The Protestant misconception about willful sin

[unshinbop]

Protestants constantly state that under the Catholic scheme of salvation and forgiveness, there is no impetus to make effort to stop sinning. Go out, do what you will, and simply fix it all later by going to confession.

I know there are bible verses that discourage taking this cavelier attitude toward sinning, but at the same time, I’d like to know why the Catholic scheme of forgiveness should not be viewed as encouraging Catholics to sin.

One question that I haven’t seen answered is “what about the confessing sinner, who does not feel guilty nor sincerely seek forgiveness, but confesses anyway out of sheer habit”?
Can the priest make a discretionary decision on whether the confessor is being sincere?

 

[DavidFilmer]

Protestants constantly state that under the Catholic scheme of salvation and forgiveness, there is no impetus to make effort to stop sinning. Go out, do what you will, and simply fix it all later by going to confession.

I would propose that this does not “encourage” sin nearly as much as the typical protestant idea of “once saved, always saved.” Nobody that I know likes to go to Confession - especially if we repeat the same sins over and over. Yet, the typical protestant has no such obligation - he can sin at will, and it makes no difference.

One question that I haven’t seen answered is “what about the confessing sinner, who does not feel guilty nor sincerely seek forgiveness, but confesses anyway out of sheer habit”? Can the priest make a discretionary decision on whether the confessor is being sincere?

The Catholic Church recognizes two types of “contrition” (sorrow) for our sins. There is perfect contrition - the realization that our sin is offensive to Jesus, whom we love, and thus we are sorry that we have offended Jesus, out of love for him. Then there is imperfect contrition - the realization that we could be punished for our sins, so we are sorry because we fear punishment.

The Church recognizes that we may obtain absolution for mortal sin (under some circumstances) if we have perfect contrition alone. But we may obtain forgiveness through sacramental Confession if we have either perfect or imperfect contrition. But we must have some level of contrition (sorrow).

Thus, a person who enters the confessional out of habit, but with absolutely no contrition whatsoever (and without the will to have contrition), lacks the capacity to receive the Graces of the Sacrament. This person lies when he recites the prayer of penance, and approaches the Sacrament under false pretenses.

The Confessor does, indeed, have the authority to withhold absolution if he is able to discern (for whatever reason) that it should be withheld. “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven, and whose sins you do not forgive are not forgiven” (John 20:23). Jesus did not place any conditions on this authority to forgive sins (or to withhold forgiveness).

 

[fred_conty]

The observation was made,
“Protestants constantly state that under the Catholic scheme of salvation and forgiveness, there is no impetus to make effort to stop sinning. Go out, do what you will, and simply fix it all later by going to confession.”

There are motives to stop. The Holy Eucharist may not be received without first receiving
the sacrament of forgiveness. The Catholic never knows when the moment may come
when he is summoned before God, and if unprepared knows the consequences. The unhappiness of being in sin itself and away from the love of Jesus is in itself a great
incentive to resist sin. This eats away at one’s peace of mind. Although it is a blessing
to be allowed the previlege of confession, it isn’t always so easy to accuse oneself of guilt especially to someone else. Lots of motives not to do it again.

“In trying to get rid of bad habits, it is of the greatest importance not to put off going to confession after a fall, and also to keep to the same confessor.” St. Philip Neri