Can priests confirm?

[CutlerB]

Oh, I see. Lutherans, especially where there is episcopal succession [Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Tanzania, etc] refer to the clergy as deacons, priests, bishops, archbishops].

Well, they don’t in Germany, that’s why I thought it was odd for you to say so. It’s not meant in a mean way, just to be clear. In German, they call them “Diakon(in), Pastor(in), Bischof/Bischöfin”, although I know they still treat those degrees differently than Catholics do, i.e. sacramental priesthood.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

Well, they don’t in Germany, that’s why I thought it was odd for you to say so. It’s not meant in a mean way, just to be clear. In German, they call them “Diakon(in), Pastor(in), Bischof/Bischöfin”, although I know they still treat those degrees differently than Catholics do, i.e. sacramental priesthood.

No offense taken, my friend. I think the use of the word “pastor” is interchangeable with priest. Here in the U.S. Lutheran clergy are referred as 'pastor". Some, additionally called ‘father’. “Priest” sounds too clinical. When I was a kid older pastors were referred to as “father” out of respect. In Europe, Lutherans basically kept the terminology ‘deacon, priest, bishop’ intact; Germany being the exception.

 

[Classicist]

St. Ambrose in “de mysteriis” is clear that the bishop confirms. The Ancient Church saw bishops as the confirming party, and they alone. Thankfully, the Lord gave the keys to Peter and the power to bind & loose. This practice of allowing priests to confirm is a dissonance against the early Church, but is not a problem because sentence has been given by Peter.

 

[CutlerB]

No offense taken, my friend. I think the use of the word “pastor” is interchangeable with priest. Here in the U.S. Lutheran clergy are referred as 'pastor". Some, additionally called ‘father’. “Priest” sounds too clinical. When I was a kid older pastors were referred to as “father” out of respect. In Europe, Lutherans basically kept the terminology ‘deacon, priest, bishop’ intact; Germany being the exception.

May be the case, I don’t know much about Lutherans outside of Germany. I tend to think “Lutheranism=Germany”. No Lutheran pastor would dare call himself “Priester” which is “priest” in the Catholic sense, here. Pfarrer or Pastor are the two common words, Pfarrer also being used by Catholics, but Pastor is more of a Protestant term here. Priester would never be used to refer to a Lutheran minister. But they do keep deacon (Diakon) and bishop (Bischof) here.

 

[Phemie]

May be the case, I don’t know much about Lutherans outside of Germany. I tend to think “Lutheranism=Germany”. No Lutheran pastor would dare call himself “Priester” which is “priest” in the Catholic sense, here. Pfarrer or Pastor are the two common words, Pfarrer also being used by Catholics, but Pastor is more of a Protestant term here. Priester would never be used to refer to a Lutheran minister. But they do keep deacon (Diakon) and bishop (Bischof) here.

In English, Pastor is a specific function in the Catholic Church. All Pastors are priests but not all priests are Pastors.

 

[CutlerB]

In English, Pastor is a specific function in the Catholic Church. All Pastors are priests but not all priests are Pastors.

That’s interesting! The word has the meaning exactly the other way around here, at least in popular speech.