The Confession Ritual is a Form of Control

A year or so ago I read a book that reviewed the decline of the practice of confession among Catholics. It used to be a regular event, monthly or maybe annually. Now it is seldom practiced except by older members. It fell out of favor, at least in part, by the sexual of a few priests. The question was planted in people's mind, "Why should I share any secret part of my life with this guy?"

The link discusses the difference between the practice of confession and that of talking to a licensed therapist. It would be wise if every branch of Christianity became aware of how confession, put in the hands of an untrained and dangerous person, can do great harm.

Catholics are not the only branch of Christianity that uses a form of confession to control its members. Other branches, often called "high maintenance", that control through confession are Mormons (now called Latter Day Saints) and old order Amish. On the web one can listen to stories of abuse from the practice. 

There are any number of therapists in every community available if one wants to unload problems and prefers someone removed from her circle. One must be cautious about this, too. The field of therapy has been invaded by religious opportunists. Religions have their own organizations to "certify" their own people. 

A priest late friend, an honest and wonderful person, said in the early days of the Catholic abuse scandal he did not believe the abuse stories. He said abuse would have been revealed in confession and Catholic clergy would have put a stop to it. He was naive about his colleagues. 

Confession encapsulates the entire problem of Christianity. The faith defines sin for you. Then it tells you that only by begging for forgiveness, and some money is ok too, can the sin document be whipped clean. It's nasty through and through.