Expert: Fr. Michael - 6/8/2010

Question
Fr. Michael,
   I have a friend at work who is Catholic and her and I have discussed the importance of confession.  She is a devout Catholic but sees confession as something that is done for convience or more of a get it off your chest event and I always thought confession was not only a requirement but recommended as often as possible.  I go to to confession about once a month if I can and confession is available and was taught in Catholic School that you have to truly be sorry for your sins and make a conscientious effort not to repeat them.  My friend goes to a small parish and I think she doesn't want to go and tell her sins to somebody she faces every week in church and/or I feel she just doesn't see the importance in it.  How can I show the importance of confession?

Thanks,
Jason

Answer
I assume that your friend is not really a Catholic, but is a Newchurcher, one who is a member of the New Order (Novus Ordo) church.  Such people do not receive the Catholic Faith, but something that is more akin to a mainstream Protestant sect.  You might, therefore, ask yourself how you would handle the situation if your friend were a Methodist.  That will give you a better perspective on how to treat the situation.