QUESTION: AT WHAT POINT IN YOUR LIFE WAS YOUR FAITH CHALLENGED? DID YOUR FAITH GROW OR DIMINISH AS A RESULT?

My faith was first challenged when I was old enough to question. Actually I’m not sure that my faith was challenged, maybe it’s more like my religion. I do believe in God. I went to a Catholic school for twelve years. I still feel I have faith. Though, the problem is that I don’t believe in confession.

I went to confession in grade school because that is what we had to do as a class; we really couldn’t express our opinion and say no. Once I was in high school I didn’t go very often. Yes, we still went as a class but there you pretty much had a choice. I choose not to. Does this make me a bad Catholic? The church probably would say I no longer am Catholic if I choose not to perform this sacrament. I still go to church. I still thank God and pray to him. When it comes down to confession I draw the line.

Don’t get me wrong I know that I sin. I also feel I need to apologize for them when I am truly sorry. Do I really need to confess through I priest? I feel I can talk right to God through pray. What is the difference if I like to talk God instead of a priest? I get the same results. I still feel good about myself for confessing. I was taught the reason we confess is to know we are wrong and want to be forgiven for the sins we have committed. I do not feel in my heart that I need to go to confession. I also know in my heart that God will not punish me if I do not do so.

There have people I have talked to about my issue. Many say I am wrong because it’s what has do be done because it’s what the church says. I have also talked to my family. My grandmother feels the same way. She goes to church every week; she never misses a Sunday. She also does her part by giving to charity and volunteering. Is she wrong also for not believing in confession to a priest? Like me she feels God understands and accepts her way of confession. Another source of information I base my decision on is my peers. Most people in my age group only go to confession because they are scared to go to hell or something like that. I feel they should only go if they feel it’s right no because they fear punishment. I am going to continue doing it the way I feel is right.

Although I do not follow a rule of the church I do not feel I have lost my faith. I still believe in God. I know he understands me. So if you say that my faith might be challenged, I say it has not diminished and probably never will.