Dear Parishioners,

I was recently talking to several Catholics who had a lot of questions about confession. I know that for every person asking a question, there are many people who might also have that question but are afraid to ask. So, I would like to list certain facts about the Sacrament of Confession that I think you all should know.

• Sins stated in confession are absolutely and totally secrets. If a priest reveals a sin he has heard in confession, he is excommunicated and can only be forgiven by the Pope. Some people might prefer that we reveal some sins like if someone committed a crime or plan to harm someone. But the Church has a really firm stance on this because anyone should feel like they can state their sins without repercussions. The Church’s role is to forgive and that is more important than secular punishment.
• Confession is not the same thing as counseling. Sometimes it is important for the priest to offer advice to the penitent. However, it is limited to the scope of the sins as presented to the priest in that confession since the priest should not bring up matters from a previous confession. So if someone wants to talk about their emotional wounds or things that make them upset, then it is best done in counselling.
• Confession is necessary for forgiveness of mortal sins. (And mortal sins are sins that cut you off from God. They involve grave matter, knowledge, and consent.) But venial sin (lesser sins) can be forgiven in numerous ways, even just receiving the Eucharist in a worthy manner. It is still good to bring up one’s venial sins in confessions since it still helps someone resist these sins in the future. But, they do not necessarily have to be listed.
• If someone purposefully withholds a mortal sin, the confession is invalid. So, when you go back to confession, you need to confess all the sins you can remember from previous invalid confessions.
  Catholics are required to go to confession at least once per year. And it’s better to go more frequently than that. If we do not go at least once a year, we can often become dull to our own sins and think we have nothing to confess. That is why it is good to run through a good examination of conscience so that we can be reminded of our sins.
• Even priests need to go to confession. And being that we can hardly ever make it to confession at normal scheduled times, we always know the priest we are confessing to. So, if you are ever embarrassed to go to confession to a priest you know, I can highly sympathize. Still, I have found that it is better to be embarrassed and confess ones sins than not. Very often, after I arrange a time with a priest to make confession, they decide to go to confession to me in return. So, we help each other out and become holier in the process.
• General Absolution of many penitents simultaneously is only allowed in dire circumstances where it would be impossible for the priest to hear everyone’s confession and people are in danger of dying soon. It is sad that some priests offer this form of confession as another way to be forgiven. But they are lying (or ignorant) and they lead many lay people astray. If you find a priest abusing the sacrament in this manner, please report them to the chancery.

I hope that clears everything up. Have a happy and holy Lent. God bless!

Fr. Carter