Confession

[MissScripture]

I was listening to Catholic radio the other day, and they were talking about explaining confession to non-Catholics. And something was mentioned about how in the beginning, confession was actually done in the presence of the WHOLE congregation, like you confessed to everyone, if I understood it correctly. So, a few questions. 1) Did I understand it correctly? 2) If so, when/why did this change? 3) How did the seal of confession work then?

[CatherineM]

In the early church, there was public confession for public sin, primarily apostasy or heresy. The penance was also public, often lasting a year or more, and absolution came after the penance, not before. Private sin was still confessed privately. Over time, penances in the Church have softened and lightened just as civil penalties have over time. Today the comparable public sin would be things like women attempting to receive ordination, or politicians voting for abortion. There is a call that there should be a comparable public confession/atonement in order for public sinners to be returned.