In the Catholic Church, reconciliation, also known as the Sacrament of Penance or Confession, is a sacrament that provides forgiveness for sins and reconnects a person with the Church.
The sacrament of reconciliation involves the following steps: Examination of conscience, Confession of sins, Intention to make reparation, Performance of penance, and Absolution.
The sacrament of reconciliation has several purposes, including: Healing the soul, Restoring a relationship with God, Repairing the harm caused by sin, and Re-establishing habits befitting a disciple of Christ.
Catholics believe that baptism removes original sin, but humans still commit sins and therefore need to regularly confess. Only those ordained as priests are permitted to grant absolution.