Protestants, can a Catholic Priest forgive sins?

[celticcrusader]

I guess they do not understand the special power a priest recieves when he is ordained and how he acts in the person of Christ.

 

[ufamtobie]

We agree!

Protestants go to the person we wronged and ask forgiveness - that is a lot more humbling then standing behind a screen where your identity is secret and cofessing to a priest.

Since we don’t know how the person we wronged will react. Face to face is humbling - then liberating.

The point is the priest can’t tell who is sincerely repentant and who is just going thru the motions because he thinks he gets a free pass for sinning.

Analogy:
Some Protestants think OSAS gives them a free pass to sin.
Some Catholics think the confessional gives them a free pass to sin.

The priest cannot see into the person’s heart. When the person confesses the priest assumes that person is sincere and “forgives his sins”.

But those sins are not forgiven. The confessor, in this instance, is being misled because he has placed his faith in a false doctrine instead of God’s Word:

Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Hi Ginger,

I hope you and your family had a wonderful thanksgiving.

Wether we Catholics go before a Priest or behind a screen we know our sins our forgiven because it is not the priest who forgives our sins, it is Jesus Christ who forgives us of our sins and it is JESUS CHRIST WHO KNOWS OUR HEARTS.

Ginger, question is when you go to a protestant to ask for forgivness for the wrongs done by you to them or vise versa, wether you are face to face or behind a screen does he or she know your heart as well if you are truly sorry? ** The truth is they can’t see into one hearts either.**

If one committs a mortal sin such as “Adultry” yes one must go and confess his or her sins to his or her spouse, and then again must go to Jesus to confess by going to see The Apostels…

But wait a minute the Apostles are all dead, how can we go and confess our sins of Adultry or any other motal sins, since the Apostles are the ones that our Lord gave SOLE AUTHORITY, to forgive us are sins and again, they are all DEAD Who shall we go to

Wait the Lord Left his Church in CARE of his Apostles but then again the Apostles are all dead. Jesus MUST of known that his Apostles would die one day, Jesus even Prophesied the death of Peter.

Ginger, Truth is that Jesus knows how to build his Catholic Church it is HE who is in charge of it! JESUS knew that his Apostles whom he gave Authority to forgive sins or retain them would die one day as they have.

Ginger, do you believe that Our Lords words of Authority to forgive sins or retain them died when the Apostles died?

If you believe this then we ar all lost.

Truth is we are not lost in (John 20: 21)… As the Father sent ME, so I send YOU.

Ginger, what did Jesus send the Apostles to do?

Jesus sent his Apostles to build his Church!** AND THE GATES OF HELL WILLNOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT EVER!** Therefore the Apostles have the AUTHORITY of laying on of hands to Other Holy Men of God to forgive or retain mens sins and to continue to build the Church, spread the GOOD news of the Eucharist, and that is the Catholic Church through the Apostolic succession. amen.

No other Church claims or can claim that it comes from the Apostolic Succession. Only the Catholic Church claims this and can only claim it and has been doing so by the AUTHORITY and GUIDENCE of JESUS CHRIST for over 2000 years and counting.

Ginger, Jesus has you here at this Catholic Forum not to argue whith His Church but to become part of His Church. Ask Jesus Christ to open you eyes to the Truth as he did for St. Paul.

God Bless you Ginger on your Journey home

Ufamtobie

 

[celticcrusader]

does any one have a copy of RADIO REPLIES by Fr.s Rumble & Carty handy? * I am curious what thier answer is, I think thier books were written in the 1940’s and if I remember correctly what they wrote then is still true today, that is the great thing about the teachings of the RCC, the Church that Jesus started she is the same , yesterday, today & tomorrow.*

 

[benedictus2]

Wether we Catholics go before a Priest or behind a screen we know our sins our forgiven because it is not the priest who forgives our sins, it is Jesus Christ who forgives us of our sins and it is JESUS CHRIST WHO KNOWS OUR HEARTS.

Ginger, question is when you go to a protestant to ask for forgivness for the wrongs done by you to them or vise versa, wether you are face to face or behind a screen does he or she know your heart as well if you are truly sorry? The truth is they can’t see into one hearts either.

If one committs a mortal sin such as “Adultry” yes one must go and confess his or her sins to his or her spouse, and then again must go to Jesus to confess by going to see The Apostels…

But wait a minute the Apostles are all dead, how can we go and confess our sins of Adultry or any other motal sins, since the Apostles are the ones that our Lord gave SOLE AUTHORITY, to forgive us are sins and again, they are all DEAD Who shall we go to

Wait the Lord Left his Church in CARE of his Apostles but then again the Apostles are all dead. Jesus MUST of known that his Apostles would die one day, Jesus even Prophesied the death of Peter.

Ginger, Truth is that Jesus knows how to build his Catholic Church it is HE who is in charge of it! JESUS knew that his Apostles whom he gave Authority to forgive sins or retain them would die one day as they have.

Ginger, do you believe that Our Lords words of Authority to forgive sins or retain them died when the Apostles died?

If you believe this then we ar all lost.

Truth is we are not lost in (John 20: 21)… As the Father sent ME, so I send YOU.

Ginger, what did Jesus send the Apostles to do?

Jesus sent his Apostles to build his Church! Therefore the Apostles have the AUTHORITY of laying on of hands to Other Holy Men of God to for give or retain mens sins and to continue to build the Church, spread the GOOD news of the Echarist, and that is the Catholic Church through the Apostolic succession. amen.

No other Church claims or can claim that it comes from the Apostolic Succession. Only the Catholic Church claims this and can only claim it and has been doing so by the AUTHORITY and GUIDENCE of JESUS CHRIST for over 2000 years and counting.

Ginger, Jesus has you here at this Catholic Forum not to argue whith His Church but to become part of His Church. Ask Jesus Christ to open you eyes to the Truth as he did for St. Paul.

God Bless you Ginger on your Journey home

Ufamtobie

does any one have a copy of RADIO REPLIES by Fr.s Rumble & Carty handy? * I am curious what thier answer is, I think thier books were written in the 1940’s and if I remember correctly what they wrote then is still true today, that is the great thing about the teachings of the RCC, the Church that Jesus started she is the same , yesterday, today & tomorrow.*

:clapping: To both your posts!

 

[Ginger2]

You Ginger 2 are not a mind reader.

Don’t have to be. I have the Scriptures.
Not Everyone Who Says “Lord, Lord” Will Enter the Kingdom
(Matthew 7:21-23)

**EVERYONE WHO GOES TO CONFESSION, COMES OUT WITH ABSOLUTION, IS FORGIVEN BY JESUS CHRIST. **

So you fancy yourself a mind reader being able to know the mind and heart of everyone who steps inside a confessional? Or are you claiming to know the mind of God?
(1 Cor. 2:11 ) :tsktsk:

Anyone who sincerely repents and asks forgiveness from God will be forgiven - without the need of a priest.

Anyone who does not repent will not be forgiven - even if they can get a priest to claim so.

Repenting is part of the forgiveness process.

While you all can say how humbling it is to anonymously confess behind a screen to a priest, I can say with certainty it is much more humbling to go face to face with the person you have wronged to ask forgiveness.

You already know the priest will not judge you, but comfort you with the words, “your sins are forgiven”

But we have no assurance the person we have wronged will accept our apology, and forgive us. We are risking humiliation and insults and we are ready to accept what we have brought on ourselves because of our sins.

I’d say seeking forgiveness is pretty easy for Catholics.

Hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving.

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

Don’t have to be. I have the Scriptures.
Not Everyone Who Says “Lord, Lord” Will Enter the Kingdom
(Matthew 7:21-23)

So you fancy yourself a mind reader being able to know the mind and heart of everyone who steps inside a confessional? Or are you claiming to know the mind of God?
(1 Cor. 2:11 ) :tsktsk:

Anyone who sincerely repents and asks forgiveness from God will be forgiven - without the need of a priest.

Anyone who does not repent will not be forgiven - even if they can get a priest to claim so.

Repenting is part of the forgiveness process.

While you all can say how humbling it is to anonymously confess behind a screen to a priest, I can say with certainty it is much more humbling to go face to face with the person you have wronged to ask forgiveness.

You already know the priest will not judge you, but comfort you with the words, “your sins are forgiven”

But we have no assurance the person we have wronged will accept our apology, and forgive us. We are risking humiliation and insults and we are ready to accept what we have brought on ourselves because of our sins.

I’d say seeking forgiveness is pretty easy for Catholics.

Hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving.

Have you ever gone to confession with a Catholic priest? Simple yes or no will suffice. Seeking forgiveness is absolutely hard for anyone to want to enter the confessional, knowing they sinned. It is not easy for a priest to forgive. My friend got married in Las Vegas and confessed this to her priest. He refused to grant absolution unless she remained celibate until her marriage date which was right around the corner. He then did give her Absolution.
Your religion is EXTREMELY EASY, just say the Sinner’s Prayer, which by the way is not in the bible and won’t save you.

Oh, my Thanksgiving was great. Thank you.

 

[Reuben_J]

Anyone who sincerely repents and asks forgiveness from God will be forgiven - without the need of a priest.

Oh, I wish it is as simple as that too. But we do need a priest. Our tradition lies from Judaism where an entire tribe was dedicated to priesthood. Priests do have roles to play in the community of faith. Jesus chose only twelve Apostles and not everyone who followed him a chosen Apostle.

Forgiveness of sin is a grace. We are given an outward sign of this grace. The Sacrament of Penance is one. Sure, you can be forgiven even if you don’t go for this Sacrament, but the Church is given the Sacrament and so we follow what the Church says. Maybe there is no wrong or right about it, but my bet is on what the Church says.

Similarly, even though I believe marriage is a gift from God where He joins the two to become one, I do not marry myself. I need a priest to perform the Sacrament of marriage.

And yes, we do need priests. It is Christianity and priests have been in existence since the first Christian church. It is mentioned in the Bible.

Note:

Saying sorry to the one we have wronged is part of a good confession. I mentioned restitution. It is to make good (not only to God) to the one whom we have wronged. If you steal, you have to return the money. So asking for forgiveness from others is what good confession entails than what it is without.

 

[brkn1]

A priest cannot see into someone’s heart, that is why Jesus Christ is right there when the priest gives you Absolution. A priest is there for Christ, just like having Christ right in front of you. Your Protestant religion is to “easy”. That is why I love my Catholic faith. Jesus said himself it wouldn’t be easy to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thank you Lord for planting me in your church.

Are you telling me that “Jesus Christ was right there” in all those priests that the RCC admits were sodomites. I don’t think so.

 

[celticcrusader]

Yes he was, just like just like he was in all the other ministers of other religions when they did the same things and other things contrary to Gods law! Do I hear free will?

 

[Peter_J]

James 5:16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

This doesn’t say confess your sins to a priest. It says confess to one another - like I described above. That’s how Protestants do it. That’s how the Scriptures tell us to do it.

It doesn’t say “confess your sins to a priest”, nor does it say “confess your sin to a the one(s) whom you wronged”. Each side interprets it the way that makes most sense to us.

 

[Cinette]

One of the biblical proofs that Jesus was God was His statement: “Your sins are forgiven.” All knew what that claim meant, when they correctly said that: “Only God can forgive sins.”
I saw this paragraph and thought “nice post” - yes, we Catholics do not say that it is the priest who forgives sin - we know that it is God alone. the Priest listens, advises and after we have made an Act of Contrition, he absolves us. But we KNOW that if we are not truly sorry we will not be forgiven. We know that.
You can play games with the idea that “it is God’s forgiveness” that a priest has the power to dispense, but a man “dispensing” what only God has a right to do, cheapens Jesus’ proof that He was God. A fallible man saying: “You are absolved.” is playing God.
BOOM! what a disappointment! It is obvious you have not read your bible. In John you will read the words of Jesus, "Whose sin you forgive, they are forgiven, whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. It was Jesus’ idea to give the power of absolution to the Apostles who passed this down to their replacements. Don’t you GET it?
There is only one Mediator for the forgiveness of sins, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ,OF COURSE!!! Whom we can appeal through to God the Father directly, without a “sacrament” of another “mediator” that wants to lord it over us.

Oh maaannnnnnn! :whacky: :whacky: :banghead: :banghead:

READ YOUR BIBLE!

 

[SIA]

SIA
If you think that then why are you here?

The reason why Jesus Christ has you here is to learn the TRUTH! The Lord is still working on you Sia, you may think you have left the CHURCH, but deep down in your heart you want to come home and if its through this Catholic website then Blessed be GOD.

Ufamtobie

In my heart and not hard to see is my desire for you and others to learn the TRUTH and see the deception that you are marinating in.

 

[Cinette]

There are Protestants who come onto these forums with a genuine desire to understand Catholics. This doesn’t mean they are here to convert - no, they want to understand, debate, learn. I have come across some very nice people and engaged in interesting debates.

Then there are the predators - agents of the evil one - with closed minds and one objective and that is to injure, condemn and spar. they never listen to a word, they are thinking of what next insult to send our way. They do themselves more harm. This is unworthy of anyone. They are, after all, our brothers and sisters, but they are consumed with hatred.

I was away from the Church for 27 years. I used to sometimes make unkind remarks but was never pernicious like those we find here.

There is only one thing to do about them - pray!

 

[thirdn6]

Confession is definitely beneficial and good for the soul:

I have confessed and apologized for the wrongs done to others face to face. Sometimes it brings immediate reconciliation with my Christian brother and sometimes scorn. It can be difficult but it is a blessing regardless of the other person’s reaction.

I have been moved to confessed past sins that were already forgiven for the edification of others. It is a blessing that helps others to seek forgiveness and reconciliation and also helps them repent and grow spiritually.

James 5:16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

This doesn’t say confess your sins to a priest. It says confess to one another - like I described above. That’s how Protestants do it. That’s how the Scriptures tell us to do it.

Show me one instance where Christians went to an Apostle to confess rather than going directly to the injured party?

One instance where an Apostle said he was coming to a church to hear confessions?

Confessing to a priest is not a bad thing, but it is lacking in the the blessings that come when we go to our brother to make amends. It lacks the humbling that goes along with a face to face encounter with the person you have wronged. etc.

All the years I was Catholic, I never once was told to go to the person effected by my transgression and make amends.

“Confessing to one another” opens a door for God to do wonderful things thru us, for us and for the listeners. It really is a beautiful gift.

Really?
Here’s 2 situations…
A person went to work overseas and didn’t asked forgiveness from his parents for sins he might have committed against them. During those times he was away, he became more aware of his faith. He became a born-again protestant christian. He remembered his sins against his parents. A few months before his coming home his parents died in an accident. How can he now ask forgiveness face to face with his parents?

A father was involved in a bank rob. In the process his group happened to kill an innocent bank client. Some ten years after the incident he became a protestant christian. He asked his 12 year old son to forgive him his sins!
Sure, that’s confessing one to another. Right?

 

[benedictus2]

In my heart and not hard to see is my desire for you and others to learn the TRUTH and see the deception that you are marinating in.

Christ has led you here that you may learn His Truth.

Pray for a humble and open heart that you may truly listen.

 

[benedictus2]

Oh maaannnnnnn! :whacky: :whacky: :banghead: :banghead:

READ YOUR BIBLE!

That is the sad reality. The “Bible Christians” are really afraid of the some passages in the Bible. They skip so called “hard passages”

 

[benedictus2]

Don’t have to be. I have the Scriptures.
Not Everyone Who Says “Lord, Lord” Will Enter the Kingdom
(Matthew 7:21-23)

And ain’t that the truth. But “born again” Christians say that so long as you claim Jesus as you Lord and Saviour you are saved.

The rest of that passage reads: “But those who do the will of my Father”

 

[ufamtobie]

In my heart and not hard to see is my desire for you and others to learn the TRUTH and see the deception that you are marinating in.

Sia,

Truly deep down in your heart of hearts if you believed that I/we Catholics here are “marinting deception” then you would leave this Catholic Forum and never return.

Did not the Lord say to stay away from those who bring about deception/evil?

Again, deep down in your heart of hearts you know this is not true here at this Catholic Forum for there is NO DECEPTION or EVIL only the TRUTH.

Truth is, I don’t want you to leave this Catholic Forum Because you need to listen to the TRUTH! And the TRUTH will set you FREE! AMEN

Ufamtobie

 

[ChristianKnight]

John 20: 21-23
He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. 23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Clearly Jesus was addressing the power to forgive sins ONLY to his Apostles and to their Successors for the forgivness of sins.

Yes, we all must forgive our brothers and sisters if they have wronged us, but what if we have wronged God, can our brothers and sisters forgive us for THE WRONGS/SINS we have done to God? **NO! **

We who have DONE WRONG must go to the Church this is how Jesus Christ wants it to be and since we no longer have the actual Apostles here with us to forgive us our sins against God we go to their Successors the Catholic Priests.

Yes, we can go directly to Jesus Christ so that he can forgive us our sins, but are your sins forgiven or are they retained Hmmm! Good Question.

Many protestants go directly to Jesus/alter call for forgivness and think you are forgiven, but perhaps YOUR SINS are retained you would never truely know if you were forgiven or your sins retained by our Lord until you meet Our Lord face to face, but that WILL be too late to find out that your sins was retained. OUCH!

Jesus Christ wants us to go to his Catholic Church that he left and recieve the forgiveness of our sins and hear these beautiful words " your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more" Or hear the words your sins are retained. If retained you WILL still have a chance to ammend your life here on earth.

Yes, it is humbling/ to go to confession and confess ones many sins to a priest the Successors of the Apostles, but this is what Jesus Christ wants us all to do in John 20: 21-23 and through the Grace of Jesus Christ, I do AMEN

The Father sends Jesus, Jesus send the Apostles, the Apostles send the Bishops/Cardinals/ Priest an unbroken succession.

Ufamtobie

um, idk how to respond, I see no question, like the topic name suggested but ok, reply:

He gave his disciples the power to forgive, he never said their successors could…

 

[ufamtobie]

um, idk how to respond, I see no question, like the topic name suggested but ok, reply:

He gave his disciples the power to forgive, he never said their successors could…

Hi there ChristianKnight,

Ok so you know that Jesus gave the Apostles the Authority/Power to forgive sin Right?

Christian Knight I tell you this can you go to the Apostles right now to ask forgivness for you sins?

The answer is No you can not go to the Apostles to forgive you your sins becuase they are not here any more they are with Jesus Christ in Paradise.

So ChristianKinght, who can you go to today to ask for your sins to be forgiven? I will tell you and that is to their successors.

Look at it this way when your parents die who are they going to leave their House, Car, Money, to, I hope it will be you, right, because you would be your parents successors to take care of the house, cars, money

So the Apostles knew they were going to die, God, knew they would going to die one day. So Apostles had to leave the Authority/Power to forgive our sins to other men of God and these are the Successors.

Or what if the Apostles did not leave the Authority/Power to no one. then there would be no one to forgive us our sins. Yes, we can go to Jesus Christ to forgive us our sins but Jesus Christ wants us all to go to His Church to a priest to forgive us our sins.

ChristianKnight, when you mom and dad got married did they go to a minister to get married? Or did your parents marry themselves?

When you were baptized did you go to a minister to be baptized?
Or did you baptize yourself?

The same is for us who want our sins forgiven and that we also have to see a Minister/Priest and it only can be done in the Catholic Church

God Bless you

Ufamtobie