View source for All Mortal Sins Must Be Confessed to a Priest

"One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, '''must confess to a priest''' all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience" (Catechism, 1493).

"All mortal sins of which penitents after a diligent self-examination are conscious must be recounted by them in confession" (Catechism, 1456).

The pattern of Scripture is to make confession to the Offended Party, and all sin is against God. <span style="color:darkred">"Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest"</span style="color:darkred"> (Psalm 51:4). For this reason, we are enjoined to make confession to God for the forgiveness of sins. <span style="color:darkred">"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"</span style="color:darkred"> (1John 1:9). 

Certainly, man ought to be given confession, '''if he is the party that has been offended.''' <span style="color:darkred">"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother"</span style="color:darkred"> (Matthew 18:15). Confessing your sins to one another is warranted, if the offending party is to return to praying ground. <span style="color:darkred">"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much"</span style="color:darkred"> (James 5:16).

That phrase, "must confess to a priest" (Catechism, 1493) of Rome, viciously rips at the heart of True Christianity, for the Truly God and Yet Truly Man Christ Jesus is '''alone''' our High Priest and Mediator. <span style="color:darkred">"For there is one God, and One Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"</span style="color:darkred"> (1Timothy 2:5). Any who would attempt to '''supplant''' Christ's role as our Confessor, is Against Christ-- which would make them an antichrist. <span style="color:darkred">"Even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the Last Time"</span style="color:darkred"> (1John 2:18). The LORD Jesus alone is our Mediator, <span style="color:darkred">"Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us"</span style="color:darkred"> (Romans 8:34). If Christ alone accepts our confession, then we are received by God-- regardless of priests that may still reject us. <span style="color:darkred">"To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein '''He hath made us accepted''' in the Beloved"</span style="color:darkred"> (Ephesians 1:6).

"One who desires to obtain '''reconciliation''' with God and with the Church" (Catechism, 1493) implies that the reconciliation is a desirable thing, but that belies the Truth. '''For the Earnest Believer, reconciliation with the Church of Rome is unwanted and abhorred. <span style="color:darkred">"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?'''"</span style="color:darkred"> (2Corinthians 6:14). Better that we make our confession to God, for only then will our peace be great. <span style="color:darkred">"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"</span style="color:darkred"> (Philippians 4:7).

===Justification of the Veneration of Icons=== 

"The seventh ecumenical council at Nicaea (787) justified against the iconoclasts '''the veneration of icons"''' (Catechism, 2131).

The icons of Roman Catholicism are the idolatry forbidden in the Ten Commandments. "4 <span style="color:darkred">Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in Heaven above, or that is in the Earth beneath, or that is in the water under the Earth: </span style="color:darkred"> 5 <span style="color:darkred">Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a Jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that '''hate''' Me"</span style="color:darkred"> (Exodus 20:4-5). The papal veneration of icons is the giving of reverence, adoration, and respect that rightly belongs to the Almighty. And, the LORD God is adamant about His refusal to give His glory to the images and relics of Catholicism. <span style="color:darkred">"I am the LORD: that is My Name: and My Glory will I '''not''' give to another, '''neither My Praise to graven images"'''</span style="color:darkred"> (Isaiah 42:8).

The Jealous God rejects all who reject His Word concerning the "veneration of icons" (Catechism, 2131). <span style="color:darkred">"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the Word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee"</span style="color:darkred"> (1Samuel 15:23). It is a light thing to contradict man, but it is monumental to reject God's Word concerning idolatry. <span style="color:darkred">"Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams"</span style="color:darkred"> (15:22). This rejection must culminate in the destruction of not simply the idols, but Babylon herself.  <span style="color:darkred">"Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces"</span style="color:darkred"> (Jeremiah 50:2).



[[Conclusion Roman Catholics]]