Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 1/1/2011

Question
QUESTION: Why does the RCC require people to go to confession? Confession in the early church was said out loud, also we pray before par taking in the Eucharist for God to forgive us...it says nothing in the Holy Scriptures about going to a "priest" or any individual...it says confess your sins to EACH OTHER not to a certain per...son who doesn't confess their sins back to you. Even in the Didache it says ask for forgivness before going to receive the Holy meal, but it says nothing to go to a priest in private...also throughout time this has been changed many times...at odds with this very much.

ANSWER: Hi, Shawn...
Thanks for the question.
Actually, the Catholic Church does not "require" people to go to Confession, in the sense that she can physically force somebody into the confessional.  But if we take the promise of the Gift of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles in the Gospel of John, and the giving to them of the power to forgive sins in His Name, then we can approach this wonderful Sacrament the great means it is for the forgiveness of sins through a special Sacrament for sins (especially mortal sin) committed after our Baptism.  We cannot be baptized but one time, and so we certainly cannot return to the Baptismal Font again to be re-baptized by the pouring of water "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
The sort of Confession you refer to from the time of the early Church was the practice of publicly confessing sins that were public knowledge already.  This is still done (though not as a Sacrament) when public figures make public apologies for some wrong they've done that harmed others.  Confession does the soul good; there's no doubt.
The reference you make to James Ch 5 is in the context of calling the Priests of the Church (Presbyteros, Presbyters, Priests, often translated "elders") when one is sick for the laying on of hands and anointing with oil.  The phrase about confessing sins to "one another" really is better translated as: "confessing sins, the one to the other."  That is, the one having called the Priest (the one) confessing his sin to the Priest who was called (the other).
Part of the Mass still has prayers for forgiveness in it; but this is not the equivalent of the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance.  But particularly one needs to celebrate the Sacrament of Confession for mortal sin, in order to be restored and reconciled to God and the Church through absolution from a Priest by the Authority that Christ gave to the Apostles.
I suppose you would need to ask yourself why you are at odds with an opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Forgiveness.  Do you refuse Baptism or Eucharist or any of the other Sacraments instituted by Christ?

Fr. Timothy Johnson

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: No. Father I try to live a lifestyle that is in the light, but I often and sometimes purposely go back into the dark..especially with sins of the flesh....when i do this I can feel the evil one tell me how silly this sacrament is..but i know we must have it as you explained for after our baptism...I just beat myself up so bad when I sin mortally, plus I suffer from anxiety, panic disorder, depression, and my spiritual director thinks that I maybe scrupulous too..I often panic when I don't know if I sinned mortally or not..or sometimes I may forget to confess a sin and I get so worked up over it...pray for me Father!

Answer
Hi, again... thanks, and Happy New Year 2011...

Sorry for the struggle you describe.  Perhaps your spiritual director is correct in pointing out that you are prone to be scrupulous.  Present it to the Lord Jesus' Saving Power, and allow yourself to grow in humility by just presenting what you believe is necessary in Confession, and follow obediently the advice of the Priest.  As long as you're doing the best you can, acting in good faith, don't let the devil's wiles beat you down.  The Sacrament is an opportunity for you to receive the forgiving, loving, and healing power of Jesus Christ... nothing to be afraid of.  Recall how often Jesus in the Gospels says: "Do not be afraid."
Stay strong in Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and let the devil go back to hell where he belongs!
God bless you.

Fr. Timothy Johnson