Do I have to confess sins I did a long time ago as a Protestant, when I've already confessed to God and thought it was dead and buried?

[mesl4]

I’m still debating over converting to Catholocism, and I’d really like to go to confession now (I"m in RCIA now), just to get an idea of what the priest says about my sins/past, and what kind of penance I’d be told to do, etc.

Would I need to confess sins from way back in my life? I was baptized at 17 yrs old and have committed mortal sins since then, which I agonized over and poured out my heart to God, and repented of years ago. Would I have to bring all that up again to the priest and do penance for that? I have to problem confessing all of that, but it seems wrong to have to do penance for something I’ve long since repented of and thought God had forgiven me for. What do you think?

What about mortal sins I am currently doing (using birth control) but I’m not really convinced they are mortal sins yet? Of course if I become Catholic, I will abide by the Catholic ways of life, but just wondering if once I become Catholic, if I have to do penance and confess using Birth Control while a Protestant. Thanks

 

[BSHoop96]

I’m still debating over converting to Catholocism, and I’d really like to go to confession now (I"m in RCIA now), just to get an idea of what the priest says about my sins/past, and what kind of penance I’d be told to do, etc.

Would I need to confess sins from way back in my life? I was baptized at 17 yrs old and have committed mortal sins since then, which I agonized over and poured out my heart to God, and repented of years ago. Would I have to bring all that up again to the priest and do penance for that? I have to problem confessing all of that, but it seems wrong to have to do penance for something I’ve long since repented of and thought God had forgiven me for. What do you think?

What about mortal sins I am currently doing (using birth control) but I’m not really convinced they are mortal sins yet? Of course if I become Catholic, I will abide by the Catholic ways of life, but just wondering if once I become Catholic, if I have to do penance and confess using Birth Control while a Protestant. Thanks

It doesn’t matter what you were when you committed the sins…you must confess them. Don’t worry though…the penance will probably be certain prayers or a reading assignment from the bible, something like that. The idea is that you recognize your sins, are sincerely repentant, and confess them with the intent to not repeat them. Then you are forgiven. The penance couldn’t possibly make up for the sins we have done but it shows the willingness to do so.

 

[LilyM]

99.9% of priests, in my experience (and I’ve had a lot of sin baggage from 12 years away from the Church) are extremely gentle in the confessional, some (sadly) to the point where they seem a little blase about sin.

Although the priest to whom I made that first confession in 12 years commented that some of the sins were serious, he was nonetheless gentle in the advice and remarks he gave me.

And most penances err on the light side if anything - 3 Our Fathers, a decade of the Rosary or some other prayer. Some have mentioned getting a passage of scripture to read and think about. I’ve on occasion been told to do a charitable deed for someone.

Last time I went to confession the priest made an interesting comment - the prayers we are given have a penitential aspect, but are ALSO about giving thanks to God for the grace of His forgiveness, which is something not everyone remembers to do.

And remember also, there are two aspects to sin. One is the *spiritual *effects and harm done to our relationship with God - and that indeed is forgiven by God the moment we repent sincerely, like a parent who instantly forgives a child who breaks their window.

But we mustn’t forget the second aspect - the temporal aspect. We are bound, having repented, to try to repair the harm that our sins do to ourselves and others. THAT is a big part of what the sacrament of confession, and the penance imposed, is about.

A bit like the child who, even though they have been forgiven for breaking the window, is nonetheless bound to try to repair the damage, maybe by doing chores to pay for the repairs to the window or something. So even though you may have been forgiven by God, confession is still an extremely good idea if not an absolutle necessity.

 

[PJM]

I’m still debating over converting to Catholocism, and I’d really like to go to confession now (I"m in RCIA now), just to get an idea of what the priest says about my sins/past, and what kind of penance I’d be told to do, etc.

Would I need to confess sins from way back in my life? I was baptized at 17 yrs old and have committed mortal sins since then, which I agonized over and poured out my heart to God, and repented of years ago. Would I have to bring all that up again to the priest and do penance for that? I have to problem confessing all of that, but it seems wrong to have to do penance for something I’ve long since repented of and thought God had forgiven me for. What do you think?

What about mortal sins I am currently doing (using birth control) but I’m not really convinced they are mortal sins yet? Of course if I become Catholic, I will abide by the Catholic ways of life, but just wondering if once I become Catholic, if I have to do penance and confess using Birth Control while a Protestant. Thanks

Reply:
May our All Mighty, All Merciful and All Loving God contine to Bless, enlighten and guide you:thumbsup:

The first thing ones needs to know in order to properly answer your excellent question, is “have you been vaildily Baptized,” meaning with “water,” and “In the name of the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?”

The reason for the question is that Baptism itself removes not only ALL of ones previous sins, but also the payback effects for All previous sins.

After a true Chrsitian Baptism. we are itmmendiately “made perfect,” and worthy to be in the very Presence of Christ.

However this is true, ONLY until we sin again. So if you have not yet been correctly baptized, technecially you do not HAVE to go to the Sacrament of Confession, but it is recommended that you do so.

However, “Confession” is good for the soul, and is not difficult. One makes what we call a “General Confession,” done with a priest, in a confessional. be sure the priest knows that this is your first Confession, and that you are in RCIA instruction.

The priest will gently lead you through the process by asking questions to which you will honestly respond.

The goal of the priest is NOT to learn that you did “this or that X # of times,” but rather are you TRULY SORRY for your sins of the past. Are you committed to with God’s help make improvements, and are you willing to learn and abide by the rules, doctrine and Dogma’s of the RCC? It’s really not all that diffucult, and man. will you feel a load removed from your soul

It would be a good idea to make an appointment with your priest so that he can give you all the time that you deserve.

I’m not a priest, but have been confessing my sins for fifty-five years. My guess is that the priest will issue a very light Pennance, because just going to Confession the first time is plenty of pay back. If there is no murder or abortation expect little in the line of penance. Even if you have very serious issues, expect to be treated with a gentle kindness and an understanding of the Lords Mercy.

I offered a pray for you
God’s continued Blessings, PJM m.c.

 

[Methodi]

I’m still debating over converting to Catholocism, and I’d really like to go to confession now (I"m in RCIA now), just to get an idea of what the priest says about my sins/past, and what kind of penance I’d be told to do, etc.

Would I need to confess sins from way back in my life? I was baptized at 17 yrs old and have committed mortal sins since then, which I agonized over and poured out my heart to God, and repented of years ago. Would I have to bring all that up again to the priest and do penance for that? I have to problem confessing all of that, but it seems wrong to have to do penance for something I’ve long since repented of and thought God had forgiven me for. What do you think?

What about mortal sins I am currently doing (using birth control) but I’m not really convinced they are mortal sins yet? Of course if I become Catholic, I will abide by the Catholic ways of life, but just wondering if once I become Catholic, if I have to do penance and confess using Birth Control while a Protestant. Thanks

You will have to make a general confession of your past life, The Church doesnt expect You to go into vivid details.The church is against artificial means of birth control. Maybe You could have a meeting with the priest about it. I was told by a priest once that under certain conditions it is ok to use artificial means of birth control. Maybe he told me wrong.Don`t take my word, check it out with your Priest

 

[Linda_Marie]

When you go through RCIA, if you have previously been baptised, you must make a full confession prior to receiving Confirmation and Holy Communion, regardless of whether you have confessed them to God. You have already repented and amended your life so that is all to the good but it does not negate the need to confess to a priest In Persona Christi.

You said that you thought God had forgiven you. Does this mean that you have some doubts about it? that you can’t know for certain? This is what confession to a priest In Persona Christ will do for you - absolute certainty that those sins are forgiven.

He may or may not give you additional penance for these sins. If you explain it all to him and are clear about what you did, I’m sure he will take it into consideration.

I think a better understanding of penance would help as well. Sin is that which separates us from God, penance helps to mend the rift and brings us closer to God. It is not a punishment, per se, and not something to be feared.

Here are some reference materials from the Catholic Answers Library:
catholic.com/library/Confession.asp

catholic.com/library/Forgiveness_of_Sins.asp

 

[thistle]

I’m still debating over converting to Catholocism, and I’d really like to go to confession now (I"m in RCIA now), just to get an idea of what the priest says about my sins/past, and what kind of penance I’d be told to do, etc.

Would I need to confess sins from way back in my life? I was baptized at 17 yrs old and have committed mortal sins since then, which I agonized over and poured out my heart to God, and repented of years ago. Would I have to bring all that up again to the priest and do penance for that? I have to problem confessing all of that, but it seems wrong to have to do penance for something I’ve long since repented of and thought God had forgiven me for. What do you think?

What about mortal sins I am currently doing (using birth control) but I’m not really convinced they are mortal sins yet? Of course if I become Catholic, I will abide by the Catholic ways of life, but just wondering if once I become Catholic, if I have to do penance and confess using Birth Control while a Protestant. Thanks

I was a born and brought up Methodist before converting at the age of 44. Imagine how many sins I had to confess. If you had a valid baptism then you must confess all of your past sins to the best of your memory.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I was told by a priest once that under certain conditions it is ok to use artificial means of birth control. Maybe he told me wrong.Don`t take my word, check it out with your Priest

Yes, he told you wrong.

Every conjugal act must be open to life. If there are serious reasons to avoid pregnancy, Natural Family Planning may be used.

Use of the birth control pill is particularly serious, as it can cause early abortions. With the low doses of hormones in today’s pills, fertilization often occurs, and a secondary effect of the pill is that it prevents implantation of the embryo in the uterus, thus killing the baby.

 

[mesl4]

Reply:

The first thing ones needs to know in order to properly answer your excellent question, is “have you been vaildily Baptized,” meaning with “water,” and “In the name of the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?”

 

[rosarygirl7]

Yes, once baptized, always baptized- I think it is the only universal sacrament! Confessing it will not bring a sin back; it will mean the sin is forgiven for good…to repeat uselessly other replies

 

[mesl4]

And most penances err on the light side if anything - 3 Our Fathers, a decade of the Rosary or some other prayer. Some have mentioned getting a passage of scripture to read and think about. I’ve on occasion been told to do a charitable deed for someone.

 

[mesl4]

You said that you thought

 

[Verbum_Caro]

mesl4,

I wish you the very best on your RCIA journey and inquiry in to the Catholic faith.

You might want to approach this from a different direction. Instead of taking your prior repentance as the starting point, take the sacrament as the starting point.

The sacrament of penance was instituted by Christ as the normative (i.e. normal, usual, general, preferred, most secure, most effective) way of being restored to grace and friendship with Him and with His Church in the event one sins after baptism.

Because Christ gave His priests the power to administrate this forgiveness, and gave them the ability, in His name, to reconcile sinners with the Church, it is expected (by Him!) that all disciples of Christ present themselves to His ministers to receive sacramental absolution and to have their sins pardoned by the power of the keys.

In fact, Catholics who sometimes have their sins forgiven in a *non-*sacramental way, say by perfect contrition, still must submit their sins to the power of the keys. This is because Christ set it up that way. There are many good reasons why Christ did so: it is more sure, it promotes humility, we are body and soul and thereby profit from material sacraments, etc. etc. But the real reason we should go to Confession is because Christ wills it.

Does that help at all?

VC

 

[PhilotheaZ]

LilyM;4321809:

Do we have any say in what our penance is? I would tell the priest that the Rosary/Our Father/repititious prayer does not really move me. I’d feel more transformed by spending an hour meditating on Scripture or praying on my own, or going to adoration or anything really.
Also, isn’t confession only necessary when there has not been perfect contrition? I’d think I had perfect contrition, but again, I’m new to this.

I would think it is an act of humility to accept the penance the priest gives you. You can certainly do additional penances (like the ones you described) on your own. If there is a reason you CANNOT perform the penance he gives you, explain that to the priest and ask him to give you a different one.

Confession is ALWAYS necessary for anyone who has committed a mortal sin after Baptism. We can never really know whether our contrition is perfect. Also, the Sacrament reconciles us not only with God, but also with the whole Church. When we sin, we affect not only ourselves, but also the entire Body of Christ (the Church). The priest represents both Christ and His Church in this Sacrament.

 

[Through_Him]

I’m still debating over converting to Catholocism, and I’d really like to go to confession now (I"m in RCIA now), just to get an idea of what the priest says about my sins/past, and what kind of penance I’d be told to do, etc.

Would I need to confess sins from way back in my life? I was baptized at 17 yrs old and have committed mortal sins since then, which I agonized over and poured out my heart to God, and repented of years ago. Would I have to bring all that up again to the priest and do penance for that? I have to problem confessing all of that, but it seems wrong to have to do penance for something I’ve long since repented of and thought God had forgiven me for. What do you think?

What about mortal sins I am currently doing (using birth control) but I’m not really convinced they are mortal sins yet? Of course if I become Catholic, I will abide by the Catholic ways of life, but just wondering if once I become Catholic, if I have to do penance and confess using Birth Control while a Protestant. Thanks

It was 40 years for me and believe me there was a lot of confessing to do. But I didn’t do it all at once. I spent about a year going every week and to the same priest and finding out what was mortal and what was not. He helped me to see the wrong and seriousness where I thought was not and to not to make too much of the lesser sins. All was forgiven, and we do a lot out of ignorance. BUT once we know what is wrong our innocence is over so don’t argue with the rules as it is in your best spiritual health that the priest sitting in for our Christ has in mind for us. If you are not married abstinence is best if you are married discuss family planning with your priest and husband. Bring everything up with your priest.

 

[benedictgal]

Linda Marie;4321923:

I mean, as a Protestant, we believe that if we confess our sins and believe that Jesus is Lord, we are saved and forgiven. We continually confess our sins to be made right w/God, We don’t see a need for a mediator /priest to hear our confession, because Jesus is the High Priest that does that for us.I say I “thought” because it wasn’t until investigating the Catholic thing that I thought maybe I wasn’t - it seems really hard to believe to me though that God would not honor my confession directly. All these things are what makes converting hard…it’s such a complete change in the way I was taught about justification, salvation, etc.

Let’s start by going to the beginning. When Jesus appeared to the surviving 11 Apostles, after he greeted them with the words “Peace be with you,” he said (and this comes from John’s Gospel):

21 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. 23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

When Jesus breathes on the 11, he imparts his authority to them to forgive sins. Now, that authority has been transmitted down through an unbroken line of succession from the apostles to their successors, the bishops. The bishops, transmit this authority to the priests whom they ordain.

Confession, like all of the Church’s sacraments, is entirely biblically based, having its foundation in sacred scripture.

I am concerned about your usage of birth control. It is a serious sin in the eyes of the Church. As someone said in this thread, it is serious because it impedes the creation of life.

Were you to go to confession now, you would need to have a firm purpose of amendment. That is part and parcel to receiving the graces from this sacrament. A firm purpose of amendment means that you are resolved never to do this again. Now, all of us go through this in that we make an earnest stab at staying clean, but, we fall into sin. But, in the case of birth control, this means throwing the prescription away and not having anything more to do with the drug. Are you willing to do this?

If you go in to confess, but then purpose to continue this sin, I am afraid that there might not be that spirit of repentence. Also, I would discourage you from going in on a “trial run”. Granted, when I was a child, we had a “practice confession” for those of us who would be makingour first one, it works for eight year olds, but, not for adults. I would advise you to sit down with the priest and be up front with him. Explain to him what you have shared with us. Let him gujide you. Then, when the time comes, you will be ready.

 

[Linda_Marie]

I mean, as a Protestant, we believe that if we confess our sins and believe that Jesus is Lord, we are saved and forgiven. We continually confess our sins to be made right w/God, We don’t see a need for a mediator /priest to hear our confession, because Jesus is the High Priest that does that for us.I say I “thought” because it wasn’t until investigating the Catholic thing that I thought maybe I wasn’t - it seems really hard to believe to me though that God would not honor my confession directly. All these things are what makes converting hard…it’s such a complete change in the way I was taught about justification, salvation, etc.

I suppose this is where I have problems with the Protestant belief that one only needs to confess to Christ. Without Christ, in person, right in front of you, speaking to you, it seems to me that it is only wishful thinking that you are forgiven. There is no way of knowing for sure, unless you count the ‘feeling’. ‘Feelings’ can lead us astray and are not to be trusted entirely.

Christ, Himself, gave the Apostles the charism of being able to forgive sins. It is explicit in the Bible. They passed this charism on through Apostolic Succession in the laying on of hands when a new priest is ordained.

In order for a priest to be able to forgive your sins, through the power granted to him by Christ, he has to hear your sins. Although the mechanism or discipline of how confession is administered has changed through the ages, today, we do this in private via the confessional.

I totally understand the fear prior to Confession. I’ve been Catholic 28 years now and I still feel some trepidation on entering the confessional. It is a very personal, very humbling experience but I am so grateful that Christ has given us this means of reconciling with Him.

Praying for you

 

[mesl4]

mesl4;4322435:

Let’s start by going to the beginning. When Jesus appeared to the surviving 11 Apostles, after he greeted them with the words “Peace be with you,” he said (and this comes from John’s Gospel):

Gosh, it’s such a different way of looking at Jesus’ work for us. As a Protestant, we are taught that all of our salvation and forgiveness comes from God, and absolutely nothing adds to that. I’m gathering from the Catholic view, that we are more participants w/Jesus. Like he wanted to have humans work things out w/eachother, and by needing another human (priest) to go through for forgiveness, we are more likely to change…? When Jesus says, “Now the dwelling of God is with men” maybe he really meant he was passing on authority to them to do here on Earth what he would normally be doing from heaven.? I don’t know. It’s just so different. This is why it’s so hard for me to know if it’s true or not.

I am concerned about your usage of birth control. It is a serious sin in the eyes of the Church. As someone said in this thread, it is serious because it impedes the creation of life.

Were you to go to confession now, you would need to have a firm purpose of amendment. That is part and parcel to receiving the graces from this sacrament. A firm purpose of amendment means that you are resolved never to do this again. Now, all of us go through this in that we make an earnest stab at staying clean, but, we fall into sin. But, in the case of birth control, this means throwing the prescription away and not having anything more to do with the drug. Are you willing to do this?

If you go in to confess, but then purpose to continue this sin, I am afraid that there might not be that spirit of repentence

.

I have been married for 10 yrs and have 2 kids. My husband is not interested in being Catholic at this time (although he technically is since he was confirmed as a teen). I’ve been on birth control pills for years, but went just to condoms a few yrs ago because of headaches. Condoms are still against the church right? I’ve been trying to figure out the Natural Family Planning things the last month or so in case I really become Catholic,but we’re so nervous about it. We really don’t want to have more kids. It’s especially hard since he doesn’t believe in the Church/that BC (birth control)is a sin. I don’t think all BC is sin , just when it dislodges or impedes a fertilized zygote from implanting. If it just prevents fertilization (ie. condoms) is it still a sin? If the Church says so, and I become Catholic, of course I’ll abide by that, but for now, I’m not sure if I’ll even convert.

 

[mesl4]

I suppose this is where I have problems with the Protestant belief that one only needs to confess to Christ. Without Christ, in person, right in front of you, speaking to you, it seems to me that it is only wishful thinking that you are forgiven. There is no way of knowing for sure, unless you count the ‘feeling’. ‘Feelings’ can lead us astray and are not to be trusted entirely.

 

[benedictgal]

benedictgal;4322593:

mesl4;4322435:

Gosh, it’s such a different way of looking at Jesus’ work for us. As a Protestant, we are taught that all of our salvation and forgiveness comes from God, and absolutely nothing adds to that. I’m gathering from the Catholic view, that we are more participants w/Jesus. Like he wanted to have humans work things out w/eachother, and by needing another human (priest) to go through for forgiveness, we are more likely to change…? When Jesus says, “Now the dwelling of God is with men” maybe he really meant he was passing on authority to them to do here on Earth what he would normally be doing from heaven.? I don’t know. It’s just so different. This is why it’s so hard for me to know if it’s true or not.
.

I have been married for 10 yrs and have 2 kids. My husband is not interested in being Catholic at this time (although he technically is since he was confirmed as a teen). I’ve been on birth control pills for years, but went just to condoms a few yrs ago because of headaches. Condoms are still against the church right? I’ve been trying to figure out the Natural Family Planning things the last month or so in case I really become Catholic,but we’re so nervous about it. We really don’t want to have more kids. It’s especially hard since he doesn’t believe in the Church/that BC (birth control)is a sin. I don’t think all BC is sin , just when it dislodges or impedes a fertilized zygote from implanting. If it just prevents fertilization (ie. condoms) is it still a sin? If the Church says so, and I become Catholic, of course I’ll abide by that, but for now, I’m not sure if I’ll even convert.

The issue of birth control goes back to the very beginning. Let’s see what Genesis says:

26 And he said: Let us make man to our image and likeness: and let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that moveth upon the earth. 27*** And God created man to his own image: to the image of God he created him: male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply***

, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth

Note that God said, “Increase and multiply.” The whole notion of birth control implies that we want to be like God; we want to have control over our own bodies. My friend, this was the first sin, the desire for power and control. It wasn’t so much that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. The forbidden fruit was that they wanted to be like God. They wanted power. They wanted to control their own destiny. That is how sin entered the picture and ruined it for the rest of us.

As Catholics, we must be open to new life. That is what we have been called to be from the very beginning. God said be fruitful and multiply. Children are a blessing. They are God’s gift to us. He will provide. And, birth control is birth control, no matter who uses it, whether the man or the woman. It is still a sin.

As far as your husband is concerned, whether he will admit to it or not, he is Catholic. The Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist he received did not blot out the indelible mark on his soul. The faith may be dormant, but, it is there. Maybe this conversion will be a moment of grace for you.

Jesus never said that following Him and His Church would be easy. The road to salvation is narrow and hard while the road to perdition is wide.