Ask a Catholic

[Randy Carson]

Your explanation why the catholic faith was true was because of reason and grace. That’s a little insane. How is that an explanation for providing us with evidence that leads to truth? Most people on here care about truth,  so when you claim something to be true, actually provide facts to back it up in the future.

To me, confession is very twisted. To force the little seven year olds to go into a room with a priest by themselves, and force them to tell this man all the bad things they have done. That’s seriously twisted. I remember my first time doing it and the next 30-35 times over the years. I was nervous up until when I was 16 or something. Then you got some sinless, judgmental pricks in there, who would ask, ”Why would you do something like that?” when it was something minor. It never made sense why I couldn’t repent to god and the person I wronged.

Do you believe you have to confess your sins to get into heaven? I was taught that you couldn’t go to heaven unless you confessed your sins to a priest.

It is not an absolute necessity but a normative necessity...except in the case of mortal sin when it is an absolute necessity.

I am going to assume that you do not believe in God and the Bible is just a work of fiction. I understand that.

However, would you be willing to concede that Catholics believe that God does exists and that the Church and the Bible are authoritative? That's logical, right?

So, the Bible (and the Church) teaches that the apostles were given authority by Jesus to forgive sin .

John 20:22-23
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Now, how could the apostles forgive sins unless they knew of them? And how could they know of them unless they were confessed?

There are many other verses from the OT and the NT which support the sacrament of reconciliation.

Do you believe that god actually answers prayers (I mean not with a “no” answer all the time)?

Yes. I know so.

Can you see why people don’t believe in prayers?

It appears that things just happen. God says “yes” to the things that are going to happen anyway, and the things that are likely to never happen or that are impossible to happen without a god, don’t. If you believe in prayer, maybe provide an example or two why you do.

If you don't mind, this is a very hostile forum, and I don't need to have my own personal experiences mocked by those who are not really in a position to understand. Sorry.

What I would suggest instead is that you ask, ask again, or continue to ask that God reveal Himself to you. He's been waiting for all eternity to do so.