Confession

The Baltimore Catechism defines confession as simply "...the telling of our sins to an authorized priest for the purpose of obtaining forgiveness." Another of Rome's Catechisms states that "Sins are forgiven by the power of God, which Jesus Christ has given to the priests of His Church." The French Catechism goes even further in its description of confession, claiming that "One must receive absolution in feelings of total humility, considering the confessor (the priest), as Jesus Christ Himself whose place he takes." It is taught that the confession of one's sins to a priest, one of 6 commandments decreed by the Roman Catholic Church, should be made at least once a year. "In the Roman system the priest constantly comes between the sinner and God. In...the New Catechism No. 1, with imprimatur by Cardinal Francis Spellman, of New York, we read: 'You must tell your sins to the priest to have them forgiven.' And again, 'Confession is telling your sins to the priest to obtain forgiveness.'"