Sacrament of Reconciliation and the 5th Step

[tundramom]

I am wondering how many people in 12 step groups go to their Priest for a 5th step?

I am not quite there yet, but I’m starting on my 4th step and would like to know if it’s usually done with a sponsor or a Priest.

I have big trust issues, and although I do trust my sponsor, I think I would feel more comfortable doing this step with my Priest or can I do it with both? A sponsor doesn’t have the authority for forgiveness and I know there’s some things that will be dug up in the process of my 4th step that will also need it.

Any thoughts?

in Christ
Steph

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I have never been a member of a 12-step group, so I’m not sure of their “rules,” but from what little I have heard many people do go to sacramental confession as one of their steps. It seems entirely appropriate to me, as you are admitting your faults to another human person and at the same time getting God’s forgiveness and the help of His grace to overcome whatever it is you are trying to overcome. What could be better than that? Sounds like a great deal to me!

God bless you in your efforts.

 

[chiibug]

I am wondering how many people in 12 step groups go to their Priest for a 5th step?

I am not quite there yet, but I’m starting on my 4th step and would like to know if it’s usually done with a sponsor or a Priest.

I have big trust issues, and although I do trust my sponsor, I think I would feel more comfortable doing this step with my Priest or can I do it with both? A sponsor doesn’t have the authority for forgiveness and I know there’s some things that will be dug up in the process of my 4th step that will also need it.

Any thoughts?

in Christ
Steph

This chick does! And I always bring a list, so I have a written moral inventory as well. Confession is a great place for 5 and 6!

 

[jmcrae]

I am wondering how many people in 12 step groups go to their Priest for a 5th step?

I am not quite there yet, but I’m starting on my 4th step and would like to know if it’s usually done with a sponsor or a Priest.

I have big trust issues, and although I do trust my sponsor, I think I would feel more comfortable doing this step with my Priest or can I do it with both? A sponsor doesn’t have the authority for forgiveness and I know there’s some things that will be dug up in the process of my 4th step that will also need it.

Any thoughts?

in Christ
Steph

Even my Dad went to a priest for his 5th step, and he is not even Catholic. The reason was for the sake of privacy.

 

[baltobetsy]

Can you share with us non-12-step people what the steps are, so we understand what you all are talking about? Thanks so much!

Betsy

 

[chiibug]

Can you share with us non-12-step people what the steps are, so we understand what you all are talking about? Thanks so much!

Betsy

*  Step 1 - We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable
* Step 2 - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
* Step 3 - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God
* Step 4 - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves
* Step 5 - Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs
* Step 6 - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
* Step 7 - Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings
* Step 8 - Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all
* Step 9 - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others
* Step 10 - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it
* Step 11 - Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out
* Step 12 - Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs

 

[tundramom]

I should have thought of posting the steps. Blonde moment there!

Thanks chilibug for posting them!

in Christ
Steph

 

[Seatuck]

I am wondering how many people in 12 step groups go to their Priest for a 5th step?

I am not quite there yet, but I’m starting on my 4th step and would like to know if it’s usually done with a sponsor or a Priest.

I have big trust issues, and although I do trust my sponsor, I think I would feel more comfortable doing this step with my Priest or can I do it with both? A sponsor doesn’t have the authority for forgiveness and I know there’s some things that will be dug up in the process of my 4th step that will also need it.

Any thoughts?

in Christ
Steph

I’m pretty sure the Big Book recommends going to your clergyman if your religion has a process like confession which the Catholic Church does. The “practicing” Catholics I know did go to their priest.