A majority of Catholics do not regularly go to Confession, but many remain open to returning to the sacrament or have said they would like to go more often, according to a new 2026 report from The Catholic Pulse Report.
The study found that while participation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation has declined in recent decades, many Catholics have not rejected it outright. Instead, the findings point to a continued openness often rooted in a desire for God’s mercy.
The study, which was based on a national survey of 1,500 U.S. Catholics during the week of Feb. 18, found that 68% said they have not gone to Confession within the past year.
However, nearly 8 in 10 Catholics said the desire to experience God’s forgiveness and mercy would draw them back to Confession, making it the strongest motivation identified in the study.
The report also noted that this is a part of a broader trend: many Catholics remain open to returning to Confession. Two in 3 of those who had not gone within the past year said that they are open to going more often and expressed the desire to do so.
Hans Plate, founder of Vinea Research Group, which launched the Catholic Pulse Report, noted in a March 24 emailed press release that data on Confession attendance is fairly scarce.
“As central as Confession is to Catholic life, in-depth national research on this sacrament has been surprisingly limited,” Plate said. “This study illuminates not just how often Catholics go, but why they go, why they don’t, and what they experience when they do.”
Examining why some Catholics avoid the confessional, the report found the most common barriers “are personal, not practical.”
Many respondents said they can simply ask God for forgiveness through prayer rather than going to Confession, a view held by about 70% of those who have “not been in a while” or only went as children, though the Church affirms the importance of sincere prayer while teaching that the sacrament of reconciliation is necessary for the forgiveness of sins.
“The implication is clear: renewal will require deeper catechesis on the unique grace and assurance offered through sacramental absolution,” the report stated.
According to the release, the study found that 50% of those who have not gone to Confession in over a year felt embarrassed to confess their sins, and 53% say the experience is “uncomfortable”. At the same time, 43% of infrequent penitents “say they would go more often if they heard that struggling with the same sins is normal, an equal percentage desire a greater emphasis on mercy over judgment,” the release said.
When asked what might encourage them to return, respondents pointed to reassurance, better preparation, and a clearer understanding of the sacrament, according to the report.
Emphasizing what ultimately draws people back, Father John Riccardo of the Archdiocese of Detroit – a missionary and executive of ACTS XXIX, a Catholic ministry initiative focused on Church renewal and mission — also commented in the report. He said that emphasizing God’s mercy is a powerful way to encourage people to return.
“While there is no ‘silver bullet’ to foster a return to confession,” Fr. Riccardo said, “joyfully proclaiming what the Father who is rich in mercy has done for us in His Son … does in fact draw many people back to the Father’s house.”