Would You Confess Your Sins to the Pope?

Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA Today July 14, 2011

Bristol Palin: Mom has 'God on her side'

God is always on tap to hear believers repent but for Catholics, it's the Sacrament of Reconciliation -- the current lingo for confession to a priest -- that lifts the burdens of sin.

Now a handful of select young Catholic will get to tell their sins to the top guy: Pope Benedict XVI himself will hear confessions.

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According to CathNews, he'll guide their repentance as part of the celebration of World Youth Day next month in Madrid -- and give a publicity boost to the Church's latest efforts to encourage people to seek the sacraments.

The Vatican also just published the document The Priest, Minister of Divine Mercy - An Aid for Confessors and Spiritual Directors. It's a manual on how to be good confessors.

I don't know the statistics in Spain or Europe but in the USA attention to the sacraments, which can only be offered by a priest, is slipping.

In 2008, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University surveyed 1,007 self-identified adult Catholics on their sacramental life . While about 26% said they participated in this sacrament at least once a year, and 30% said they did so less often, a full 45% said they never did, up from 42% in 2005. It also found:

About six in ten respondents agree at least "somewhat" that they can be a good Catholic without celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation at least yearly. One-third agree"strongly."

DO YOU THINK .. if the pope himself would hear about your sins, you'd show up and fess up? Does repenting -- with or without a priest -- make you feel closer to God?

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Cathy Lynn Grossman is too fidgety to meditate. But talking about visions and values, faith and ethics lights her up. Join in at Faith & Reason. More about Cathy.

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