Ever read your Bible? The Bible says you don't need to confess your sins to a priest for absolution.
btw, this thread is about why Catholics don't avail themselves of the Sacrament of Confession more.
It isn't about your belief, but then again it IS all about ME, isn't it?
Johnny, tell our loser what parting gifts he/she/it has won.
Ever read your Catechism of the Catholic Church?
As I just said, it is GOD who forgives the sins of the sinner through the words of absolution spoken by the priest. Have you ever read those words of absolution? If not, then how can you speak about them in such a way?
Where does the Bible say we do are not to confess sins to a priest?
Regards
I guess you like to ignore the parts you don't like. I won't get into a theological discussion with you but I will pray for you.
Confession is a development of the ancient church. The question arose in the early church, can an apostate/public sinner be reconciled to the Church? After along debate, itwas decided, yes. However groiups like the Donatists, strong opponents of St. Augustine, denied this. Once a traitor/reprobate, then always. For Catholics reconciliation came in the form of public confession, not the kind we see at Billy Graham rallies, but the full sackcloth and ashes bit, and public penance that might last for years. When monasticism developed, and purity became the great focus, the private confession became the vehicle of reconciliation, although the penace remained very, very public and hard--like the punishment handed out in military training camps.