Why do Catholics confess their sins… to a priest?
You’re only human, which means we’re often tempted to sin, and sometimes weak. Our Christian life requires lifelong conversion, which is why Jesus gave the Church the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Only God forgives sins. Jesus gave this power to men to use in His name. This is expressed in Christ’s words to the apostle Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound on heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19) And again: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:23) Why do we have a pope? Jesus established leadership to make sure that the key jobs of teaching, governing and sanctification would continue in his Church. The Pope holds the title Successor to Peter. Jesus chose Peter to be the leader of His church. Jesus said, “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall n
