www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall It's Official - Tony Blair is now RC

I would have to disagree VERY strongly that "excessive Roman legalism" has driven many away from the Sacrament.

In fact the opposite seems to be true. When the Church was REALLY "legalistic," like back in the 1950s and on back for a few centuries, practically everyone confessed. Our dear Alice just said a couple weeks ago how she was impressed as a child because all of her Roman Catholic girlfriends confessed weekly.

Now, with the advent of the '60s and a turning away from "legalism," confessions have dwindled to next to nothing. It seems that instead of legalism, the "new approach" of stressing that sin isn't so bad, everybody does it, no big deal has led people to (gasp!) BELIEVE these lies they are told, and therefore to see no need in confession any longer.

Alexis

They dismiss the authority, so why would they believe themselves to be obligated to confess?

Terry

I would agree that a huge problem today is, as Pius XII said, the loss of the sense of sin. However, I am old enough to remember the "good old days" and it's true that, thanks to our good scholastics, Catholics had enough guilt to make a staunch Calvinist feel like a libertine. Unfortunately, the Church came out of the scholastic period with nearly everything defined as a sin. Granted, I don't like the extreme that's taught today - nothing is sinful - but there has to be a happy medium somewhere.

"Go EAST young man."

I am East. I work for the Latins, I am not a member.

A SPY! A SPY!!! hehehe

I know Pani Rose. I'm OK.

Ohhhhhhhh well that does make a difference. If one is in favor with the Pani....well....that SAYS something! However, the question becomes...DO you have enough influence with Deacon Stan to keep him out of the Christmas Chocolates? (Ask Pani Rose for more info )