Meaning of Confession from John

[nfinke]

So in John Chapter 20, Jesus says to the apostles “Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”

What does He mean by that second half? I’ve never been in a confessional where the priest said “yeah you don’t seem that repentant about the lying, I’m retaining that sin.”

What does it mean for a sin to be retained, and when if ever would a priest or other clergyman use that power?

 

[stpurl]

It means that the priest doesn’t absolve you from that sin if you have no genuine contrition and no intention to stop committing that sin. That means if the sin isn’t absolved, that it ‘remains’ on you or is ‘retained’ until you DO sincerely repent and intend to stop. That’s all. And yes, that does happen.

 

[Genesis315]

It’s very rare that it is done. My understanding is that there would need to be a clear case of someone abusing the sacrament with no intention of amendment, etc.

This also applies to what are called “reserved sins.” A bishop gives jurisdiction to priests to forgive sins, but can reserve the forgiveness of certain sins to himself or certain specific priests. The Pope can do the same throughout the universal Church.

Ultimately, though, the point of that verse is to show that sins are to forgiven through the ministry of the Church and are subject to the bishop’s jurisdiction.

 

[jimXroberts]

Basically, it meant that the Apostles and their successors are not obliged to forgive everybody’s sins.

 

[Nelka]

Isn’t it where a man for example says he is living with a woman and fornicating but has no interest in moving out so therefore he can’t really be sorry for this sin as he will be committing it when he gets home?

 

[amazingcatholic]

A priest won’t absolve you if you have no contrition or do not intend to not commit that sin. Certain serious sins can only be absolved be the pope or a bishop. A bishop can allow a priest to forgive certain sins, or he can reserve that power for himself.

 

[Lazybones]

It means the opposite of being forgiven.
Say a person confesses hitting a cyclist with their car and drives away, leaving the cyclist and not contacting ambo/police.
The priest might forgive all other sins confessed but retain this one until the person informs police about their involvement in a road accident.

St. Athanasius, i think, was sharply criticised for forgiving too easily (and readmitting to the full life of the Church) those who had renounced Christ in order to save their life during a persecution. The criticisms came from people who had been tortured and mutilated and never denied Christ but who weren’t given the martyr’s crown.

 

[whatistrue]

The priest might forgive all other sins confessed but retain this one until the person informs police

Nope. Priest cannot make absolution contingent on penitent notifying civil authorities. Might refuse absolution if convinced that the penitent is not really, well, penitent about it.

 

[Elf01]

It means that the priest doesn’t absolve you from that sin if you have no genuine contrition and no intention to stop committing that sin. That means if the sin isn’t absolved, that it ‘remains’ on you or is ‘retained’ until you DO sincerely repent and intend to stop. That’s all. And yes, that does happen.

I would assume that if the Ppiest got it wrong that the person would be forgiven by God though. And vice versa, if a priest thought someone was contrite and they weren’t God would not forgive them.