Thank you very much for elaborating your thoughts. I 100% agree with you.
A good Priest will know know the state of your heart. Just as I know the state of the Priest’s heart. Sadly, often they are hard and closed and not open and radiating Love.
What you have stated about educating the children in the Catholic church is one of the reasons I have so much respect for the Catholic Church. I’ve done a lot of work at the Catholic elementary school and observe what you are speaking of. However I also have Italian friends who are not so pure.
One Italian friend’s wife harassed him for years to go to confession. He finally went to confession and the Priest was very nervous. The first thing the Priest asked him was “You didn’t kill anyone did you?” My friend said “NO” and it was fine after that!
I do deal with many people who have killed other people. They are the one’s that really need forgiveness and repentance.
I had to laugh out loud at the nervous priest thing. I can imagine that is a dicey one!