The topic of confession in the Catholic Church is often confusing for Christians who are not Catholic—and even for Catholics themselves at times. My family attended a Catholic church when I was young, and I remember going to my first confession completely clueless. As a seven-year old, I wasn’t even sure what counted as a sin, let alone which ones I was supposed to confess to the priest. Did I have to list every single wrong thought and action? I was terrified of messing up confession–and having to confess that as well.
While the Bible teaches us to confess our sins directly to God and receive forgiveness because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, Catholics practice confession to a priest in what they call the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation. Let’s explore what else Catholics believe about confessing sins, how their practice compares to Scripture, and what the Bible actually says about sin, confession, and forgiveness.
What Is the Catholic View of Confession?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Since Christ entrusted to his apostles the ministry of reconciliation, bishops who are their successors, and priests, the bishops' collaborators, continue to exercise this power. Indeed bishops and priests, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, have the power to forgive all sins ‘in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Catholics point to John 20:22–23, where Jesus says, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” The Catholic Church interprets this as Jesus granting special power to priests to absolve sins through confession.
For a Catholic, confessing to a priest is not simply about telling someone else what they’ve done wrong. It is viewed as receiving God’s grace with the church’s priest acting as a mediator. The priest prescribes a “penance” (such as prayers or good works) to show repentance, and then pronounces absolution, or the forgiveness of these sins.
From a non-Catholic Christian perspective, however, this raises questions. Scripture makes clear that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). We are encouraged to confess our sins directly to God (1 John 1:9), knowing that forgiveness comes through the finished work of Christ on the cross, not by being absolved by a man of the cloth.
Do Catholics Have to Confess All Sins or Only Serious (Mortal) Ones?
The Catholic Church believes that different “types” of sins determine if they need to be confessed, and that there is a distinction between mortal sins (serious) and venial sins (less serious). According to Catholic teaching:
Mortal sins must be confessed to a priest in order to be forgiven. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Mortal sin… results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace… If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell.”
Venial sins do not automatically cut a person off from God’s grace, but confession within the church is encouraged for spiritual growth.
This creates a system of sin “levels,” where some sins are considered so serious they can lead to eternal separation from God unless confessed to a priest. According to the Bible, the only sin that leads to eternal separation from God is denying Jesus as the sacrifice for our sins (and this needs to be repented before God where we ask for forgiveness and gain eternal life).
But the Bible does not categorize sin in the way that the Catholic Church does. While some sins have more severe earthly consequences (e.g., murder versus lying), James 2:10 tells us, “Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” All sin separates us from God, and all sin needs forgiveness through Christ—not through a sacrament administered by men.
What Is the Difference Between Mortal Sins and Venial Sins?
Catholic teaching defines mortal sin as a grave offense done deliberately with full knowledge of its severity. Examples of what Catholics consider mortal sins include: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and laziness toward spiritual disciplines. These are seen as “capital” sins that lead to other sins and, if unconfessed, cause eternal separation from God.
Venial sins are considered less serious offenses that wound a person’s relationship with God but do not cut it off completely. Examples include: white lies, impatience, gossip, using harsh words, jealousy, laziness in daily duties, small acts of selfishness, forgetting to pray, rude behavior, and minor dishonesty.
The Catechism states, “One commits venial sin when, in a less serious matter, he does not observe the standard prescribed by the moral law, or when he disobeys the moral law in a grave matter, but without full knowledge or without complete consent.” These sins do not require confession, though it’s encouraged to “get right” with God.
In other words, it would appear that it is a matter of intention between mortal and venial sins. It’s interesting that even within venial sins there are levels of sin: small acts of selfishness, minor dishonesty. The problem is trying to measure if it’s “sin enough” to require confession, or to potentially cut a person off from God for eternity. That leaves much to the judgment of man, rather than God.
While the Bible recognizes differences in the earthly consequences of sin, it never minimizes sin’s seriousness. Even what humans might consider “small sins” may reveal a heart that is darker than the sin itself. Jesus warned about this in His Sermon on the Mount when He spoke about anger being akin to murder and lust akin to adultery (Matthew 5:21–28).
What Does the Catholic Church Require for Confession (Sacrament of Penance)?
According to Catholic teaching, legitimate confession requires:
Examination of conscience – reviewing all sins committed since the last confession.
Contrition – genuine sorrow for sins.
Confession – verbally admitting all known mortal sins, committed since the last confession, to a priest.
Absolution – the priest pronounces forgiveness.
Penance – the sinner completes assigned prayers or actions to show repentance.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that all known mortal sins must be confessed individually. Leaving out a mortal sin intentionally is itself considered another mortal sin.
What Does the Bible Say about Confession and Forgiveness?
The Bible teaches several truths about the law of sin and death, and the need for confession to God for forgiveness.
We all have sinned. Romans 3:23 reminds us that every person falls short of God’s glory. No one is perfect or righteous on their own.
Forgiveness comes ONLY through Jesus’ sacrifice. In the Old Testament, God called for the shedding of animal blood as an atonement for the sins of the people. But with Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, Hebrews 9:12 explains that Jesus entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption by His blood.
Confession is directed to God. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” There is no mention of a human intermediary as a necessary step.
We are called to confess sins to one another for prayer and accountability. James 5:16 tells believers to confess sins to one another and pray for one another—not as a means of forgiveness, but for accountability and encouragement.
The biblical truth is very clear: we all sin, we are only forgiven through Jesus Christ as we confess our transgressions to God, and the body of Christ is to support one another in promoting the acknowledgment of our sins and encouraging confession.
Is the Catholic Practice of Confession Biblical?
When measured against Scripture, the Catholic Church’s tradition of confession conflicts with the gospel message. The Bible teaches that forgiveness comes not through formula, ritual, or human mediation, but by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9). In other words, the components of confession of the Catholic faith clash with the truth of the word of God:
Who is the Mediator between God and man?: The Bible affirms only one mediator, Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).
What sacrifice is required to be forgiven of sin: Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient once for all (Hebrews 10:10–14). No penance or priestly ritual adds to His finished work.
The need for confession: Confession is necessary, but it is to God directly (1 John 1:9). Accountability among believers is healthy (James 5:16), but it is not the same as a sacramental requirement. Confession restores our relationship with God if we have trusted His Son’s sacrifice to pay the price for all of our sins for all time.
While confession of sin is biblical, making it dependent on a priest for forgiveness clashes with the sufficiency of Christ’s work. And the work was finished once and for all perfectly.
Are All Sins Forgiven When a Christian Confesses?
Yes, when a person comes to God in repentance and faith, all sins can be forgiven. In fact, Psalm 103:12 declares, “As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.” God Himself provides the way for us to be reconciled to Him, though we were, and remain, sinners until He takes us home.
However, forgiveness is only found in Christ. Jesus warned of the “unpardonable sin”—blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31–32)—which refers to a lifelong rejection of the Spirit’s witness of Jesus Christ. Those who refuse to repent and believe cannot be forgiven, not because God is unwilling, but because they reject His provision of the gift that brings us eternal life.
Can I Be a Catholic without Going to Confession?
According to Catholic teaching, the answer is no. Regular confession is considered a requirement of Catholic life. The Council of Trent (1545–1563) declared that confession to a priest is necessary for the forgiveness of post-baptismal mortal sins.
From a biblical perspective, however, a person can be saved and forgiven without ever confessing to a priest. Salvation is based on faith in Jesus Christ alone, not on membership in a church or performance of sacraments. Romans 10:9 states, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” This type of confession is available to Catholics as well!
What Can We Learn From the Catholic Form of Confession?
Most importantly, we can learn that the biblical model of confession is not based on the temporary powers that Jesus granted the apostles. Priests, even those who came out of the early church, were not the apostles. The Catholic practice of confession to a priest is rooted in tradition formalized in the Middle Ages, especially at the Fourth Lateran Council (1215). However, Scripture directs us to confess our sins directly to God, trusting in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice for forgiveness.
Catholics are taught to confess all mortal sins to a priest. The Bible says we are to confess to God and receive His merciful forgiveness, even after we are saved from eternal death through faith in Christ.
The Catholic Church distinguishes between mortal and venial sins, but the Bible teaches that all sin separates us from God. Before we are believers, they separate us for eternity; after we accept Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, they negatively impact our walk with the Lord.
While the Catholic Sacrament of Penance requires confession, contrition, absolution, and penance, the Bible emphasizes direct confession to God and forgiveness through Christ. Though practices like prayer, meditation, Bible study/memorization, and worship bring us closer to God in our minds, hearts and spirits, they are not practices we do post-absolution.
Forgiveness is complete and available for every sin—including pride, greed, lust, envy, anger, gluttony, sloth, or even taking God’s name in vain—when we repent and believe.
The gospel message is beautifully simple: Christ has already paid the price. We don’t need a human priest to stand between us and God. Instead, we have direct access to the Father through Jesus Christ, our High Priest, “who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising its shame and is seated at the right hand of God the Father” (Hebrews 12:2-3).
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/LUNAMARINA
Mary Oelerich-Meyer is a Chicago-area freelance writer and copy editor who prayed for years for a way to write about and for the Lord. She spent 20 years writing for area healthcare organizations, interviewing doctors and clinical professionals and writing more than 1,500 articles in addition to marketing collateral materials. Important work, but not what she felt called to do. She is grateful for any opportunity to share the Lord in her writing and editing, believing that life is too short to write about anything else. Previously she served as Marketing Communications Director for a large healthcare system. She holds a B.A. in International Business and Marketing from Cornell College (the original Cornell!) When not researching or writing, she loves to spend time with her writer daughter, granddaughter, rescue doggie and husband (not always in that order).
