Catholics and Confessions

[TheGrungeDiva]

Hi there Josh...
So, I was brought up Catholic and baptised in a Catholic Church. I don't really go there much these-days but it does make me able to speak about it honestly and with some experience behind me.

Confession has it's merits. Pride is a problem in todays world. Any man can say to almighty God that they have sinned, and name them all in Private. Confession differs because it's about overcoming that pride and saying to a brother "These are the things that I have done". He then prays for forgiveness. That's common, Christians pray for each other all the time.

To be honest, there are many things about the Catholic faith I dont quite agree with. One of those is praying to saints or mary to pass on a message to God. I still find that idea strange, and I always pray to Jesus. No-one has it perfect. My Pentecostal church once said that EVERY chirstian who has been baptised in the Holy Spirit can speak tongues. Which is a problem for two reaons, first Scripture doesnt actually say that, and secondly, as close as I am to Jesus, I can't speak Tongues.

I don't like the discord between denominations. However I know one thing, Jesus loves Catholics, just as much as he loves any other Christian.

Well said, brother.

I have never minded the praying to saints. After all, if I am facing a problem, I would always ask friends to pray for me. Why wouldn't I ask Saints and Mary, also?

I, too, have some disagreements with Roman Catholic doctrines, but I think a lot of evangelicals' prejudice against Catholics is unfounded.

 

[TheGrungeDiva]

God knows every hair on your head and he knows your needs before you pray to him.

If you have a relationship with someone, you speak with them directly. The same goes for God.

Confession is a Pagan tradition. The practices both of confessing and forgiving sins are very ancient pagan rites and customs.

I am not familiar with any Pagan tradition that has confession and absolution the way Christians do. Perhaps you can enlighten me?

Besides, even if it is a pagan tradition, the practice of singing hymns of praise to a god is a pagan tradition, too. Does that mean we shouldn't praise God with song?

 

[TheGrungeDiva]

lol. you mean to tell me any brother in christ would not understand what it means to confess your sin?? We confess our sins to each other on a weekly basis in a cell group. I think we know what it means to confess.

No, I think "any brother" (or sister) in Christ is not as adept at helping someone with their guilt. Priests have special training for this, among other things. I'm not saying it's wrong to confess to anyone except a priest, but I'd rather go to a priest.

If you were sick, would you rather go to a friend or a doctor? Sure, your friend may be able to help you as well as the doctor, but as for me, I like the odds better with someone who has been trained.

And no powers or authority? This is not what I heard catholics say. Most I know believe has the power to forgive sin or to not forgive sin.

The Catholic teaching is that we all have the power to forgive sin or not to forgive sin. This is what the Bible says. Do you not believe the Bible?

 

[TheGrungeDiva]

Do you agree that you are twisting scripture to mean what you want it to mean?

I do not agree that he is twisting Scripture to mean what he wants it to mean.

When a Catholic goes into their litle box, there is a priest in there too, right? Does the priest confess their sins to the non-priest first and then the non-priest confesses?

Priests also confess to bishops, and a priest should confess to and ask forgiveness from anyone against whom he has sinned.

 

[zone]

I LOVE MY CATHOLIC FRIENDS.

Jesus has many people in every city.

Lutherzone

 

[eternally-gratefull]

No, I think "any brother" (or sister) in Christ is not as adept at helping someone with their guilt. Priests have special training for this, among other things. I'm not saying it's wrong to confess to anyone except a priest, but I'd rather go to a priest.

If you were sick, would you rather go to a friend or a doctor? Sure, your friend may be able to help you as well as the doctor, but as for me, I like the odds better with someone who has been trained.

Would I rather go to someone who knows me personally and intimately and can truely help me? Or a priest who might not know anything about me.

A doctor knows how the body works. A pshychologist works with the mind. but even they must get to know someone before they can clinically say what is wrong. The best person to help you is someone who knows you. WHo knows when your fibbin, Who knows when you are not being truthful, and knows what works with you.

The Catholic teaching is that we all have the power to forgive sin or not to forgive sin. This is what the Bible says. Do you not believe the Bible?

No one has power to "forgive" sin eternally. Only Christ. So I trust the bible. Not people who claim to have this power.

 

[TheGrungeDiva]

The worst part of this lie is the person has been taught they don't go to God one on one.

The Catholic Church does not teach that a person cannot go to God directly. Of course, anyone can pray to God directly.

Personally, I think you'd be a fool not to ask for as many people to pray for you as possible.

 

[TheGrungeDiva]

I see Catholics and Orthodox try to give their church the power that only God has. They try to replace Jesus with their priests and popes. Not good. Come out of her, my people.

You need to read the bible more to find out who forgives sin, and who has power over sin.

In my experience, Catholics read the Bible more than Evangelicals. They read the WHOLE Bible, not just a few chapters and verses that they like.

How much Scripture is read in your average weekly service?

 

[TheGrungeDiva]

Oh about every catholic I have spoken to. Well except you

I suspect you haven't really spoken to a lot of Catholics about it, then. Because the only Catholics who believe this are those who don't pay attention to what their church is teaching them.

 

[TheGrungeDiva]

Would I rather go to someone who knows me personally and intimately and can truely help me? Or a priest who might not know anything about me.

There's your problem: you think a priest is not also a friend and lover of his sisters and brothers in the congregation. Yes, there are some congregations that are so big, a priest may not be able to get to know each parishoner. This is rare, and in those cases, there are almost always multiple priests, and members can confess to any of them, so they pick the ones they know.

No one has power to "forgive" sin eternally. Only Christ. So I trust the bible. Not people who claim to have this power.

"Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."

Or is that not in your Bible?

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I suspect you haven't really spoken to a lot of Catholics about it, then. Because the only Catholics who believe this are those who don't pay attention to what their church is teaching them.

I actually dated a few. and have spoken to many many catholics. But thanks.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

There's your problem: you think a priest is not also a friend and lover of his sisters and brothers in the congregation. Yes, there are some congregations that are so big, a priest may not be able to get to know each parishoner. This is rare, and in those cases, there are almost always multiple priests, and members can confess to any of them, so they pick the ones they know.

I am a church leader. and it is hard for me to get to know everyone in my congregation. I only know about 10 people on a personal level. You don't get to know someone in church, you get to know them by hanging out with them. We get together at least 3 times a week.

I am sorry. But no priest can get that close and personal with his congregation. I have seen catholic congregations. they are quite large.

"Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."

Or is that not in your Bible?

This does not say I can forgive someone ther sin so they can be washed and not judged eternally for that sin. It speaks of me forgiving my brother for sinning against me. Only God can forgive my sin eternally and only through Christ's mediation. He paid for my sin, so only he has the right to mediate. A priest needs his own sin forgiven, so like a jewish priest, he has not mediatory privileges or rights.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

In my experience, Catholics read the Bible more than Evangelicals. They read the WHOLE Bible, not just a few chapters and verses that they like.

How much Scripture is read in your average weekly service?

It is one thing to read it. It is another to actually study it. I have been to catholic mass. They read a passage. Don't even go over it. then have some sermonette. (And yes I have been to so called protestant churches that do this also, and I hated it. I did not learn anything.

My church picks book of the bible and does an indepth verse by verse study. We have done about 6 books this year between regular church and home church. That is not to mention reading it on our own, and personal bible study.

 

[SantoSubito]

Would you care to share which christian denomination comes to your mind when you say that "I dont know any christian denomination that doesnt...etc"..... Other than the catholic confession ?... You should explain that..

People meeting with pastors because they felt guilty about something and then praying for forgiveness together is found in many denominations. I've had friends that were Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, Anglican, and Lutheran that have done such a thing with their pastors/priests. The whole process is in essence the same as Catholic Confession when you take into account what we believe about the sacrament.

 

[SantoSubito]

I don't know about anyone else. But I do not see the word "priest" in there/. I see the words "to one another" This is not a private confession, it is being open about your sin to everyone so you can get help

Communal confession was the original form but the whole process was much the same as private confession with absolution and everything. It was changed to private confession for two reasons:

1. So more people would actually come to confession instead of being frightened about standing up before the congregation.

2. So people could be counseled more effectively.

 

[SantoSubito]

It is one thing to read it. It is another to actually study it. I have been to catholic mass. They read a passage. Don't even go over it. then have some sermonette. (And yes I have been to so called protestant churches that do this also, and I hated it. I did not learn anything.

My church picks book of the bible and does an indepth verse by verse study. We have done about 6 books this year between regular church and home church. That is not to mention reading it on our own, and personal bible study.

The reason the homily is short is because unlike in Protestant circles the homily is not the main focus of the Mass, the Eucharist is, all else is secondary.

 

[SantoSubito]

"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." - Matthew 18:18 NIV

This is what Jesus said to the apostles. This is the scripture that is believed to give the apostles (and the priests who succeed them) the power to forgive or not to forgive sins on earth. BUT we are ALL part of the common priesthood and this is recognized by the catholic church, so whoever told u that only ORDAINED priests had this power is wrong.

Sadly I must agree with EG on this one.

1441 Only God forgives sins.39 Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, "The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven."40 Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name.41

1442 Christ has willed that in her prayer and life and action his whole Church should be the sign and instrument of the forgiveness and reconciliation that he acquired for us at the price of his blood. But he entrusted the exercise of the power of absolution to the apostolic ministry which he charged with the "ministry of reconciliation."42 The apostle is sent out "on behalf of Christ" with "God making his appeal" through him and pleading: "Be reconciled to God."43

The apostolic ministry mentioned in 1442 is the Priesthood. A layman cannot hear confessions and grant absolution. Only ordained priests who have been granted authority by Christ by virtue of their ordination can administer the Sacraments, save that of Baptism.

There's your problem: you think a priest is not also a friend and lover of his sisters and brothers in the congregation. Yes, there are some congregations that are so big, a priest may not be able to get to know each parishoner. This is rare, and in those cases, there are almost always multiple priests, and members can confess to any of them, so they pick the ones they know.

This is very true. Our parish is rather large (about 1500 faithful) and we have 3 priests

 

[Katy-follower]

there are almost always multiple priests, and members can confess to any of them, so they pick the ones they know.

"Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us."

Or is that not in your Bible?

Matthew 6:12: "And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtor"

You've taken this meaning out of context.

This scripture is talking about forgiving your enemies, not forgiving sinning people.

This scripture means that those who come before God unwilling to forgive others cannot expect God to show them the love and mercy they desire. God will not show anyone the mercy and love they will not extend to others! If we forgive others when they injure us, our Father will forgive us. So - do not hate your enemies, for we are to love everyone. Nowhere in the bible does it say to forgive all the sins of another person as if you have that same authority as God.

This is where scripture is mistreated and used to justify the Catholic idea of confession.

 

[Katy-follower]

I am not familiar with any Pagan tradition that has confession and absolution the way Christians do. Perhaps you can enlighten me?

Besides, even if it is a pagan tradition, the practice of singing hymns of praise to a god is a pagan tradition, too. Does that mean we shouldn't praise God with song?

Pretty much all of the Catholic traditions that you take part in started in Pagan Babylon.


Babylon was built by Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-10). Nimrod was the first earth 'ruler' and was responsible for starting the Paganism in the world, with his wife Semiramis. After him, kings ruled and continued it, and then the Roman emperors, where it then got merged with Christianity unfortunately and the Catholic Church was born, created by Roman emperor Constantine.

The Pagan Babylonian system claimed to possess the highest wisdom and to reveal the divinest secrets. Before a member could be initiated, he had to "confess" to a priest.

Yes, a lot of things in the world can be considered Pagan, like certain holidays, getting married with wedding rings. However, confessing sins to a priest is a serious thing and one of many traditions that goes against the bible. Anything that goes against God's word is wrong.

There is a reason why God calls the enemy the "Whore of Babylon" in the book of Revelation - it is a system that began in Babylon and has survived to this day in the guise of a different name. This system is one that goes against God. All you have to do is compare what your church does with the bible and you will find the answers for yourself.

By the way, I don't dislike Catholics, I dislike Catholicism.

 

[Katy-follower]

Katy:
Talking about everything you disagree with or fail to understand being "pagan" is a false thing to do.
If we all sin (and the Bible says we have all sinned), then we all act as pagans, don't we? In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington PS I am not defending Roman Catholicism. I believe the truth of Orthodoxy (John 15:26 and all the verses in the whole Bible in Church Tradition).

No. The bible says to reveal things that go against God's word. When someone is being led astray by a system noone is to keep quiet about it.

Confession goes against God and did start in Pagan Babylon. That's where the act of confession came from.

Sure, I may raise my voice to a family member, which is a sin, but I won't be part of a system that I know is against God's word. There is a difference.

Those who are in churches following false doctrines are not saved. If you are saved then you would follow God the one and ONLY way. That way is not through religion, not through a church building or priest/pope.

I've known of Catholics who became born again Christians and immediately left the Catholic Church. It wasn't because they were told to but their eyes were opened to the truth. They would go to their Catholic Church and they knew they couldn't follow God the Catholic way, because it was not biblical. When these ex Catholics started reading the bible more and more and trusting in God's word before man they realized that the Catholic way was the complete opposite to God's way.

You will never see a born gain Christian converting to Catholicism. But you will always find Catholics converting to "born again" Christianity. Once you find the truth you will never go back.