A Judge in the Confessional

Question: Your statement that priests claim to have the power to "judge sinners" is false. The priest does not judge the sinner. The Church does not teach that sins are not forgiven unless they are forgiven by a priest. The priest is there to help the sinner truly know his sins are forgiven.

Answer: I respectfully invite you to reconsider what the Catholic Church officially teaches regarding the Sacrament of Penance.

Contrary to your assertion, the Catholic Church teaches that, ordinarily, sacramental confession and absolution are necessary for the forgiveness of sins. The Baltimore Catechism poses the question: “Could God not forgive our sins if we confessed them to Himself in secret?” The answer given is: “Certainly, God could forgive our sins if we confessed them to Himself in secret, but He has not promised to do so; whereas He has promised to pardon them if we confess them to His priests.”

This is a remarkable claim, especially given that the New Testament does not instruct Christians to confess their sins to a priest. Instead, the Lord Jesus directs us to pray to our Father in secret, to ask him for forgiveness, and assures us that he will forgive us if we also forgive others. This is his solemn promise: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14; see also Matthew 6:6–15).

Moreover, the official documents of the Catholic Church assert that the role of the priest is not merely that of a counselor in this sacrament, but that he does in fact serve a judicial role. Consider the following from the Council of Trent:

“It is true that priestly absolution is the dispensation of another’s kindness; yet, it does not consist in the mere ministry of proclaiming the Gospel or of declaring that the sins have been forgiven, but it has the pattern of a judicial act in which the priest pronounces sentence as judge” (Council of Trent, Session 14, Chapter 6).

Thus, absolution is described as “a judicial act”, and the priest as one who “pronounces sentence as judge.” This clearly indicates more than pastoral support or reassurance. In fact, the Church goes so far as to pronounce an anathema — a curse — on those who deny this judicial role:

“If anyone says that the sacramental absolution of the priest is not a judicial act but a mere ministry of pronouncing and declaring to the one who confesses that one’s sins are forgiven… anathema sit” (Council of Trent, Session 14, Canon 9).

It follows, then, that according to Catholic teaching, the priest does act as a judge over the penitent, and that God's forgiveness is dispensed through the priest’s judicial authority.

A sinner, weighed down by guilt and shame, does not need another judge. What he needs is a Christian — a minister, a brother, or a sister — who will lovingly point him to Christ. The penitent must hear God’s promise of forgiveness, and his call to turn from sin and believe. Yet, in the end, every soul must come personally before God through Christ — our priest and mediator — and there receive divine pardon and grace. Then sorrow will give way to joy, and shame will be exchanged for praise!

Friend, I urge you to reconsider this man-made tradition. Hear instead the voice of Christ. If you desire God’s forgiveness, go to the Father directly in prayer. He will hear you and forgive you, just as the Lord promised (Matthew 6:6–15)..