Can a non-Catholic go to Confession and have their sins forgiven?

[Daniel_Francis]

I have asked this question several times and no one seems to give me an answer. When Jesus said to the Apostles, “Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, whose sins you shall retain, they are retained” Note: Just as Jesus, the Apostles forgave the sins of the sinner, Jew or Gentile, everyone. I was told that one must be a Catholic for a Priest to hear "the Sinner’s Confession. Is this true and if so WHY?

 

[Devon_Caffran]

The following links should assist you in better understanding the options Protestants have regarding absolution for their sins. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please [contact Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/home/contact.asp) directly.

Recommended Reading:

• [Can a non-Catholic go to Confession? (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=2414)
• [How are Protestants’ sins forgiven without going to confession? (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=64676)