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

[Protestant101]

Out of context…I in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…Jesus gave the power to forgive sin to his apostles on the night of the Resurrection…and they taught and preached forgiveness and appointed their successors who were able to carry on their witness to Our Majesty the Lord.

St. Peter says in 2 Peter 2, 20-21…to not do personal interpretation of the Word of God!

Actually, the Word calls it “private” interpretation;" and there is a wide difference between that and personal interpretation. We have to personally go to God and His Word to know the “truth that sets us free.”

 

[KathleenGee]

Then you have to follow the practices of the Church since apostolic times to get the context…private interpretation came when individual men began manipulating sacred Scriptures…thus further weakening the sacred unity Christ has called us to.

If you deny authentic faith in the Catholic Church and our ancient history and deny Christ’s sacrament of penance given to the Apostles…don’t know what else to say.

Problem is taking parts out of context. The priest using the pronoun “I” means he is representing God’s authority given to the Ministers of the Blood of Christ. The apostles alone were not given the authority to forgive sin, but also to their successors. The priest is not referring to himself.

If you have not received the sacrament of confession, you are speaking outside of an experience you have not had. We all know at the time of absolution that it is Christ Himself Who is forgiving us…not the priest. Only God can forgive sin. Again, you are referring from misunderstanding.

Now the next question is, are you willfully refusing to acknowledge that? And then that is where you have to look at the passion of your own heart to see why it is you can’t believe Christ’s mercy in the sacrament of confession, and the reference to the event after the Resurrection of the sacrament’s beginning. It is not about us…it is about Christ sharing in the divine life with us…we being restored in Christ. The priest is not in there about himself or his ‘power’…he has none of himself. During confession, the priest is most aware of his own sinfulness. It is not about ‘I’ and the big ego. That is projection from the outside the faith.

 

[Protestant101]

OK kathleen

Lets put it this way:

“I PROTESTANT 101, forgive your sins, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST.”

 

[PRmerger]

OK kathleen

Lets put it this way:

“I PROTESTANT 101, forgive your sins, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST.”

Did she confess her sins to you? Have you been ontologically changed by ordination into a priest?

 

[Augsburg1530]

OK kathleen

Lets put it this way:

“I PROTESTANT 101, forgive your sins, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST.”

I wouldn’t exactly say such things lightly or flippantly. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

 

[joe370]

When the priest says that; he says it wrong, for he has “I” trouble.

He is acting as Jesus’ ministerial mouth piece. It’s reconciliation between a person and God, not between a person and a priest. You are a smart guy; I’m surprised at some of your comments here. It’s Jesus, working through His earthly minister. The apostles didn’t have any power, on their own, either, to forgive sins or perform miracles. God uses people to achieve His purpose. But I know you defer to no human when it comes to authority, so I digress.

“I PROTESTANT 101, forgive your sins, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST.”

Such silliness…

 

[KathleenGee]

Protestant101…don’t profane or ridicule the sacred.

The reality of confession is outside your ballpark.

 

[placido]

When the priest says that; he says it wrong, for he has “I” trouble.

Wrong … we see Paul and others say “I”, “me”, “my” etc while speaking or acting in the name of Jesus (for example "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit). Why can’t the priest do the same?

placido

 

[placido]

OK kathleen

Lets put it this way:

“I PROTESTANT 101, forgive your sins, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST.”

Which sins are you forgiving? Please don’t take a shortcut … you need to:

1. Have authority to forgive sins (i.e. be an ordained priest), and
2. Know the sins.

placido

 

[Protestant101]

To Everyone

I did not say that comment “flippantly” or as in taking the Lord’s name in vain. My apologies, if that’s how it came across. I did it to make a point about how this confession doctrine, as taught by Roman Catholics, comes across to Protestants - atleast to some Protestants. I don’t know where the Bible says that “only a Priest can hear confession;” but I do know where it says ANY individual can go to Jesus WITHOUT any priest or pastor, and have the full, DIRECT BENEFIT OF FORGIVENESS through Jesus alone.and the promises in His Holy Word. The Christian’s Mediator is Jesus, and His Word gives no command that it be MUST be done through a Priest.

 

[Cat_Herder]

To Everyone

I did not say that comment “flippantly” or as in taking the Lord’s name in vain. My apologies, if that’s how it came across. I did it to make a point about how this confession doctrine, as taught by Roman Catholics, comes across to Protestants - atleast to some Protestants. I don’t know where the Bible says that “only a Priest can hear confession;” but I do know where it says ANY individual can go to Jesus WITHOUT any priest or pastor, and have the full, DIRECT BENEFIT OF FORGIVENESS through Jesus alone.and the promises in His Holy Word. The Christian’s Mediator is Jesus, and His Word gives no command that it be MUST be done through a Priest.

[BIBLEDRB]Hebrews 10:26-27[/BIBLEDRB]

How can one go to Jesus if there is no sacrifice for one’s sin? Jesus IS the sacrifice for sins… No sacrifice, no Jesus, no forgiveness. Hence the need for an intermediary after one sins willfully after having knowledge of the truth.

 

[Protestant101]

[bibledrb]Hebrews 10:26-27[/bibledrb]

How can one go to Jesus if there is no sacrifice for one’s sin? Jesus IS the sacrifice for sins… No sacrifice, no Jesus, no forgiveness. Hence the need for an intermediary after one sins willfully after having knowledge of the truth.

I am sorry; but I don’t see how this can be true. It is correct to say “How can there be forgiveness for sins without a Sacrifice;” but the rest of your comment does not follow so well. The Sacrifice has already been made. And the Bible does not COMMAND any priest or pastor to dispense something that is already said and done. There are ways that any of us can help someone and minister to someone who wants forgiveness, but does not know where to start, but God’s Word alone is good enough - the promises therein are the only assurance we need for the Sacrifice that has already been accomplished. No need for Church leaders to re-accomplish it.

 

[Cat_Herder]

I am sorry; but I don’t see how this can be true.

It is written.

There are ways that any of us can help someone and minister to someone who wants forgiveness, but does not know where to start, but God’s Word alone is good enough - the promises therein are the only assurance we need for the Sacrifice that has already been accomplished. No need for Church leaders to re-accomplish it.

There absolutely is a need to make the Blood of Christ present so that people can be washed and be able to commune. That is all that Catholic priests do. They don’t repeat anything except the Lord’s Supper.

 

[placido]

To Everyone

I did not say that comment “flippantly” or as in taking the Lord’s name in vain. My apologies, if that’s how it came across. I did it to make a point about how this confession doctrine, as taught by Roman Catholics, comes across to Protestants - atleast to some Protestants.

Don’t worry so much about how it “came across” to some Protestants; rather try to find out how it come across to Catholics … that is the only way to have a correct understanding.

I don’t know where the Bible says that “only a Priest can hear confession;” but I do know where it says ANY individual can go to Jesus WITHOUT any priest or pastor, and have the full, DIRECT BENEFIT OF FORGIVENESS through Jesus alone.

Really? Where does the Bible say any individual can go to Jesus WITHOUT any priest or pastor? When was the last time you read James 5:14-15?

and the promises in His Holy Word. The Christian’s Mediator is Jesus, and His Word gives no command that it be MUST be done through a Priest.

Yet without the His Church you would neither know what “His Word” is, nor have “His Word”.
Look, in Catholic teaching, confession/reconciliation is a sacrament just like baptism and the anointing of the sick. People don’t baptize themselves; the sick do not anoint themselves either.

placido

 

[joe370]

I am sorry; but I don’t see how this can be true. It is correct to say “How can there be forgiveness for sins without a Sacrifice;” but the rest of your comment does not follow so well. The Sacrifice has already been made. And the Bible does not COMMAND any priest or pastor to dispense something that is already said and done. There are ways that any of us can help someone and minister to someone who wants forgiveness, but does not know where to start, but God’s Word alone is good enough - the promises therein are the only assurance we need for the Sacrifice that has already been accomplished. No need for Church leaders to re-accomplish it.

Prot101

Did Jesus leave you and I, (everyone, here on this thread) - with a way, to know the truth regarding this OP? Real simple question; hoping for a real simple answer that can clear this matter up, once and for all!

 

[Protestant101]

It is written.

There absolutely is a need to make the Blood of Christ present so that people can be washed and be able to commune. That is all that Catholic priests do. They don’t repeat anything except the Lord’s Supper.

Jesus makes His own blood present when we go to Him.

 

[Protestant101]

Really? Where does the Bible say any individual can go to Jesus WITHOUT any priest or pastor? When was the last time you read James 5:14-15?

placido

When was the last time you read John 6:37? And where is the text that explicitly says we must go to Jesus through a priest or pastor? While one can go to God at times through another person ministering to/with them; there is no injunction in Holy Writ that says we must do this all the time. If we can’t go to God in prayer on our own without someone else’s “help” (mediation) then there is something wrong.

 

[Protestant101]

Prot101

Did Jesus leave you and I, (everyone, here on this thread) - with a way, to know the truth regarding this OP? Real simple question; hoping for a real simple answer that can clear this matter up, once and for all!

The simplest answer I can think of is NO. Only Jesus has that authority. Your question, however, is a good one. It shows something I have tried to say a few times here. When it comes right down to the brass tacks; of this and any other major doctrinal matter, the Roman Catholic Church really has only one choice, and that is to try to resort to it’s own “authority” rather than the Bible. To the Roman Catholic, it is not a question of Bible references; it is ultimately their own proclaimed authority by which they back up their beliefs. Even in official Roman Catholic literature, Scripture is simply classed as “tradition,” making the Word of God subject to the Church, rather than the Church subject to the Word of God.

 

[joe370]

Prot101, were these Early Church Fathers wrong? Perhaps you could give them all a quick once over and let me know, when you get the time?

The Didache - Confess your sins in church, and do not go up to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. . . , On the Lord’s Day gather together, break bread, and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure (Didache 4:14,14:1 [A.D.70]).

The Letter of Barnabas - You shall judge righteously. You shall not make a schism, but you shall pacify those that contend by bringing them together. You shall confess your sins. You shall not go to prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of light (Letter of Barnabas 19 [A.D. 74]).

Ignatius of Antioch - For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And as many as shall, in the exercise of penance, return into the unity of the Church, these, too, shall belong to God, that they may live according to Jesus Christ (Letter to the Philadelphians 3 [A.D. 110]).

For where there is division and wrath, God does not dwell. To all them that repent, the Lord grants forgiveness, if they turn in penitence to the unity of God, and to communion with the bishop (ibid. 8).

Irenaeus - [The Gnostic disciples of Marcus] have deluded many women. . . Their consciences have been branded as with a hot iron. Some of these women make a public confession, but others are ashamed to do this, and in silence, as if withdrawing from themselves the hope of life of God, they either apostatize entirely or hesitate between two courses (Against Heresies 1:22 [A.D. 189]).

A sad example of this occurred in the case of a certain Asiatic, one of our deacons, who had received him (Marcus) into his house. His wife, a woman of remarkable beauty, fell a victim both in mind and body to this magician, and, for a long time, travelled about with him. At last, when, with no small difficulty, the brethren had converted her,** she spent her whole time in the exercise of public confession,** weeping over and lamenting the defilement which she had received from this magician." Irenaeus.Against Heresies,1:13(A.D.180),in ANF,I:335

Who didst foreordain from the beginning the race of the righteous from Abraham, instituting princes and priests and leaving not Thy sanctuary without ministers; Who from the foundation of the world hast been pleased to be glorified in them whom Thou hast chosen…Thou hast chosen for the episcopate to feed Thy holy flock and serve as Thine high priest,that he may minister blamelessly by night and day,that he may unceasingly behold and propriate Thy countenance and offer to Thee the gifts of Thy holy Church.And that by the high priestly Spirit he may have authority to forgive sins…" Hippolytus,Apostolic Tradition,3(A.D. 215),in AT,4-5

Tertullian - [Regarding confession, some] flee from this work as being an exposure of themselves, or they put it off from day to day. I presume they are more mindful of modesty than of salvation, like those who contract a disease in the more shameful parts of the body and shun making themselves known to the physicians; and thus they perish along with their own bashfulness (Repentance 10:1 [A.D. 203]).

The Church has the power of forgiving sins. This I acknowledge and adjudge (ibid. 21).

Hippolytus - [The bishop conducting the ordination of the new bishop shall pray:] God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . pour forth now that power which comes from you, from your Royal Spirit, which you gave to your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and which he bestowed upon his holy apostles. . . and grant this your servant, whom you have chosen for the episcopate, [the power] to feed your holy flock and to serve without blame as your high priest, ministering night and day to propitiate unceasingly before your face and to offer to you the gifts of your holy Church, and by the Spirit of the high priesthood to have the authority to forgive sins, in accord with your command (Apostolic Tradition 3 [A.D. 215]).

Continued…

 

[benedictus2]

Jesus makes His own blood present when we go to Him.

How?