This assumption seems confirmed by the prominent role in their ministry of sacramental confession, which of course could be administered only by the ordained.

A Catholic in a state of mortal sin should first make a sacramental confession: otherwise that person commits a sacrilege.

The penitent makes a sacramental confession of all mortal sins to a priest and prays an act of contrition.

Monaghan publicly promotes daily attendance at Mass, daily recitation of the rosary and frequent sacramental confession.

He mentioned the possibility of sacramental confession at the time of Lent.

Typically, the penitent begins sacramental confession by saying, "Bless me Father, for I have sinned.

"It was not a sacramental confession, in which confidentiality would be absolute."

Guilt is actually remitted in the Catholic Church only in virtue of sacramental confession and the sorrow of the penitent.

The indignation seems to have been largely directed against the assumption that sacramental confession was known to the Church of England.

Clearly Bede did not consider such mutual avowal a sacramental confession; he had in mind the monastic confession of faults.