Does James 5:16 Justify Confession to a Roman Catholic Priest?
When I asked a Roman Catholic where in the Bible does it say that we must confess our sins to the priest, he simply stated this verse:
James 5:16
So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect. (Good News Translation)
While the verse seems to suggest that you must confess your sins to the priest but there's a huge misunderstanding of the obvious meaning. We must take a look at the phrase "confess your sins to one another" for more understanding.
Here's what John Gill a Reformed Baptist theologian has to say about the matter:
Confess your faults one to another... Which must be understood of sins committed against one another; which should be acknowledged, and repentance for them declared in order to mutual forgiveness and reconciliation; and this is when death and eternity seem near approaching: wherefore this makes nothing for auricular confession used by the Papists which is of all their sins, whereas this is only of such which men offend one another; that is made to priests, but this is made by the saints to anothe, by the offending party to him that is offended, for reconciliation, whereby good end is answered; whereas there is none by the other, and very often bad consequences follow.
In short, you want to know what it means to confess your sins one to another? The truth of the matter is that this is about sins we've committed to each other. This isn't about going to the priest because one another means fellow people. If you've offended someone you need to confess and ask forgiveness from that person. If you've been offended and that person asks you to forgive him or her then you must forgive. This is the cycle of forgiveness is only possible when people confess their faults one to another. If you've sinned against someone then you should confess your sins to that person and ask for forgiveness.
Many Roman Catholic priests have broken this rule several times in a row. Sure, we've got people confessing their sins to them but have they truly confessed their sins before their flock? It's been a series of unholy scandals yet they continue to live in denial. Priestly rape and sodomy are so common yet they hardly never confess it. They've stolen money and cheated people of their money yet they never confessed it. Since most priests usually refuse to confess their sins before his flock when he's sinned then it's no wonder a little Pharisaic leaven creates a huge scandalous lump. Any Roman Catholic priest who exposes the priestly scandals will be in the risk of excommunication from higher authorities.
See also: