On Mondays, I answer questions frequently asked by those considering a return to the Catholic Church. How do I know this stuff? I was away for more than 30 years myself, and am the co-author of When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics, a book for pastors and parish leaders interested in this ministry.
Why do I have to go to a priest to have my sins forgiven?
Make no mistake: It’s God who forgives your sins, not the priest.
A priest friend of mine describes sacraments as “an outward sign of God’s grace already conferred.” I love that description; it’s why we have sacraments, to mark and celebrate the awesomeness of that grace, from baptism all the
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Confession has an interesting history in our Church. At one point, you had to get up in front of the entire congregation and seek absolution for your sins that were publicly known. For a time, the practice was that you could experience this sacrament only once in your life, much like baptism or confirmation. But the role of the priest is essential. He’s there as God’s human representative when we express our sorrow for sin and when we disclose the sin, and he explains what we must do to make amends for it.
It’s a joyous and marvelous thing when people are baptized, confirmed, receive the Eucharist, get married, become ordained or receive the anointing of the sick in the presence of community, whether it’s the entire congregation or the smaller community of our family and friends. We could do those things in private, but it’s not the Catholic way. Why would this wonderful sacrament be any different? With the presence of the priest, we celebrate together as a smaller but significant community the power of God’s goodness, mercy, and grace.
