Yes, and that night, she says her prayers, makes the sign of the cross and goes to sleep smiling.

Good point, I didn't catch that, that was the most important confession and will put Pete through hell but also let him know he can have children. That's what I love about this show, it's so complex and layers of plot and subleties. Peggy did look relieved to have told him

I'm not Catholic, but young Hanks sure seemed to be BADGERING (not just "advising") Peggy! Given what was all over the news at that time, I thought it a bit frightening that the priest was all Hell-this & Damnation-that. Not really comforting!

I was glad that Peggy opened up to the one she probably felt truly deserved her confession: Pete. My sense is she felt God already knew.

I may be wrong, I haven't studied theology for a while, but isn't a big difference between Judism and Christianity (specifically Catholosism) that Jews confess to those they have sinned against whereas Catholics confess to a preist and he advises on atonments?

Father Gil sure is overstepping his boundaries. At this point I don't have much doubt that Peggy knows what he is alluding to and does not care to discuss it with him. They reminded us that her sister claimed that she "seduced" a married man when confessing, which I do not see to be the case at all.

Opperating under this assumption, Peggy appears to be a Jezabell (i know my spelling is awful), therefore Father Gil would see her as being somewhat evil in her ways. Truth is the Pete pursued her before he was married and Peggy consented (still not sure why, he was a douche about it).

Very proud of Peggy for finally standing up to him and telling him she didn't feel God would condemn her for sins committed. Proud of her too for her confession to Pete.

Interesting, isn't it, that although Pete, Don, and Roger cannot relate on alot of things, they all have broken marrages at the same time.

Here's the Catholic explanation; In order to be forgiven for mortal sin, you must confess to a priest. Peggy's "confession" to Pete was not a legitimate confession and according to Catholic doctrine she's still going to Hell until she confesses her to a priest. The young priest was scared, just like everybody else, that the A-bomb was going to be launched from Cuba and everyone in New York would die. He believed what the Catholic Church teaches: that if Peggy were to die without confessing she would go to Hell. Seemed like Peggy was almost ready to confess to the priest. Almost, but not quite.

Father Gil is indeed over-stepping his boundaries where Peggy is concerned, and I always thought he was well, creepy. I hope they eliminate him next season!

The priest is not aggressive, or lusting after Peggy or mean, or overstepping his boundaries, he's trying to SAVE HER SOUL. He knows Peggy helped Pete commit adultery. Thou shall not commit adultery is one of the Ten Commandments. In the Catholic Church it is a mortal sin, meaning that if you die and have not confessed it or are not sorry for doing it, you will go to Hell. He knows she's done this, he knows she has not officially confessed it, so he's worried about her.

Think of it this way: if one of your friends was about to run into a burning building, would you do everything in your power to stop them or would you say, well that's up to them, or I'll wait til next week to convince them not to go in the burning building?

BTW: she did need the priest for confession. If you're Catholic, Confession is a Sacrament and you need to have your sins absolved by a priest, God working through him of course. I don't know about Judaism, but if you're Catholic, obviously it would be the right thing to do, if you offended someone to ask for their forgiveness. However, this is not enough, you need to ask for God's forgiveness and since priests are suppossed to be God's representatives on Earth, Catholics confess to the priest. Since you can't hear God, well at least most people can't :), hearing another human being, the priest say "I absolve you of all your sins, go now in the peace of Christ our Lord" is very cathartic and healing. People don't have to agree with it, or like it, but if someone is Catholic he or she needs to follow it. If not, there are plenty of Protestant churches to go to.

I'm not asking you non-Catholics, or you wayward Catholics to agree with this, just to understand it. Every religion has things that others don't understand, that doesn't mean that there aren't good reasons for doctrine. If you want to find out more information regarding the reasons for Confession or anything to do with Catholicism a good source to start with is www.catholic.com.

I'm Catholic and I was taught that what happens in the confessional -- stays in the confessional. I think the priest has over-stepped in this instance. He shouldn't be using what Peggy's sister confessed to him to pressure Peggy.