Problems in the Church

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Quicker than searching through Canon Law would be to go to the search box on the Ask An Apologist page for ‘confession obligation’ or similar (or direct to the answer for Aug.29th, 2007).

In that answer, Fr. Serpa gives the same reply as I remembered from Quick Questions. And it was indeed Canon Law 989 as I thought.
 
Furthermore, if you can find a person who will say they have not committed a sin or (not even a mortal sin) in the last year, then they are living in sin, specifically the sin of pride.
I think the most likely reason is that they don’t have a well-informed/formed conscience. I recall asking a priest in my high school religious ed class, “So if I don’t believe something is a sin, it’s not a sin for ME??” to which he replied “No, it’s not.”

There are any number of Catholics who believe “You shall not commit adultery” applies only to married people and that there is nothing wrong with sex before marriage. They don’t think they are doing anything wrong by living together without being married. Unless we have priests willing to get up there and help them form their conscience then don’t be surprised if they don’t feel the need for confession.
 
I share in your opinion about poor catechesis. Our children do not know what they believe! For example, the class of middle schoolers I teach in my parish did not know that Catholics were required to attend Confession once a year. This is just one of the basic tenets that these students did not know. These children are smart, but parents are not teaching the faith at home. They think that “magically” their children will learn everything they are supposed to know about Catholicism in an hour a week for a year. It doesn’t work that way. While I agree that quite a few of the CCD programs are weak, we must remember that it is our responsibility to continue these lessons at home. As CCD teachers, we must also supplement our lessons. While preparing for our lessons and seeing one that is weak, we should not be afraid to use outside materials. Kids know that Jesus will always love them; however, they are seeking a deeper relationship with him. If we stay at the surface level at CCD and children don’t receive proper instruction at home, then they will go throughout their lives not being spiritually fed. Please pray for the students, parents, and teachers involved in educating the faith.
I agree completely! me being young myself, the only thing i ever herd from my parents about God was that he was good, and there were three persons in one God, and nothing else. it wasnt untill i started going to youth group that i started to actually learn anything about the Catholic church. we need to pray that parents and teachers of any sort will teach the living truths of our faith, and also ourselves teach the faith to anyone that does not know much about the church. please pray for these changes, God bless
 
So is the moral of this story, ignorance is bliss and salvation?
It appears so. As my priest confessor once told me, and he’s in the best position to know, there is a direct correlation between the level of education and the need to confess certain sins.
 
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