We are forbidden to confess to any person, as do the
Catholics to their priests, our sins and shortcomings, or to do so in public,
as some religious sects do. However, if we spontaneously desire to acknowledge
we have been wrong in something, or that we have some fault of character, and
ask another person's forgiveness or pardon, we are quite free to do so. The
Guardian wants to point out, however, that we are not obliged to do so. It
rests entirely with the individual. (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, quoted by the Universal House of Justice, 19 March 1973 to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Consultation)
