Contraception: The Reason Catholics Have Abandoned Confession

Catholic Lane ^ | 3/24/11 | Russell Shaw

[Mary Kochan]

What about the 75% of American Catholics who, according to polls, receive the sacrament of penance less than once a year or never? Escapists perhaps?

This year as in other recent Lents, dioceses and parishes across the country are making a push to get Catholics back to this neglected sacrament. I wish them much success. The flight from sacramental penance has been one of the genuine disasters of contemporary Catholic life.

What explains it? Many things undoubtedly combine to play a part: an often-cited loss of the sense of sin, fatuous presumption that God approves of me no matter what, shame at the prospect of confessing one’s sins after a long time (give it a try: it won’t hurt). But part of it, I feel certain, has to do with contraception.

It works this way.

[Mach9]

Shaw is a liberal—not a Kerry/Kennedy/Pelosi Catholic liberal, but more often left than right. It’s manifested here: he introduces and defends the argument that contraception may be the reason for Confession fall-off but rather than edifying his readers as to why contraception does or doesn’t need forgiveness, he leaps directly to something like confession-is-good-for-the-soul, and we ought to confess more often. This cumbaya cuddling abets the shunning of the sacrament. If contraception is, as the Church proclaims, a sin, it needs to be confessed. Those who don’t *believe* it’s a sin (and I don’t mean those who practice contraception) or refuse to confess it, or anything else for that matter, shouldn’t feel free to call themselves Catholics. Catholicism isn’t a club or a political party or one of the many protestant sects whose existence sprouted from disputes with the original Christianity.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

Is there a biblical justification for confessing to a priest vs in prayer?

Matt 9:8
John 20:21-23

[Mary Kochan]

I’ve been an editor in Catholic media for a decade and been working with his columns all that time. He has never truck me as a liberal, although, I could be wrong; I have never read any of his books.

I think he certainly views contraception as a sin. He keeps his column short and does not always deliver as much of an argument as he probably could make for every point because I think some of the outlets have a word count limit.

[Mary Kochan]

Here is a somewhat more complicated way that I think he may be correct. Confession ministers sanctify grace, or course. But beforehand, it is pure grace that drives us to the sacrament. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts of us sin and makes us long for forgiveness. I think that those Catholics who are practicing contraception may have dulled their heart to the prompting of the Spirit and so are not goaded by the Spirit to seek the healing of confession.

[conservonator]

Why not just re-post it as a caucus thread yourself, and leave this one open?.

Why not just add the caucus tag and call it good?

[conservonator]

See if the RM can help, I think that may be your best bet.

[Eepsy]

95% of Catholic parishes in America have confession in a one hour window somewhere between 3pm and 4:30. There are well over 100 Catholic churches within a one hour drive of me, and only one of them offers confession at an alternate time. And yes, I have checked them all at one time or another. I feel bad for Catholics who have to work on Saturday....

[China Clipper]

I’ve never found any compelling need to confess my sins to a priest. If God is to forgive me, then that’s between Him and me.

Is there a biblical justification for confessing to a priest vs in prayer?

Actually there is. Here is a great link to see for yourself!

[Boogieman]

“Why not just add the caucus tag and call it good?”

Well, the OP didn’t make it a caucus thread, and obviously non-Catholics have opinions to share on the subject too. Someone other than the OP trying to make something a caucus thread retroactively just smacks of stifling debate.

Plus, the thread is already full of non-Catholic comments, so making a caucus thread at this point wouldn’t undo that, unless you want the mods to go around deleting non-offensive posts. If you want a clean, caucus thread, the simplest way seems to be to make your own.

[Boogieman]

Ah, I just went back and looked at the comments and saw the OP does want to make it a caucus thread. Hadn’t seen that before, but I still think it’s easier at this point to repost, since the cat is out of the bag.

[johngrace]

JOHN 20:

21He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. 22When he had said this, he Breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. 23Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

JOHN 20:21 "As the Father hath Sent Me, I also Send You.

I read it's the only other time in the Bible God breathed onto men. The first was in Genesis Here:

Genesis 2:

7 Then the LORD God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and BREATHED into his nostrils the BREATH of life, and the man became a living being.

VERY Interesting.

ALSO what about Jesus's criterion

Mk 2:7 Why does the man talk that way? He commits blasphemy! Who can forgive sins except God alone? (NAB)

Jesus clearly stated that he had the authority to forgive sins.

Mk 2:10 "That you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins [he said to the paralyzed man] I command you: Stand up! Pick up your mat and go home." The man stood and picked up his mat and went outside in the sight of all. (NAB)

What about Peter:

ACTS 3:6

6But Peter said: Silver and gold I have none; but what I have, I give thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise, and walk.

7And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up, and forthwith his feet and soles received strength.

8And he leaping up, stood, and walked, and went in with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

[SkiPole]

I have not looked into the specific Biblical reasons why Catholic Church has confession (also remember, the Catholic Church doesn't believe in sola scriptura). Although, I see it as definitely plausible that this comes from the Bible. Why else would Jesus send out his apostles to go forgive sins? If people could just pray to God - and that's it - then there would be no reason for Jesus to send his apostles with this mission.
“‘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)

In the early church, people actually confessed their sins publicly (before the congregation), which is a far cry from today's private confessions between a person and a priest. This is unfortunately something that the protestants dropped which was always present in some form in Catholic church.
Catholics realize that the Church has authority (it has lasted 2000 and has stuck to the same doctrine) and quite frankly, has a better idea than some of us who only want to do what is convenient.

Confession is actually wonderful. It forces us to call to mind our sins - we don't want to keep going to our priest with the same ones. Obviously there are good and bad priests, but most of them can offer some type of wisdom which can assist one in preventing the sin in the future. It is so uplifting to leave the confessional and start fresh. I encourage Catholics to come back to confession. If it's a priest you don't care for, try another church in the area.

*The Catholic Church makes the distinction between “venial” sins and “mortal” sins. I won't make the distinction here, but venial sins can be forgiven just through prayer, while mortal sins require one to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.

[SkiPole]

A resource on Catholic confession beliefs:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Forgiveness_of_Sins.asp

[steve86]

I can ask God for forgiveness without a 3rd party.

I suppose you can ask but not at all certain you will receive.

And the worst thing is you might assume you received but didn't.

[CaptainK]

If you say so.

I guess the creep in the confessional had the power to absolve me thoroughly according to you.

[steve86]

I hope you get healed over that. Not good to stay bitter forever.

Steve

[Salvation]

**I stopped going to confession at the age of 12 after a priest questioned me in an inappropriate manner in the confessional.
I can ask God for forgiveness without a 3rd party.**

Sounds like your pride got in the way. Why don’t you sit down with a priest in his office and get your questions about this answered.

I will post the words of absolution a little later. God forgives your sins in the sacrament of Reconciliation, not the priest.

[Salvation]

 

1449 The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:

God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Salvation]

Catholics do understand what contraception is. It's the other churches who are leaving the law of God.

Catholics have stood solidly against contraception, abortion euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, homosexuality and same-sex marriage. I don't know where you are getting your information (those tracts at a protestant church?) but it is wrong.

U.S. Bishops’ Publication Urges Priests to Preach on Contraception, Sterilization, IVF
Contraception: The Bitter Pill
Catholic Bishops Warn of ‘Civil Disobedience’ Over Contraceptives [Philippines]
Relationships Market After 50 Years of The Pill
Contraception: The Bacteria Devouring America’s Soul
Christians examine morality of birth control [Ecumenical/Orthodox Presbyterian]
The Cost of Contraception: Women's Health - Response to CNN
The Connection between Contraception and Abortion
Baby Bust: The Demographics of Global Depression

The Surest Sign of a Decadent Culture
Protestants and Birth Control
The Protest of a Protestant Minister Against Birth Control
Contraception: Why Not?
The Bible & Birth Control
Our Gravest Moral Responsibility: Convert the Contraception Mentality
Contraception and Conversion
Evangelical Leaders are Ok with Contraception
The pill and 50 years of misery [the pill kills!]
The dawn of demonic deception [the birth control pill]

Researcher finds strong link between contraception and HIV
The Birth-Control Riddle
Social Science Proves Humanae Vitae
"Contraception Is Wrong. Now Here's How You Use It . . ."
Suit claims birth control warning not enough
Natural and Unnatural (father of 5 shocks mother of 1)
Planned Parenthood Uses Teens to Distribute Injectable Birth Control in Rural Ecuador
Study: Low-Dose Birth Control Pills Decrease Bone Density in Young Women
Spanish drug agency confirms grave effects of morning-after pill
Another Woman Dies of Hormonal Contraceptive in Switzerland

Study Finds Half of Women on "Birth Control Shot" Suffer Bone Problems
The Re-Birth of Population Control: Human Life Seen as a Carbon Problem
Radio Replies First Volume - Birth Control
Abortion, birth control pill linked to breast cancer, surgeon says
God before contraception (Australia)
Fighting the 'contraceptive mentality'
Birth control pill creator regrets population decline
Polluted Water, Polluted Culture (one more consequence from contraception)
Abortifacients -- The Other Forbidden Grief
NFP and Contraception: What’s the Difference?

Wisconsin requiring Catholic institutions to provide contraceptives coverage
Contraception: The history you may have missed and would rather not know
Why does Pope Benedict talk about Humanae vitae in the new encyclical? [Catholic Caucus]
New Evangelical Documentary Exposes Abortifacient Qualities of the Birth Control Pill, Promotes NFP
In Quiverfull Movement, Birth Control Is Shunned
Press in a Dither Again over Pope’s Reaffirmation of Catholic Teaching
How Birth Control Changed America for the Worst
If You Are Contracepting, You Are Part of A Very Big Problem
Vatican and Italian government criticize sale of RU 486 in Italy
New Condom Ads Target Catholics, Latinos

St. Padre Pio, Humanae Vitae, and Mandatory Abortion
Responsible Parenthood in a Birth Control Culture, Part Two [Open]
Responsible Parenthood in a Birth Control Culture, Part One [Open]
Humanae Vitae and True Sexual Freedom — Part 6 of 6 [Open]
Contraception v. Natural Family Planning — Part 5 of 6 [Open]
Sex Speaks: True and False Prophets — Part 4 of 6 [Open]
Contraception and the Language of the Body — Part 3 of 6 [Open]
Does Contraception Foster Love? — Part 2 of 6 [Open]
Contraception and Cultural Chaos — Part 1 of 6 [Open]
Priests still suffering from effects of Humanae Vitae dissenters, Vatican cardinal says (Must read!)

"Provoking reflection" (Contrasting views on Humanae Vitae)
Humanae Vitae The Year of the Peirasmòs - 1968
Catholics to Pope: Lift the Birth Control Ban
[OPEN] The Vindication of Humanae Vitae
Catholic Clergy Challenge Colleagues to Reacquaint Themselves and Their People with Humanae Vitae
White House proposes wide "conscience clause" on abortion, contraception
THE EX CATHEDRA STATUS OF THE ENCYCLICAL "HUMANAE VITAE" [Catholic Caucus]
“A degrading poison that withers life”
Australia Study: 70 Percent of Women Seeking Abortions Used Contraception
[Fr. Thomas Euteneuer] In Persona Christi: The Priest and Contraception

A Challenging Truth, Part Two: The Day the Birth Control Died
A Challenging Truth, Part One: How Birth Control Works
Ten Challenges for the Pro-Life Movement in 2008
The concept of the "intrinsically evil"
Pope Tells Pharmacists Not to Dispense Drugs With 'Immoral Purposes'
Massive Study Finds the Pill Significantly Increases Cancer Risk if Used more than Eight Years
Birth Control Pill Creates Blood Clot Causing Death of Irish Woman
Seminarians Bring Church’s Teaching on Contraception, Sexuality to YouTube
Abortion and Contraception: Old Lies
History of Catholic teaching on Contraception

Pope: Legislation "Supporting Contraception and Abortion is Threatening the Future of Peoples"
Contraception: Why It's Wrong
On Fox News Fearless HLI Priest Takes on Sean Hannity (may be indebted for saving his soul)
VIDEO - SEAN HANNITY vs REV. THOMAS EUTENEUER (must see!)
The Early Church Fathers on Contraception - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
Pope on divine love vs. erotic love
Conjugal Love and Procreation: God's Design
Being fruitful [Evangelicals and contraception]

[Salvation]

Our priest has added another hour each week on Wednesday evening.

And during Lent and Advent there are Penance Services at all the churches, plus I think he does at least five other hours of confessions at our church.

The two marks og s GOOD Catholic Church are LLOOOOOONNNNGGGG confession lines and multiple vocations. We have both at our church — we are truly blessed.