Word: confession
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Roman Catholic Church urges its faithful to confess their sins to a priest at least once a year, and insists that they do so before receiving Communion if they have committed a mortal sin. In theory, confession should be a cleansing encounter between the believer and God, during which the priest, acting in God's name, forgives a penitent his sins and advises him on how to lead a more holy life. In crowded urban churches-or even outside them, as at the outdoor confessionals sometimes seen in such traditionally Catholic countries as Poland-confession is often a mechanical...
...number of Catholic thinkers are now wondering about how the practice of confession can be brought more into line with the reforming trends of the Vatican Council. Writing in Kansas City's National Catholic Reporter Brother Philip, a former provincial of the Christian Brothers, recently suggested that in addition to private confession there ought to be general confessions of entire congregations. "All present at Mass," explained Brother Philip, "would confess their sins privately and then receive the general absolution." Private confession, he suggested, should be primarily for those who desire it and want extended personal counseling...
Hardly Any Sinner. Experiments along this line are already going on. In some Dutch parishes, a general confession is included in the Mass, although penitents are also expected to confess their sins privately to the priest in order to receive absolution. In Germany, some theologians feel that frequent confession is no longer necessary, on the theory that most Catholics hardly ever commit a sin serious enough to justify it. Catholics, they say, should be free to rely on their own consciences and receive Com munion without first making a confession. Normally, Catholic children today make their first confession and receive...
While the Republicans blushed, California Democrat James Gorman said: "I must confess that when the venerable gentleman from Virginia espouses a voting rights bill, my overly suspicious nature raises questions." House Speaker John W. McCormack mused that the Southerners had put the Republicans "in a very untenable position...
...back in Cincinnati. He had himself told Bliss of the raid, and Bliss had "professed satisfaction with my work." But "when the adverse publicity started to flow, the chairman weakened in his support of me, and it was apparent that I was to be sacrificed." Added Kelly: "I must confess that my short stay in politics in Washington has proved that a position with the Republican National Committee is more dangerous than that encountered in my time as a liaison pilot in World...