Confession: Another Blogger's Take on the Sacrament

Ideally, people wouldn't need to go to "Confession" as American English refers to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

True enough.

Just one thing: we don't live in an ideal world.

Here's an excerpt from what another blogger had to say about going to "Confession:"

"Why go to Confession?"
Christopher's Apologies (September 30, 2010)

"Yesterday I taught RCIA for a combined class from three parishes (it is a brave new world with 'parish clusters'). It was only the second week, but it looks like it is going to be a great class. The 25 or so people listen intently, share willing, and ask great questions; I'm really looking forward to walking with them for the next six months in their faith journey. It has been my experience in the past 12 years teaching RCIA that the overwhelming majority of questions the catechumens (unbaptized) and candidates (baptized but unconfirmed) ask deal with the Eucharist, the Saints, the Virgin Mary, 'confession' (Sacrament of Reconciliation), and the papacy. Of course, this makes perfect sense given the the theological differences between Catholicism and Protestantism on these issues.

"One of the questions that inevitably gets asked is: 'Why do I have to go to confession? Why can't I just ask God for forgiveness?' Of course, a person can, and should, ask God for forgiveness when they recognize the presence of sin in their lives. In class I would lead a discussion on the sacrament, providing biblical and theological foundations for it along with its historical development. However, I'm going to employ a different approach here using a discussion I had with my six year old yesterday afternoon when I picked him up from his after school program...."

The Christopher's Apologies made some good points. Not the way I'd have made them: but then he's not me. Which is a good thing. Catholics aren't supposed to be all alike. (September 18, 2010, August 26, 2010)

Back to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Catholic Church has rules about it (naturally enough), it's a good idea, and I've posted about it before.

Related posts:

• "Confession: We've Got Rules About That, Too"
  (August 22, 2010)
• "Making a Good Confession: There's Help"
  (February 3, 2010)
• "Feeling Forgiven: My Faith and Emotional Perks"
  (November 24, 2009)
• "Reflections on Isaiah, 2nd Corinthians, the Gospel of Mark, and Saint Faustina"
  (March 7, 2009)

---

A tip of the hat to crsmith89, on Twitter, for writing that post.