Growing up in Rome and watching people pray their way up the “holy” steps, watching them wait to confess their sins to men and many things like this, has caused me to grieve for people who are in the Roman Catholic Church. Any religion that is built on the backs of the poor and that propagates works-based righteousness should bring tears and concern to those who have experienced true grace. It is important that we as believers understand the truth of why Catholic confession is not Biblical, not to win an argument but in order to rescue souls. So here are five problems with Roman Catholic confession.

1- Priests can’t see the heart

The stories of Saul and David are fascinating, particularly when we examine their confessions after being confronted with their sins. At first glance, many people might see their confessions as quite similar. Saul said, “Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord,” while David simply stated, “I have sinned against the Lord.” One might argue that Saul’s confession is better worded, but ultimately, both had received a clear message from God, who knows their hearts and understands which one is truly repentant. 

Priests cannot see into the hearts of men, and they are not reliable judges of genuine repentance. Even if they were able to discern if someone were lying by looking into their eyes, they do not have that capability in the context of Catholic confession. Humans are not good judges of what occurs in someone’s heart, nor are they effective at gauging the severity of sin, as we tend to minimize sin while exaggerating human goodness.

2 – Only God can forgive sin

The Pharisees hated that Jesus forgave sins (Matt 9:3). They understood that only the creator of the universe had the authority to do so. When Jesus healed a paralysed man and declared that his sins were forgiven, the Pharisees were furious and ready to condemn him.

It’s astonishing to consider that the Pope might believe he has the power to absolve someone of their sins, assign them tasks, and then send them on their way, free from guilt. In reality, the only one with the authority to forgive sins is God himself (1 John 1:9). Thankfully, He does not leave it up to us to judge whether someone deserves forgiveness or not.

3 – It encourages easy-believism

After speaking with many Catholics, I find it fascinating to see how many rely on three things for their salvation: baptism, the Mass, and ultimately, confession. The belief that one can simply confess their sins and perform a few Hail Marys, while genuinely feeling remorse, fosters a mentality that downplays the severity of sin, suggesting it can be overcome through personal efforts.

It’s important to recognise that it doesn’t take just a few Hail Marys to atone for serious sins, such as abortion; even a thousand wouldn’t suffice. True redemption comes through the shed blood of Christ and a heart that genuinely repents of sin, seeking His forgiveness. This requires an acknowledgment of sin’s gravity, understanding that it deserves eternal punishment in Hell.

4 – It propagates sin

The Roman Catholic Church may not appreciate this, but the practice of easy confession can lead people to become indifferent to their sins. Instead of communicating directly with God, individuals find themselves speaking to a human being who listens to confessions all day. Often, the priest doesn’t know the individual’s face, and the penance given is usually straightforward, making it seem easy to attain forgiveness.

I’ve heard many Catholics say things like, “I’ll just go confess to the priest next week,” as they discuss their sins. When you minimise sin to the point where it no longer feels like a serious matter—believing you can simply pay for it in purgatory and compensate through good actions—you are perpetuating a harmful mindset. If, in the moment of temptation, the thought is, “I can do this and just confess to the priest later to be okay,” we risk creating a system that encourages further sinfulness.

5 – It damns people to hell

Ultimately, Roman Catholic confession can lead people to downplay the seriousness of sin and put their faith in a system instead of a Saviour. It prevents individuals from communicating with the only one who can truly forgive them and instead makes them speak with someone who cannot offer genuine salvation. My heart breaks for those who find themselves trapped in this deception.

I have often shed tears while walking in “churches,” witnessing people lined up to confess their sins, only to be offered easy, worldly solutions to issues that are spiritually serious and could lead to eternal consequences. They are seldom informed about the reality of hell, but rather are offered a false sense of security through the grace of Jesus Christ. It is essential that, as believers, we understand the difference between the true gospel and a false one so that we can guide people toward a genuine relationship with their Creator, rather than a works-based religion.