i am seriously curious....wondering a while...no rudeness coming from me.
2007-11-24 19:53:57 · 12 answers · asked by SunnyBeaches 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because this is the way that Constantine setup the Roman Catholic church in the 4th century.
2007-11-26 09:46:04 · answer #1 · answered by timbers 5 · 9⤊ 0⤋
I've never been that close to the pope, personally, (that's like getting an audience with the Queen of England, you know). XD
Confession is very private and only the priest can give absolution for your sins. Says so right in the bible when the resurrected Christ visited them and said something about "whose sins you retain, they are retained..." It's right in the old bible, so we do it. Christ is always standing beside His priests, so it's like He's right there. When we ask privately on our own (which we ALSO do), we do so sincerely, and with our thoughts upon the sacrifice and promise of Christ. So we confess all the time. The sooner the better.
2007-11-25 04:00:38 · answer #2 · answered by Shinigami 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because the Bible instructs us to.
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.
2007-11-25 20:14:50 · answer #3 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The believe tht the priest or the pope could forgive sin because that is their teachings but in truth .. NO NO NO. The pope is not empowered to forgive sin.
The bible says tht when you committed a sin against any person, ask forgiveness of your sin to the same person . Ask apology to him directly. And if anybody committed sin against God, ask forgaiveness to God directly and not to tell the matter to the Pope or priest.
Wrong teachings of the Cahtolics.
2007-11-25 04:12:52 · answer #4 · answered by Jesus M 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Silly Lisa, they do that because the Pope has a prettier hat. Personally, I confess my sins to my cat. Usually he just looks at me like I am some sort of dumba**, but occasionally he looks up and licks his balls. I think that means I am forgiven.
2007-11-25 04:04:51 · answer #5 · answered by krcst1 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Good question... but as to why they shouldn't?
The whole point of Jesus' sacrifice was to pay off the debt of our sins. It means that we no longer need an earthly intermediary (ie. priests/popes) between us and God for He (Jesus Christ) is our intermediary.
Lisa, I know you probably know this, but there may be people reading who don't.
2007-11-25 20:18:28 · answer #6 · answered by Book_Princess 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catholics generally confess to a priest, not directly to the Pope. Confession is a long-standing tradition in Christianity, and is described in the Bible ("confess your sins one to another..."), as well as the Church Fathers. As early as the 2nd century it was already common practice for church members to confess their sins openly in Church.
2007-11-25 03:58:41 · answer #7 · answered by NONAME 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Same question to you..
Why do you confess to Jesus, why not directly to the Lord of Jesus. Why does God require mediator?
2007-11-25 04:02:14 · answer #8 · answered by Happily Happy 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Honey, Jesus isn't exactly corporeal anymore, and some people feel the need for someone to say something back--an actual person, not an imaginary one
2007-11-25 04:05:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
What difference who they confess to? Hey, if you confess to my sister, I bet she'll confess things to you!!!
There is no jesus.......oh wait! Yes there is! He works at Wal-Mart in the fresh fruit section! You should pray to him!
2007-11-25 04:05:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋