"Of how much greater faith and salutary fear are they who . . . confess their sins to the priests of God in a straightforward manner and in sorrow, making an open declaration of conscience. . . . I beseech you, brethren, let everyone who has sinned confess his sin while he is still in this world, while his confession is still admissible, while the satisfaction and remission made through the priests are still pleasing before the Lord" (St. Cyrpian of Carthage, The Lapsed, 28 (A.D. 251)
“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)
“Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.” (John 20:23)