Protestants, can a Catholic Priest forgive sins?

[Ginger2]

Well you did a good job of dancing around Peter and Judas but you left out Mary,Do you understand what I am saying,now

Good grief! The most obvious reason is that it is not complete. If God inspired it for future generations to read, He would have preserved at least enough copies to make a complete book.

Also:
The gospel of Mary of Madeline is gnostic in its very nature, placing knowledge above all else. It directly contradicts the other Gospels. It contains buddhist ideals.

“For where the mind is, there is the treasure.” Gospel of Mary

Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

And finally, Mary M was not the author - she was dead by the time it was written.

 

[benedictus2]

I’m sorry you feel that way. I’ve answered the question at least twice now.

No you haven’t. Read my post 861 which gives a blow by blow account of how our discussion went.

Maybe this time around you will finally give an exegesis on John 20:21-23 instead of beating around the bush.

 

[benedictus2]

I really can’t believe this thread is still going.

A long time ago it was proven priests can’t forgive sin the way God can, nor can they condemn someone to hell by refusing to forgive him/her.

See post # 's 14 & 15

Below are your posts number 14 and 15: NEITHER HAS PROVEN THAT PRIEST’S CAN’T FORGIVE SINS BECAUSE NEITHER ADDRESSED JOHN 20:21-23

On another thread you confessed you have no idea either what John 20:21-23 means.

No. A priest cannot forgive sins any more than a layperson can.

God can see into a person’s heart, but a priest cannot.

If a person is confessing because he mistakenly believes he can sin all he wants and have those sins removed by a priest, Are his sins really forgiven?

If he goes out and repeats those sins and then go to confession to be absolved again, and again, Are those sins really forgiven?

The priest will take for granted that person is repentant because that person came to confession.

The priest will say, “Your sins are forgiven”, but are those sins really forgiven?

No. Therefore the priest has no power to forgive sins.

A priest cannot retain sins either.

God can see into a person’s heart, but a priest cannot.

If a priest refuses to hear my confession, then can I not go to Christ Jesus, who is my mediator? The Bible says I can!

If there is one mediator between God and man, then Jesus, who knows my heart will forgive me even tho your priest will not.

A priest cannot retain the sins of a truly repentant person.

 

[benedictus2]

Confession is definitely beneficial and good for the soul:

You sure got that right. That is why Jesus instituted it as a sacrament.

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.

And this is not what we use as Biblical support for the sacrament and you know it too.

 

[FanOfU2]

OK. I am beginning to understand that it’s Christ forgiving sins through a priest, and that Jesus gave his apostles the ability to do this. However, could someone show me how the power that Jesus gave was passed down the line? Thanks.

 

[LilyM]

OK. I am beginning to understand that it’s Christ forgiving sins through a priest, and that Jesus gave his apostles the ability to do this. However, could someone show me how the power that Jesus gave was passed down the line? Thanks.

Why wouldn’t it be, for heaven’s sake? Do you imagine for a second that we would suddenly become so sinless, or our priests and their sacrament of forgiveness so unnecessary, that Our Lord WOULDN’T pass it ‘down the line’ to those who succeeded the Apostles, as Matthias and/or Paul succeeded Judas? It would only be withdrawn, you can be assured, if we ceased to need it, which we never have and never will.

Paul talks in one of his letters about his forgiving sins - unfortunately time prevents me looking up the reference. And James talks about gathering the elders to pray over the sick so that their sins may be forgiven as well as that they be healed.

 

[celticcrusader]

look at first chapt. of Acts , where Judas was replaced.

 

[BILL_PICK53]

Cathloic priest do not forgive sin,only JesusChrist can forgive sin,with the power they get from Our Father

 

[pablope]

1Cr 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you However, most of the time, “church” was used to refer to the body of believers.

All the Holy Scriptures were written and in circulation before the end of the first century. Christians knew which books were inspired as they knew the authors.
What we didn’t have was all the Scriptures placed into one book like today.

Sorry to say this, but I think you need to brush up on your Bible history. The first christians were under Roman rule and persecution at various times, were discriminated…alot more other factors. Not all writings were put together, not all writings were accessible, and a host of other factors. The first christians worshipped underground. Have you heard of the catacombs in Rome? Think ancient times.

…

 

[pablope]

OK. I am beginning to understand that it’s Christ forgiving sins through a priest, and that Jesus gave his apostles the ability to do this. However, could someone show me how the power that Jesus gave was passed down the line? Thanks.

In Acts, where Judas Iscariot is replaced, I think chapter 1. Also, the writings and history of the early church, also known as Early Church Fathers, who were appointed by the Apostles as their replacements/successors…and so forth…down to today. Example would be St Paul, after establishing the Churches in his travels, would appoint someone to replace him as he moved on…like Timothy and Titus…Another is Peter, appointing Linus, then Cletus, then Clement…and so forth…down through history to today.