Introduction
One of the most common Protestant objections is:
👉 “Why confess your sins to a priest? Isn’t God the only one who forgives sins?”
While it is true that only God forgives sins, Scripture shows clearly that Christ gave His Apostles the authority to forgive sins in His name. The Catholic practice of Confession is not a man-made invention but a direct command from Jesus Christ and a practice of the early Church.
1. Biblical Foundation for Confession
Jesus Gave Authority to Forgive Sins
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“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:22–23)
👉 Jesus explicitly gave the Apostles the power to forgive or retain sins—a judicial authority, requiring confession.
Apostolic Practice of Confession
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“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)
👉 The command is not merely “confess to God privately” but to confess sins within the Christian community. -
“Many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.” (Acts 19:18)
Priestly Role in Reconciliation
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In the Old Testament, God forgave sins through priests (Leviticus 5:5–6). Jesus, fulfilling the Old Covenant, gave His priests (the Apostles and their successors) authority to absolve sins in the New Covenant.
2. The Testimony of the Early Church Fathers
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St. Cyprian of Carthage (251 AD):
“Let each confess his sin while he is still in this world, while confession is still admissible, while the satisfaction and remission made through the priests are pleasing before the Lord.” (The Lapsed, 28) -
St. Basil the Great (4th century):
“It is necessary to confess our sins to those to whom the dispensation of God’s mysteries is entrusted.” (Rule Briefly Treated) -
St. Augustine (354–430 AD):
“What the penitent is to do is manifest his wounds to the physician; the sinner, therefore, should not be ashamed to show his wound to the priest.” (Sermon 82)
👉 From the earliest centuries, Christians practiced sacramental confession, not private-only repentance.
3. Why Not Just Confess Directly to God?
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Catholics do confess directly to God during the sacrament, but Christ gave us priests as visible instruments of His mercy.
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Confession to a priest provides:
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Assurance of forgiveness through apostolic authority (John 20:23).
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Healing and accountability (James 5:16).
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Reintegration into the Church, since sin wounds not only our relationship with God but also the Body of Christ.
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4. The Catholic Church’s Teaching
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC):
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CCC 1441: Only God forgives sins, but Christ gave the Apostles authority to forgive in His name.
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CCC 1455–1456: Confession of sins to a priest is essential for reconciliation with God and the Church.
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CCC 1461: Bishops and priests, by virtue of Holy Orders, act in the name of Christ to forgive sins.
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CCC 1468: The sacrament reconciles the sinner with both God and the Church.
5. Protestant Objection vs. Catholic Response
| Protestant Objection | Catholic Response | Biblical/Patristic Support |
|---|---|---|
| Only God forgives sins. | True—but Christ gave His Apostles the power to forgive sins on His behalf. | John 20:23 |
| Confession should be private, directly to God. | Scripture commands confession to one another, and the Apostles exercised this ministry. | James 5:16; Acts 19:18 |
| Priests are just men, not mediators. | Priests act in persona Christi (in the person of Christ) through Holy Orders. | 2 Cor. 5:18–20; CCC 1461 |
| Early Church didn’t practice confession to priests. | Church Fathers consistently affirm confession to priests as part of apostolic tradition. | St. Cyprian, St. Basil, St. Augustine |
6. The Effects of Confession
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Spiritual Healing: Restores sanctifying grace lost through mortal sin.
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Accountability: Encourages true repentance and amendment of life.
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Peace of Soul: Provides the certainty of forgiveness, unlike subjective “feeling forgiven.”
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Unity with the Church: Restores the sinner to full communion with the Body of Christ.
Conclusion
Confession to a priest is not only biblical but profoundly Christ-centered. Jesus gave His Church the authority to forgive sins in His name. The practice is rooted in Scripture, affirmed by the early Fathers, and safeguarded by Catholic Tradition.
Far from being a man-made invention, Confession is a sacrament of mercy, ensuring that sinners encounter the forgiveness of Christ Himself through His priests.
✝️ To reject confession is to reject a gift of Christ to His Church.
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