I went to the Sacrament of Penance yesterday after the Holy Catholic Mass. I believe all my sins have been forgiven. There is good reason for this:
"The Sacrament of Penance (also known as Confession or Reconciliation) is rooted in the belief that while God alone forgives sins, He chooses to exercise that authority through human intermediaries.
Here is a breakdown of the primary scriptural pillars for this practice.
1. The Apostolic Commission
The most direct "proof text" for the sacrament occurs after the Resurrection, when Jesus explicitly gives the Apostles the authority to forgive sins.
John 20:21–23: Jesus breathes on the Apostles and says, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
The Logic: To "retain" or "forgive" a sin, the minister must first hear what the sin is. This implies an oral confession.
2. The Ministry of Reconciliation
St. Paul describes the role of the Apostles and their successors as "ambassadors" who act on behalf of Christ to reconcile the world to God.
2 Corinthians 5:18–20: "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation... So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us."
3. Healing and Oral Confession
The New Testament suggests that confessing to one another (rather than just privately to God) was a practice in the early Church, often linked to spiritual and physical healing.
James 5:14–16: "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed."
Context: This passage specifically mentions calling for the "elders" (presbyters/priests) of the church to pray over the sick.
Matthew 18:18: Jesus tells the disciples, "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
4. Old Testament Precedents
The concept of a "sin offering" usually involved a public or mediatory element.
Leviticus 5:5–6: In the Mosaic Law, when someone was guilty of a sin, they were required to confess the sin and bring a trespass offering to the priest, who would then make atonement for them.
Summary Table
| Theme | Scripture Reference | Key takeaway |
| Authority | John 20:23 | Christ gave men the power to forgive or retain sins. |
| Practice | James 5:16 | Confession is an outward, communal/ministerial act. |
| Role | 2 Cor 5:18 | Clergy act as "ambassadors" of God's mercy. |
| Mediation | Matthew 16:19 | The "Keys of the Kingdom" involve binding and loosing. |
Yesterday two people took exception to this practise:
That confession nonsense was another of the reasons I gave up on Catholicism and Christianity back in about 1965.
There are many reasons why these should give a 'f*ck'. A major one is to avoid an eternity separated from God. Some people would call this hell. The demons themselves dread this. We have little idea what total separation from God is like because even in our ungrateful sinful lifes God fully supports us and immerses Himself in us. Imagine the worst loneliness you have ever experienced! Then multiply it by a very big number.
Have fun and get along to Mass today.
Why the fuck would I ever want to go to Catholic confession? Would Brother Benedict be there to apologise on behalf of all the paedophiles who have worked for that religion?
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