Confessing and Priests.

[ChessCastle]

Hello

I was just reading a thread in General Theology, where someone asked about the practice of confessing to priests. I am asking my question in this forum and not Genral Theology because it seems the vast majority of people who spoke up in support of the practice were Roman Catholic, and all almost everyone else was against it. I know for a fact that my parish practices confession with a priest because I am looking at one of the pamplets which says "Confessions heard by appointment". I am under the assumption that its not considered mandatory, and this is one of the many questions I will be asking my priest when we meet on Friday.
I actually learned something from reading that thread because before today I always thought there was no scriptural basis at all for the concept of confession. After looking through the thread and seeing points of view from both sides, I personally don't see why this practice is considered bad by so many people. But...I am still very ignorant to many things so I wanted to know from others inside my Church if confession is widely practiced, or at least offered, in Anglican churches around the world.

CC

[Fish and Bread]

Confession to a priest is completely optional in most Anglican churches, including the Episcopal Church. The idea is that for some people it can be beneficial to talk out their problems with an understanding priest about them who can help them ask God for forgiveness and then resassure them that God does forgive them and offer helpful suggestions for how to turn away from the sins they experience and grow closer to God. Other folks might prefer just to speak one-on-one with God and work things out that way. There is a broad spectrum in the middle that might need confession before a priest very occasionally to work out a particularly troublesome sin, but usually just pray privately.

In practice, I think it's a smaller minority of folks who go to confession before a priest, at least in most of the parishes I've been to (In an "Anglo-Catholic" leaning Episcopalian parish, the percentage of folks who go is probably far larger, though, because they treat it as being more important.). I know a lot of Episcopalians who have never confessed to a priest formally and sacramentally. I did as a Roman Catholic, but haven't as an Episcopalian, unless one counts the time I met with my with an Episcopalian priest to ask for his advice about a personal situation in a very informal way, which wasn't really a confession per say.

There is an old axium about confession before a priest in Anglican circles that is usually quoted as "All May, Some Should, None Must". That's not a formal doctrine or anything, but it can serve as a helpful summary of the way a lot of Anglicans believe.

John

[AveMaria]

As John said, "All May, Some Should, None Must" sums it up quite well.

Personally, I've found private, sacramental confession to be quite useful, spiritually - once I got over my initial nerves!

[gitlance]

It is one of the seven sacraments, for the "quieting of our consciences of any grave sins or scruples which torment us." While it may be optional to privately confess your sins to a priest, a corporate confession/absolution is generally practiced in most parishes during Sunday Mass.

[Aymn27]

It is one of the seven sacraments, for the "quieting of our consciences of any grave sins or scruples which torment us." While it may be optional to privately confess your sins to a priest, a corporate confession/absolution is generally practiced in most parishes during Sunday Mass.
I totally don't think you should be "required" to go (once a year in RCC)..at least not if you aren't in grave of sin. However, I think it would be a wise practice and possibly "required" if one is in grave sin (adultery, etc) before going back to the Lord's Table..just my opinion though.

[pmcleanj]

I totally don't think you should be "required" to go (once a year in RCC)..at least not if you aren't in grave of sin. However, I think it would be a wise practice and possibly "required" if one is in grave sin (adultery, etc) before going back to the Lord's Table..just my opinion though.
I think (and correct me if I'm wrong) that you are making the distinction between being required to do something by the rulings of a clerical authority or hierarchy, and being required to do it by the conviction of the Holy Spirit speaking in your heart.

The first kind of "requirement" is spurious.

The second kind of "requirement" has ultimate force.

[Naomi4Christ]

In our church, we have private confession in our services. We do not have the facility for routine confession to our clergy, but of course, they would always be on hand, as would the pastoral assistants, to listen to any parishioner with particular concerns.

[trooper]

In an aside,

There is some difficulty these days in finding a priest who views confession as a sacramental moment.. as opposed to a counseling moment. I would like for the priest to absolve me, direct in a way that helps me not commit the sin again. NOT, talk to me about I shouldn't feel bad cause lots of people do whatever.

Speaking from experience,

[AveMaria]

In an aside,

There is some difficulty these days in finding a priest who views confession as a sacramental moment.. as opposed to a counseling moment. I would like for the priest to absolve me, direct in a way that helps me not commit the sin again. NOT, talk to me about I shouldn't feel bad cause lots of people do whatever.

Speaking from experience,

Gosh, I've never had quite that experience. Not too sure how I'd feel about it - I probably wouldn't be thrilled, if I wanted to be told not to worry or feel bad, I'd go out for a coffee with my best friend.

One of the priests at my home parish is big on suggesting methods of making physical reparation for sin - For example, if a teenager shoplifted a CD or DVD, he might suggest in addition to returning the item/paying for it and apologizing, that they work for the money to donate a similar amount of money to a charity for needy children.

While it might not be everyone's cup of tea, I think it's definately helpful for certain situations and types of people.

[holyshe]

i think what most people have said is true but
apologising for something when the person apologising for it is not truly sorry is false anyway.
most anglo cath churchs have confess sess
i think if guilt is eating into your soul then confession is a positive step to help rebuild it.
but i equally think that not everyone needs to go to confession

[SirTimothy]

The second kind of "requirement" has ultimate force.

Amen!

Timothy

[Naomi4Christ]

In an aside,

There is some difficulty these days in finding a priest who views confession as a sacramental moment.. as opposed to a counseling moment. I would like for the priest to absolve me, direct in a way that helps me not commit the sin again. NOT, talk to me about I shouldn't feel bad cause lots of people do whatever.

Speaking from experience,

What is the difference between absolving you in a service, and absolving you individually?

I think if I were in a situation where I asked for guidance from a vicar, what I would really want would be for him to pray with me and ask for the Holy Spirit to come and help me to do the right thing. Of course, any Christian could fill that role, so I am more likely to ask someone from one of my small groups to pray with me. This kind of help is a spritual gift that God can give to anyone - not just vicars.

[Naomi4Christ]

a corporate confession/absolution is generally practiced in most parishes during Sunday Mass.

and during non-HC services.

[gtsecc]

The confession is to God.
The Priest represents the Church.
The absolution is of sin is a power given to Apostles, and by extention Priests.

[SirTimothy]

and during non-HC services.

True. Our local priest does confession & absolution at Evening Prayer too...

Timothy

[Wigglesworth]

. . . ultimate force.

I just thought that phrase was so cool it had to be repeated.

. . . ultimate force.


:cool:

[Father Rick]

There can be something very healing about auricular confession (sacramental confession with a priest).

It's one thing to know that Christ forgives sin. It's something entirely different when 'Jesus with skin-on" in the form of a priest looks you eye-to-eye and, with the full authority of God and the Church, says 'your sins are forgiven!' Not just any sins, but your particular sins-- those sins that have plagued you, those sins that you are afraid to utter to anyone for fear of what they will think of you-- YOUR sins are forgiven!

I can't tell you how many people have broken down and cried like a baby during confession as the grace of God was extended to them. As a priest, I am sooooo aware that it's not me but Christ that is forgiving them and granting them grace to bring healing, deliverance, and wholeness to their lives.

[karen freeinchristman]

I know this is off topic, and I don't really have an opinion on the confession topic, but I really think the expression given in the previous post that priests are "Jesus with skin-on" is just very .... bad.

[higgs2]

I know this is off topic, and I don't really have an opinion on the confession topic, but I really think the expression given in the previous post that priests are "Jesus with skin-on" is just very .... bad.
It is followed by "in the form of a priest" so I would take it to be referring to seeing Jesus in someone else, in this instance in your priest. Why does it seem "bad" to you?

[gitlance]

I know this is off topic, and I don't really have an opinion on the confession topic, but I really think the expression given in the previous post that priests are "Jesus with skin-on" is just very .... bad.

Not to mention that the gentleman who said that is indeed a priest, so we should trust that he knows what he's doing. (And I assure you, he does know what he's doing.)

[Father Rick]

I know this is off topic, and I don't really have an opinion on the confession topic, but I really think the expression given in the previous post that priests are "Jesus with skin-on" is just very .... bad.Sorry if the expression came across as being offensive. I was trying to convey 'persona christi' (literally translated 'in the person of Christ') in colloquial language.

[karen freeinchristman]

I agree that part of the priest's role is as a representative of Christ; it was just the expression that went against the grain for me.
"I am Jesus, with skin-on" - I am sure that Father Rick is not claiming to be Jesus; my comment was not a judgement call on him (sorry if it sounded that way). Let's just say the phrase kind of made my "skin" crawl, and actually made me feel a little bit :sick: ! Please don't take it personally, any of you! :)

I do believe that confession to a priest can be good; however, I think that we should be taught as much as possible as a church that Christ's atoning death on the cross was valid for all of our sins, once and for all. I know enough about people though, to know that some people need extra re-assurance. I think its part of our fallen nature to need that extra re-assurance, because we find it hard to trust in God, to trust in the blood of Jesus. We, as mortal humans, are weak in faith at times.

[Wigglesworth]

The only Jesus some people will ever see is the Jesus in you or the Jesus in me.