Several JWD posters asked me to address this topic:
JW confession: It is not really a confession, even though confession may happen. That is why it is not called confession. Rather,the JW system is called a Judial Committee JC. The arrangement is a church government system by which there is an almost automatically assummed adversarial relationship between accused and the JC. The JC is at times all three of a court system: Judge, Jury, and Prosecutor. There is no advocate or defense agent. The JC court comes complete with notes and records designed to be used in the future if needed. The accused is always outnumbered by three or more elders. Elders are trained that the first goal of the JC is to first, and formost, protect the cleanliness of the Congregation. The JC becomes, in effect, a glorified bouncer group that rejects anyone that they feel does not fit in with the group. If, in the course of deliberations, the accused expresses sorrow for some transgression, then they are given a prescribed punishment. They are watched, and over time, gradually trusted again to have full membership privileges when they are no longer deemed a threat to the group. Counseling is not about healing, but further admonishion about the error of the accused, and how such ones should be grateful they were permitted to remain in the group.
Protestant Confession: Usually does not involve the Pastor or church leadership. Confession to God alone is normally considered adequate. However, a pentitant may seek counseling from a Pastor,and often times it is about healing and rebirth. In some fundamentalists churches confession can turn into something that resembles what the JWs do, except it will still be about the restoration and healing of the individual.
Catholic Confession: Forgiveness comes from God alone. One only has to pray for it. One confesses to a priest in the strictest of confidence, where it is one-on-one, with no notes, no allegations, and no threat of puinishment. It is only about using a human that one can trust completely, so that confession takes on a human touch. Once complete, the Priest gives absolution in recognition of what God has already done. When I made my first confession after 38-years, I broke down in shame about how I was so unkind toward the Church while a JW, and yet the Church was always kind to me, even paying $75,000 of my medical bills and asking nothing of me in return ... not even to come back to the Church. Confession is never about sins against the Chruch, but only those things that one does against God and against other people. The priest was not worried about anything I did to threaten the Church, but he was instead concerned about my healing, and he was fascinated by those ex-JWs who helped me in my journey home.
Whether one is a Protestant or Catholic, confession is not about salvation, for Christ already paid the price. Rather, confession is about a loving relationship with God, and how one lives life in the Christian walk. Confession is totally interconnected with healing, and recognizing that a real relationship with God involves feelings and issues and living life. The difference between Protestant and Catholic confession is about the role of the Church. Either way, it appears to me to be something far and above different from anything the JWs could or would ever do. Confession helps us see how precious and valueable salvation is ... and is one way among many that an individual can recalibrate their walk with Christ in the Holy Spirit.
Jim Whitney
Jim Whitney