New Books in Sociology

James M. O’Toole, "For I Have Sinned: The Rise and Fall of Catholic Confession in America" (Harvard UP, 2025)

Mar 25, 2025

James M. O’Toole, author of "For I Have Sinned: The Rise and Fall of Catholic Confession in America", explores the intriguing history of Catholic confession from its integral role in American Catholic life to its sharp decline since the 1970s. He discusses how societal changes, the rise of psychology, and shifting attitudes toward the Church have transformed this once-sacred ritual. O’Toole highlights the impact of cultural dynamics, including gender roles, and the challenges of revitalizing this sacrament amidst modern pressures.

01:04:25

Episode guests

James M. O’Toole

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Quick takeaways

The rise and fall of Catholic confession in America highlights its historical significance in shaping Catholic identity and moral frameworks.

Factors such as psychological influences and the Church's stances on social issues contributed to the decline of confessional practice among American Catholics.

Deep dives

The Historical Importance of Confession in American Catholicism

Confession played a significant role in the lives of American Catholics, evolving into a regular practice by the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially, opportunities for Catholics to confess were limited due to a sparse number of priests and scattered populations. However, as Catholic communities grew, especially in urban areas, the infrastructure for regular confession developed, establishing a routine that became intrinsic to Catholic identity. This regularity reinforced the communal and personal dimensions of faith, with the ritual becoming a vital part of the Catholic experience in America.

Intro

2min

The Evolution of Catholic Confession in America

14min

The Ritual of Confession

6min

The Dynamics of Catholic Confession

15min

The Evolving Role of Confession Amidst Psychological Insight

5min

The Decline of Catholic Confession in America

9min

Reforming Confession: 1970s Challenges

8min

Exploring the Intricacies of Catholic Sacraments and Historical Research

3min

For generations, American Catholics went faithfully to confession, admitting their sins to a priest and accepting through him God’s forgiveness. The sacrament served as a distinctive marker of Catholic identity, shaping parishioners’ views of their relationship to God, their neighbors, and the wider world. But starting in the 1970s, many abandoned confession altogether. Focusing on the experiences of both laypeople and priests, in For I Have Sinned: The Rise and Fall of Catholic Confession in America (Harvard University Press, 2025) Dr. James M. O’Toole reconstructs the history of confession’s steady rise—and dramatic fall—among American Catholics.

In the early United States, the Catholic Church grew rapidly—and with it, confession’s centrality. Although the sacrament was practiced unevenly for much of the nineteenth century, frequent confession became common by the early twentieth. Both priests and parishioners understood confession as a ritual crucial for the soul, while on a social level, it established Catholic distinctiveness within a largely Protestant country. Today, however, even faithful Catholics seldom confess. The reasons for this change, Dr. O’Toole reveals, include the emergence of psychology and other forms of counseling; the Church’s stance against contraception, which alienated many parishioners; and a growing sense of confession’s inability to confront social problems like structural racism, poverty, and sexism. Meanwhile, increasing recognition of sexual abuse within the Church further undermined trust in clergy as confessors.

Sensitively attuned to the historical importance of confession, For I Have Sinned also suggests that, if the sacrament no longer serves the needs of US Catholics, the Church and its members might find new ways to express their ideals in the twenty-first century.

This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda’s episodes on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.

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