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Confession? Yes, it is still a sacrament of the Church... even if sadly rarely used today

Confession... the Sacrament of Reconciliation and healing. While it may be out of fashion for many to admit to the existence of such a thing as 'sin', it is still an obligation and a privilege for Catholics. Obligation because none of us are capable of perfectly loving God and neighbor.  A privilege because it grants us the opportunity to move past our failings and to grow strong in love with both. The Church teaches that everyone should go to confession whenever they are aware that they are in a state of serious sin. Given that people have such a hard time recognizing 'sin', it has become an almost forgotten sacrament. For this reason I always suggest that people should come to confession at the changing of the seasons so that they can receive the grace of the sacrament, even if people don't admit to the presence of any 'serious' sin in their lives. In this season of Autumn, the falling leaves remind us of the fact that each of us will one day die and...
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An app for the penitent: Bless me, Apple, for I have sinned - The Globe and Mail

Here's a wonderful example of how the MSM has no idea how to report religious stories. The headline and first paragraph state that the church has approved the use of an iphone app to be forgiven of personal sin... in lieu evidently of going to confession. You have to read all the way to the last line to discover that absolution still requires a trip to the confessional... "for now, anyway." An app for the penitent: Bless me, Apple, for I have sinned - The Globe and Mail
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Is the Sacrament of Confession Biblical?

Here is a cross post to Michael Brandon's blog, Freedom Through Truth. It deals with a LONG discussion that has been taking place under my last Quebec posting (six weeks ago). Given that the comments have topped 100+ it may be time to bring that discussion into a new thread so that more people can join the conversation. The essence of the conversation has come down the the legitimacy (or lack there of) of the sacrament of reconciliation (Confession). 'Small Town Guy' a regular participant here on this blog has offered substantial evidence and documentation from his faith tradition to argue that Confession is not 'biblical'. Michael and I have obviously been arguing the opposite position. If you have any interest in this topic, feel free to peruse the earlier comments ( here ) or offer you comments in this new thread! My heartfelt thanks to Michael and STG for their diligent and intelligent contribution to this discussion. Fr. Tim Freedom Through Truth: Is...
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Using Catholic 'tools' to begin to move on past these rocky shores! Here's a response to Mary G. who asks why we just can't 'move-on' from the Sex Abuse Scandals

Mary G:  AMEN...AMEN...AMEN! Why do you think it is that our leaders don't seem to want to do just that? I earlier posted a blog post from Deacon Greg Kandra (http://blog.beliefnet.com/deaconsbench/2010/04/a-deacons-proposal-for-public-penance.html ) calling for clerics of all ranks (either in a Diocese, Province, Country or universally) to participate in a mass of atonement on the closing Sunday of the 'Year of the Priest'. This would allow all of us to prostrate ourselves in penance before God, and in solidarity with the faithful to acknowledge our failures and sins. Then to ask for forgiveness. I've been arguing that it is necessary for clergy to practice the same regimen of confession as any Catholic should. 1. First we should examine ourselves (institutionally and personally) in preparation for confessing. This would involve bringing in an outside expert to review any records of allegations received, to ensure that the universal protocol has been faithfully an...
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Confession by the Numbers

In the year following my ordination to the priesthood, I had the opportunity to gather a few of my classmates together for a small celebration of our first year in ministry. As we sat around a campfire taking in the beauty of the Ottawa River, conversation turned to what we considered to be the best experience of the priesthood. The first answer that quickly came to the lips of my brothers was the incredible grace that comes from celebrating the Eucharist. To know that, thanks to the grace of ordination, we could make present the very person of Christ in the Eucharist brings immense joy to any priest. However, this was not the first thing to came to my mind. For me, the greatest moment as a priest comes when I have the opportunity to offer the forgiving, healing presence of God in the sacrament of reconciliation. These moments when as a priest, I can become an instrument of God's hands and bring the peace of a spiritual healing of some of the most intimate wounds have sustained...
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