Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

Confession is the admission of guilt for forgiveness of sin. To be effective, it is typically expressed to another, usually a cleryman for absolution by him. All mortal sins are expressed to obtain full forgiveness, while not all venial (lesser) sins need be expressed.^{[Citation Needed]}

Confession is usually made in a confidential manner, and clergymen are duty-bound never to disclose a confession. Numerous legal protections also respect this confidentiality in the very rare instance of an attempt to force disclosure.

Confession has played a central role in Christianity from its earliest days, as in the example of the Confessions of St. Augustine.

Confessing one's sins - and performing a prescribed penance - is an important sacrament in the Roman Catholic faith.

Alternate Definitions

Confession in a secular sense is any admission of a wrongdoing, written or spoken.