Confession Isn’t Therapy
The article discusses the decline in regular confession among Catholics since the 1970s. It highlights a shift from viewing confession as a routine spiritual practice to a more therapeutic approach focused on personal encounters and emotional processing. This change has led to many Catholics only seeking confession during significant moral crises rather than as a regular part of their spiritual lives.
- ▪Frequent confession was once a normal practice among Catholics, occurring monthly or even weekly.
- ▪The emphasis on confession shifted after the Second Vatican Council, focusing more on reconciliation and personal encounter rather than routine confession of sins.
- ▪Many Catholics now approach confession only after major moral failures, reflecting a significant change in how the sacrament is perceived.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Confession Isn’t Therapy Thomas Petri May 20, 2026 Share Article Frequent confession was once normal—monthly, biweekly, or even weekly. But it became rarer among Catholics formed from the 1970s through the 1990s. Today, many Catholics go to confession only after major moral failures or when life feels spiritually overwhelming. Strictly speaking, confession is only required for mortal sins, and there was an emphasis on that fact in seminary formation and catechesis after the Second Vatican Council. Some years ago, a friend reported to me that her parish priest tersely instructed the faithful, “Don’t waste my time in the confessional with your little sins.” Historically, however, many Catholics confessed venial sins regularly.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at First Things.
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