in His infinite wisdom and mercy, not only gave us His only Son to open the gates of Heaven for us, but He gave us Baptism as the sacrament of our assent, and through which we claim the merits of Christ. God not only gave us the sacrament of Baptism, but also gave us the sacrament of Reconciliation in which we can receive His forgiveness of our sins committed subsequently, provided that we seek His forgiveness with a sincere and penitent heart.

But the Catholic Church teaches that priests forgive mortal sins, how can that be? The Catholic Church teaches that mortal sins committed subsequent to having received Baptism, can be forgiven BY God THROUGH His priests in the sacrament of Reconciliation. We have been given His word on it as follows:

Jesus said to them again, "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, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (Cf. Jn 20:21-23)

"…And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation…" (Cf. 2 Cor. 5:18)



Just as Original Sin is forgiven by God in the sacrament of Baptism through His priests, mortal sin is forgiven by God in the sacrament of Reconciliation through His priests.




http://www.call2holiness.org/faith.html



BTW, the Church has NEVER.....NEVER charged for the sacrament of confession.

Answer 6

How was confession created to "scam" pray tell...???