Is there anywhere in the bible that requires the formal act of confession? Can’t you just always repent personally? It’s not like the omniscient deity can’t read your mind.
Yes, you can repent directly to the lord, but most people can’t hear the lord and won’t get the benefits of therapy from it, they’ll only get the benefits of mindfulness. At a confessional everyone can get the benefits of amateur therapy.
No. The repentance of each individual sin is not required either as shown in the Lord’s Prayer. “Forgive us our debts/trespasses” shows that we can simply ask God to forgive us in general, although it is good to ask forgiveness for individual sins for our own reflection.
That begs the question of The Bible being the only source of truth and authority, an assertion to which catholics do not acquiesce and a point of contention between them and many protestant sects.
book of nature wut wut grandeur written all around us etc
There’s nowhere in the Bible that it says everything of the faith is contained in the bible. Though it does say that we should cling to tradition even if not written “Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.” 2 Thessilonians 2:15
That being said, the Church usually points to Jesus as having instituted the sacrament of reconciliation here "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” John 20:23
Pope is fed up with your bs. Asks you to go take it up with God
More Pope Francis out of context please!
