Some protestants mistakenly believe that the Fourth Lateran Council, in 1215 AD,
invented auricular (heard by a human) confession.
In reality, the Fourth Lateran
Council mandated annual confession for all Catholics - oral confession heard by
priests existed from the start of the Church.
Aphraahat the Persian Sage - "You [ADDED-roman catholic priests],
then, who are disciples of our
illustrious Physician, you ought not deny a curative to those in need of
healing. And if anyone uncovers his wound before you, give him the remedy
of repentance. And he that is ashamed to make known his weakness,
encourage him so that he will not hide it from you. And when he has revealed
it to you, do not make it public, lest because of it the innocent might be
reckoned as guilty by our enemies and by those who hate us" (Treatises 7:3
[AD 340]).
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