Do Catholic priests have the authority to forgive sins on earth?

[david_ruiz]

The Irish started the confessional box.

In the earliest times, there weren’t alot actively receiving the sacrament of confession because every day they could lose their life for their faith. They did not let their neighbors know they attended Mass.

If they did commit a sin, – and they made oaths to not lie or steal or commit adultery – they had to repent before the assembly and take time to be brought back to The Secret, the name of the Eucharist in times of persecution.

The Vatican did not appear at Pentecost. There are Scriptural books, doctrines, conceptions, worship that took years to assemble and approve. That is because the Church was meant for everyone and thus it has a universal character.

Then we must be careful to say just what is “apostolic” Your years are really centuries of developement.In your own words ,and of early Fathers, there was no confessional in the beginning .All we find is that they were scriptural ,and confessed faults one to another,to the church ,in the assembly. So when did the Irish start the confessional ? What century ? Persecution stopped in 4th century.and St Patrick still had not been to Ireland ?..The more the church developed ,the less universal she was .Remember when there was no east or west ,or protestantism.

 

[Cat_Herder]

Then we must be careful to say just what is “apostolic” Your years are really centuries of developement.In your own words ,and of early Fathers, there was no confessional in the beginning .All we find is that they were scriptural ,and confessed faults one to another,to the church ,in the assembly. So when did the Irish start the confessional ? What century ? Persecution stopped in 4th century.and St Patrick still had not been to Ireland ?..The more the church developed ,the less universal she was .Remember when there was no east or west ,or protestantism.

Yes, it was done before the assembly at first. After which the priest absolved and announced the forgiveness of the sins.

So what if there was no box? The question is whether there was auricular confession and absolution going on, not where it was done.

 

[david_ruiz]

david ruiz;7250825:

We get that from the word of God david. That is where we get that. If we were all teachers of the word and had the gift of the Holy Spirit to teach why would we need a teacher here on earth. Are you saying the Holy Spirit does not have the power to teach us all the same thing then.

Or shall we go on the words of God and believe what he says not you, that the words, I will sent to you the Holy Spirit the advocate to teach you all truth. The words of Jesus david that the CHURCH is the PILAR OF ALL TRUTH.

So either the Holy Spirit does have the power to teach us all the same truth, but because Jesus did not set it up that way, he left us the Church to lead us, or as you claim that Priests do not have to be ordained and have the power of the Holy Spirit laid upon them by the laying of hands the way Jesus set it up.

And also if what you say is correct WHY then before Christ appeared to the Church on the day of Pentecost and did just that breathed the Holy Spirit FORMALIZING the Apostles as you say it, did they have no clue what to teach, nor understand anything. Why were they all Afraid then?

Why david was it before Pentecost they had no clue what to say or teach. Could you tell me why then?

Please explain this scripture to me david, Luke 24:45 Then he opened thier minds to understand scripture. If they did not need this why did he do it? Why did Jesus say in 49 And behold I AM SENDING the promise of my Father UPON YOU, but STAY in the city UNTIL you are CLOTHED with the POWER from ON HIGH.

Now are you claiming that you are clothed with the power of on high also? Or are you STILL claiming as you said that this formalizing as you call it is not needed. Because it is quite clear that Jesus said to say UNTIL it is received. Now why would he say that if it were not needed. Can you see why the Church teaches it now, simply because it IS the word of God, now why do you deny this.

Then when you continue on to the gospel of John 20:19 why is it david that they were afraid of the Jews. BUt then all of a sudden when he breathed on them as it is written and gave them this FORMALIZING as you call it, were they not afraid anymore?

Again in acts, why did he tell them to WAIT for the promise of the Father. What were they waiting for david? Could it possibly as the word of God states in acts that it was indeed the Spirit that enabled them to proclaim.

Now please explain also to me if we all can do these gifts given to the Apostles did they have to as Peter in acts What are we to do? If you are correct then should the Holy Spirit not have filled everyone not just the Apostles at Pentecost?

Why did Peter tell Repent and be baptised and then they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which they indeed did, but as the gospel also tells us, we all have different gifts given to us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Why did Peter in Acts 11:12 Say to the people of Israel as he cured the man, why are you amazed at this, and why do you act as if we had made him walk by our own power.

Thank-you. Deserves more time than i have now .I am sorry but i never said the apostles were "formalized "by the spirit . I am saying the church formalizes anyone today who goes to seminary ,ordaining them before any ministry . In Acts , I was thinking of Stephen ,who was saved and began showing a deep ,serving spirit. Then he was “formalized” and give more responsibilities,I believe…Do not forget those who were given the Holy Spirit before baptism in Acts. Yes .There is your one “pillar” , one scripture that you hang much on. We must also blend in the many more scriptures where scripture ,and the believer has authority and truth also…To say that Jesus was speaking only to apostles about the Holy Spirit teaching them , does not match other scriptures .Again, I see separation .Separation from the individual and Scripture (he can not get it’s meaning directly)Separation from the Holy Spirit in fullness (as it was for the apostles only,and successors ,down to today’s clergy). Separation from each other , for we can not confess our faults one to another , nor even break bread together , in “remembrance”, except thru a priest, making scripture of no effect in that now we are supposed to be priests…No, you are saying the Holy Spirit can not teach all men ,hence the need for church and ordination. Actually we believe similarily, just that you rely more on latter and I more on direct revelation, that is the Holy Spirit…The book of Acts shows me whatever happened to the Apostles on Pentecost , can happen to all. I believe it was more than just the apostles -was it not 120 ?..Again,you misunderstood “formalizing”. I believe fully in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit , as evidenced in the before and after of the apostles , and yes the before and after in my life also , as millions of others too. Yes, we can be clothed with the power from on high. Do you believe we are separated from that also ?

 

[guanophore]

God does things in his own time, not our’s.
Why did it take God so long to whipe out humanity from the time of Adam and Eve to Moses? If you look at Genesis 5 from the time of Adam to Moses it is well over 1500 years.

I don’t know but I don’t think Christ said that.

Actually, Christ said that He would send His Spirit to guide the Church into all Truth, that He would not leave them orphaned, that He would be with them until the end of the age.

In order for your interpretation of the Scriptures to be accurate, all of these promises of Christ would have to be lies.

You position requires that Jesus allowed His Church to misunderstand His words for 1500 years. This does not sound like the powerful Jesus I see in the book of Revelation. He seems quite ready, willing, and able to reveal to the Church whatever corrections are needed.

 

[guanophore]

You would have to ask the Bishop that.

No need. He may not even know that his ordination is invalid.

Right, we all have the authority to forgive sin is one sins against us.

Yes, but that is not what the instruction is about that Jesus gave to them about retaining and forgiving. That instruction is about sins against God, and against the Church.

Where does Christ say that one has to have these gifts you are talking abuot?

Each person has gifts that are appropriate to their calling. No, most people do not have this authority.

No I'm not going to discuss **my**.ordination any more. This thread is not about Rev. Kev and his being ordained. If you don't want to accept me being ordained then so be it.

You are right, it is not about your ordination, specifically, but it is about the authority that accompanies Holy Orders. And the condition of invalid ordination is relevant to the thread.

Yes I' sure the 11 or 10 were present but thats not to say there weren't more present also. The Bible is not clear on this.

I agree with you. This is one of the main reasons that Jesus left people in a position of authority. It was not possible for the Bible to be “clear” on everything that was needed.

 So you're saying that the men had the authority for forgive sin even though they were not ordained (priests) and had hands laid on them?

All those who were ordained by Christ were authorized to the ministries He gave them. He sent various persons on different missions. The Bible is not clear on who He laid hands on, either.

If they were appointed by God without being ordained and hands laid on them then it would stand to reason that one does not need it to forgive sin.

I agree, however, the Spirit revealed to the early Church that this was the method that was to be used. God can do whatever He wants, however He likes. He chose to work through the authority He appointed.

 Matthew used the plural "men" here because there were more than one man.

Really? Which other “men” were authorized to forgive sins in the name of God?

There is only one man (Jesus) who can truely forgive sin.

Yes, and this is what the Church teaches. When those who are authorized by God do so, they do it in the person of Christ.
rev kevin;7243213:

I don’t recall the name of the siminary, its been over 30 years since I have been there but it was a Catholic siminary in Indiana.

I am sorry you did not receive better instruction.

 

[joandarc2008]

And here is the part that you have missed Rev. Kevin, my friend, when the Lord Christ also gave them the power to to forgive sin, before that he breathed on them. This was the breath of the Holy Spirit. It is through this (partially -because we also have Christ giving Peter the Keys to the Kingdom earlier) that we have Apostolic Succession. It is that Grace that is passed down through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Priests while men, are men with Graces imparted to them by Sacrament.

 

[guanophore]

No the point I was getting at was this thread is not about me.

The point of invalid ordination is a sensitive one, not just to you.

Ha Ha Ha very funny. No it was because after some time there I realized that some of what was being taught made no sence, ie, the emaculate conception, Mary being ever virgin and so on.

There are many aspects of the Apostolic faith that are mysteries. They are quite beyond the puny human intellect.

Why does anything change. Change happens all the time.

During the reformation, certain people wanted to get rid of the authorities appointed by Christ, because the men were corrupt,and behaving like wolves among the sheep. They decided to depart from the Apostolic Succession and lay hands on people that had beliefs and opinions of their own liking, especially those who disagreed with the Catholic faith.

Where is the evidence of this? Where does it say they were conducting their duty as part of the priesthood of all believers? Does one have to be in the priesthood inorder to have faith like these men did?

I thought you agreed with the concept of the priesthood of all believers? What exactly does the concept mean to you? How do you understand the word “priest” that is used in that verse?

Well I have been baptized into him have you?

Yes, but I have not received valid holy orders from a validly ordained bishop, and therefore, I cannot act in the person of Christ when it comes to forgiving other people’s sins against God, and the Church.

 

[joandarc2008]

Just as a point of fact Immaculate is spelled with an I. It does make perfect sense that Mary would have to have been a perpetual virgin for Christ to have been born without original sin for him to have been “the lamb without blemish” that was given up as a “passover sacrifice” without a “single broken bone.” These were all prophecies of the Old Testament and instructions of the Satyr meal. If Christ had been born with the stain of the Original Sin by Mary not having been a Virgin then he would not have been a lamb without blemish and we would not have been able to have had our sins forgive. May I suggest a reading of John Duns Scotis. (And I think I spelled his last named wrong.)

 

[guanophore]

You are insinuating that I have a different God then the one you have. My God is the same God you have, you know the one who is for all people, the righteous and the sinners alike. Just because I don’t believe the same things you do, don’t mean I have a different God then the one you have. Why must you resort to this kind of talk? I have not said anything near what you have said here. I have not said that you’re God is too weak or impotent. Why because I have more respect then to say something like that to another person even if we disagree. It shows that you have no respect for others and being we have the same God it shows no respect for God.

It would be more accurate to say that your perception of God is differrent. And yes, you are saying that God is too weak or impotent. If He was unable or unwilling to correct the Church from the belief that He had given them the power to remit or retain sins, then he must be unconcerned about whether His church believed lies, too weak or impotent to correct them, or something.

If a person confesses that he mudered someone to me, being a minister I am bound to cofidentiality. There is only one mediator between us and God and that is Jesus.

Really? By what standard are you bound? Who says you must keep that confidential, and what authority do they have to make this rule?

God is a forgiving God is he not?.

Yes, but there are conditions that need to be met.

 Where does Jesus say you have to do penance?

Jesus said that John the Bapist was the greatest prophet that ever lived, and John taught that we must bear fruit that befits repentance (do penance).

God knows if you are true in asking for forgiveness. Have you not done the same thing over and over or once you have sinned and confessed it you never repeat that sin again?

I or some else will counsel the offender about the path to follow, and I’m sure we will disagree on this.

Your counsel is not necessarily unsound, just because your ordination is invalid. You are right, that this is one of the main reasons for the ministerial priesthood - so that the flock can get proper guidance.

Lets say I’m playing golf with some people and one comes to me and says, you’re a minister and being a minister I can confide in you right? I would say right. Then he goes on and tells me. I am at that time working as a minister and I am not aloud to tell anyone what he has told me, even if it means going to jail or prison.
There could be may reasons one might confess a sin to me. Then at that point I would need to counsel him or her.

According to whose rules can you not tell? What is the origin of such a rule?

Did you take an oath of some kind, promising that?

If one does not make a effort then his confession is no good. God will forgive you if you mean it.

Exactly! That is why, when Jesus authorized the Apostles to retain and remit sins, He also trained them in how to tell whether the person made a good confession. And this knowledge they have passed down to their successors.

This is one of the criteria for absolution.

That would be up to God when it becomes a vain repetition, not me.

If thats the case then what good is confessing if it will follow you anyway?

This is a very good point. For Catholics, the good of frequent confession is in the graces of the sacrament. Grace strengthens the flesh in the fight against evil. For those who are not receiving sacramental confession the power to heal is not guaranteed to be present.

 

[guanophore]

Howdy again.Yes. have been told this veil, curtain pertains to the ability to enter heaven now ,not necessarily for here and now .Was this catholic wrong ? That is what was said on last thread .Do not know what catholic teaching is on these scriptures ?

Not wrong, but perhaps still not fully informed. Jesus intended for us to enter heaven here and now. The Catholic teaching is that the priesthood established by Christ is the fulfillment of that which was foreshadowed in the OT. There is a High Priest, a ministerial priest, and a priesthood of all believers.

Do not know. For sure there was in Greek , why ?

Because this is critical to understanding the nature of the priesthood the way the Apostles taught it. The English word “priest” is a contraction/Latinzation of the Gk. term “presbyter”. Modern priests have the same duties and functions as the presbyter in the NT.

Some people mistakenly believe that Catholics believe or practice the “hierus” priesthood, from the OT, but we do not.

T.Catholics make the division of 3 classes.plain and simple .Of course we are all one ,has nothing to with 3 classes .Scripture tells me of Jesus the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek,and we are a priesthood. It says nothing of a separate ministerial priesthood.

Scripture is clear that Jesus has given certain gifts to His Church, and that not all have the same gifts. Some are priests (presbyters), and most are not. I don’t think it is accurate to refer to the gifts of God as “classes”. Not all have the gift of prophesy, or teaching, or administration, but you would not say they are "outclassed’ by those that do!

This is totally possible ,that my experience in Christ is no guarantee of truth and Spirit. However , it may also be totally valid and that it still be questioned .The blind man that Jesus healed who said, “I was blind but now I see-(because of Jesus)” was quite right in experience and his theology, better than the established rabbis.

I will affirm you experience of Jesus, dear brother in Christ. I am only encouraging you to consider that what you have been taught may not have been accurate, and that you are suffering from a misperception about Catholicism.

Where does it say you have to be an ordained priest to baptize someone

Were you under the misunderstanding that the Catholic Church believed and taught this?

You also seem to be suffering from a misunderstanding that everything that is to be known about the faith is “written” somewhere? The Bible does not say that, either.

Where does it say where two or more are gathered ,they can not break bread in remembrance  ?

They may, but that will not make it a valid Eucharist.

Where does it say there are two kinds of disciples , laity and ordained ?

This is a distinction that exists only in your head, David. I understand that it got there through your early Catholic expereinces, and I am sorry about it. Ordained people are not any “different kind” of disciple than those who are not.

The distinction between laity and ordained has to do with duties and responsibilities. People have different gifts, and with those differing gifts there are differing tasks and functions.

 

[pablope]

rinnie;7251515:

Thank-you. Deserves more time than i have now .I am sorry but i never said the apostles were "formalized "by the spirit . I am saying the church formalizes anyone today who goes to seminary ,ordaining them before any ministry . In Acts , I was thinking of Stephen ,who was saved and began showing a deep ,serving spirit. Then he was “formalized” and give more responsibilities,I believe…Do not forget those who were given the Holy Spirit before baptism in Acts. Yes .There is your one “pillar” , one scripture that you hang much on. We must also blend in the many more scriptures where scripture ,and the believer has authority and truth also…ordination. , as millions of others too. Yes, we can be clothed with the power from on high. Do you believe we are separated from that also ?

David,

If you are really interested more in reading about confession, Scott Hahn’s “Lord Have Mercy” explains confession, in the early years of the Church, how it was practiced and its how it evolved through the years, explaining the changes. It also has a section on human frailty, how it is difficult for one to confess…etc.

He also has a book about the Biblical basis of Catholic beliefs and practices and the Catholic sacraments.

 

[pablope]

God is a forgiving God is he not?. Where does Jesus say you have to do penance? Faith that God says what he means.
How many times should I forgive someone 7 times? 7 times 70 Jesus told them.
God knows if you are true in asking for forgiveness. Have you not done the same thing over and over or once you have sinned and confessed it you never repeat that sin again?
I or some else will counsel the offender about the path to follow, and I’m sure we will disagree on this.

• Where does Jesus say you have to do penance?*

Luke 19:7-9 (King James Version)
7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
**8And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
** 9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

James 4:7-10 (King James Version)

7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

 

[KathleenGee]

I have the impression some times that people think that the Lord should have made an instant church appear.

Actually within 60 years after the death of St. John the Evangelist, there was a uniformity of liturgical worship throughout the Chrstian world.

Box or no box. The apostles were Christ’s ministers, being Christ’s presence to sinners. Confessions happened in places of the sick, in the battlefields, catacombs, and the homes of many people in ancient times.

The Eucharist is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Our relationship with Him is severed when we commit a mortal sin. For a Catholic believer, we must go to a sacramental confession to be absolved of a mortal sin before we can again partake in the Eucharist.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

You are greatly mistaken david ruiz, there is no Luke 34. Luke 24 gives no detail of other than the twelve. And only these who remained faithful to Jesus teachings of his eucharist, were able to recognize Jesus in the breaking of bread from Luke 24:35.

The only other (many) disciples that followed Jesus before the resurrection had all abandoned Jesus and the 12 disciples (John 6:66), after Jesus revealed his body and blood had to be consumed inorder to have eternal life. From this same gospel reveals the other disciples abandoned Jesus;

John 6: 53
Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
54
Whoever eats 19 my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
55
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
56
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.
60
20 Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”
64
But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him.
65
And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”
66
**As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. **

We are talking after the resurrection Jesus gives his apostles the power to forgive and retain confessed sin. All the many other disciples abandoned Jesus and would not of recognized Jesus in the breaking of bread from Luke 24.

=david ruiz;7250671]You reference John 20 .Luke 34 is a cross reference ,where there are more than just the twelve,who were commissioned to preach the gospel ,for the remission of sins.

So you deny John 20:23 “Who sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained”? Jesus did not say these words, only gave the commission to preach the gospel? never mind baptism, teach, feed his flock?

And you want it known here that you and your community “We preach the truth of the gospel”? How is that when you refuse to believe this revelation from God, who gave the power of binding and loosing sin on earth as Jesus does to them in Heaven? Can you help unravel your double standard to the gosples?

So if you don’t hear confessions to retain? Then why has the Church practiced this ministry of reconciliation for the past 2000 years since the resurrection? In fact the didache teaches us to confess our sins before entering the Eucharistic liturgy.

…I do not think John 20 has anything to do with setting up a confessional system .Jesus was not saying ,"Go and hear everyone’s confession “,or even,” Judge the sins of the world ",to see what should be retained etc… Jesus was saying what would happen automatically (conditionally) ,when the gospel is preached . That was THE COMMISSION, preach the Gospel… So we do not hear confessions to retain. WE preach the truth of the gospel ,and let the chips fall where they may with retaining and forgiving, as recorded in heaven .

 

[KathleenGee]

David…Look up Luke 13:3…‘do penance least you likewise shall perish’…

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

I hope it is clear that we are not speaking from the scriptures of entering the kingdom of God, where there is no confession required, nor an altar call, Just baptism John 3:3-5

We are discussing for those who are already in the Kingdom of God, Who are working out their salvation with fear and trembling"(see philippians 2:12), who may have fallen into mortal sin. How does your faith community adminster the ministry of reconciliation of forgiving and retaining sins to this soul in a state of mortal sin?

Here is what Catholics believe in the forgiving and retaining of sin; Do you follow the following scripture? if so when and how?

**1John 1:8
If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, 3 and the truth is not in us.
9
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
10
If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. **

=david ruiz;7250763]As far as 1st John ,although fascinating scripture on praying for a brother with sin, the inference is that the conditions for all this are preset, by God , in heaven and has nothing to do with confessing , forgiving , therefore probably not retaining either . Prayer can "move " God on behalf of a Christian in sin. To pray or not to pray or what to pray ,that is the question when there is a sin unto death . Even if we pray not ,His will is still that none perish .yet to have life something must die. Often we pray to remove the symptom (let us say smoking), when God wants the cause (not living in the Spirit). So it is with sin of death .Do we pray to remove sin and bring life , without first bringing proper alignment of spirit ? Paul says sometimes turn one over to Satan , but in hopes of final salvation. .Anyways , close but not quite pertinent to retaining, in my opinion.

 

[BlueShadow123]

Even if a priest can forgive sins, why would somebody go to a priest to forgive sins when they could ask god at any time? They wouldn’t even have to leave their home to ask god for forgiveness. You can ask god at any time to forgive you. Why would they go ask somebody else if they could be forgiven right then and there by god himself? That, I don’t get…

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

As Catholics we pray directly to God for our venial sins which are not deadly, but can lead to deadly sin. For the person who is already in the kingdom of God, should he be tempted and fall into mortal sin has broken from grace and communion with God.

If the soul is dirty with deadly sin, he/she can never enter before God’s presence see here Revelations 21:22
16 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.
27
but nothing unclean will enter it, nor any (one) who does abominable things or tells lies.

So how does one get cleaned from mortal sin? only by the blood of Jesus in the Confession, repentance of your sin before two or more witnesses can the law which convicts mortal sin is removed, by a priest, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 18:20"Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I will be in their midst".

The good news is, that we have assurance that God has forgiven our confessed sins from the Promises of God in his word, where he will never remember our sins as far as the west is from the east.

One cannot go before God unclean with mortal sin on the soul, because God cannot look upon sin. A sinful person cannot confess a mortal sin in the presence of God. You need our mediator, Jesus in his sacrament of reconciliation see 2Cor.5:18-20

=BlueShadow123;7256804]Even if a priest can forgive sins, why would somebody go to a priest to forgive sins when they could ask god at any time? They wouldn’t even have to leave their home to ask god for forgiveness. You can ask god at any time to forgive you. Why would they go ask somebody else if they could be forgiven right then and there by god himself? That, I don’t get…

 

[Nicea325]

Even if a priest can forgive sins, why would somebody go to a priest to forgive sins when they could ask god at any time? They wouldn’t even have to leave their home to ask god for forgiveness. You can ask god at any time to forgive you. Why would they go ask somebody else if they could be forgiven right then and there by god himself? That, I don’t get…

And why somebody go to a doctor to get their broken arm fixed? Why go to anyone for anything for that matter? Why not do it all yourself?

And nowhere does the RCC teach one cannot ask God directly. Tell me something,what certitude do you have God has forgiven you,since you apparently do not believe in the Sacrament of Reconciliation via a priest?

 

[pablope]

Even if a priest can forgive sins, why would somebody go to a priest to forgive sins when they could ask god at any time? They wouldn’t even have to leave their home to ask god for forgiveness. You can ask god at any time to forgive you. Why would they go ask somebody else if they could be forgiven right then and there by god himself? That, I don’t get…

If you are really interested in getting to the root of the Sacrament of Confession, I recommend Scott Hahn’s “Lord Have Mercy”…it traces the roots of confession and penance from the Garden of Eden…in the OT to the fulfillment in the NT. I read the book several months ago…it opened my eyes immensely to our human frailties…even though I have been a lifelong Catholic…and I think you will benefit from it immensely…even on the spiritual side.