A lot of people seem to have the impression that the Catholic church tends to bring out feelings of guilt and shame to its people. I have heard people say things like “well that’s just there to shame the people” when speaking about confession. I have also heard people say “Catholic guilt is a real thing!”

As I address these things, I want to do so as lovingly as possible because people obviously are saying these things for a reason. It is apparent that, at some point in their lives, they have experienced pain as a result of Catholic law. First of all, if that sounds like you, I want to express my deepest regrets and sadness that that has happened to you. What I want to communicate is that that isn’t why the Catholic commandments are in place, and that certainly isn’t why the Catholic sacrament of confession exists.