What does this paragraph mean---what did Martin Luther abominate? "For when we have laid bare our conscience to our brother and privately made known to him the evil that lurked within, we receive from our brother's lips the word of comfort spoken by God Himself; and, if we accept it in faith, we find peace in the mercy of God speaking to us through our brother. This alone do I abominate – that this confession has been subjected to the despotism and extortion of the pontiffs. They reserve to themselves, even hidden sins, and command that they be made known to confessors named by them, only to trouble the consciences of men."

Answer 1

This alone do I abominate – that this confession has been subjected to the despotism and extortion of the pontiffs.

To clarify:

"This alone do I abominate: that this confession has been subjected to the despotism and extortion of the pontiffs."

It seems to be that Luther is condemning the tendency of clergy and the like to be hypocritical in damning others' sins while committing their own.

Answer 2

This alone do I abominate – that this confession has been subjected to the despotism and extortion of the pontiffs

Answer 3

I agree with Jack.

You better be careful reading this, Charles V issued an idict forbidding you to read it, and discuss it.

http://www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/histcourse/reformat/theologo/hill6210.htm

Times change.

Answer 4

Jack and Anonymous are right. He was objecting to what he saw as hypocritical in the Catholic Church at the time. You can read more about Luther's protests here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/95_Theses

=)