sinful priest

[blueriver]

If a priest or religious senior is engaged in sins of inhumanity are they still able to fulfill their role properly? For example are their blessings still effective or will God render them useless? Is a confession to them useless because their sins are more harmful than your own?

 

[edward_george]

I’m not sure what you mean by “sins of inhumanity,” but the answer to your question is that yes, a priest who is in a state of sin still has valid blessings and sacraments. This is because the sacraments work ex opere operato, that is, by the working of the work itself. The Church declared this in response to the Donatist heresy, which held that sacraments are dependent upon the sanctity of the priest.

earlychurch.org.uk/donatism.php*
mb-soft.com/believe/txn/exopere.htm

-ACEGC*

 

[blueriver]

So then a religious senior can be engaged in any kind of evil sin and still be given the power of God because he was once upon a time santified?
I think its odd that a priest with much graver sins than your own can cleanse you of your own sins?

 

[1ke]

So then a religious senior can be engaged in any kind of evil sin and still be given the power of God because he was once upon a time santified?
I think its odd that a priest with much graver sins than your own can cleanse you of your own sins?

It is Christ who does the cleansing. As the previous poster stated, the sacraments operate ex opere operato.

 

[EmeraldWings]

So then a religious senior can be engaged in any kind of evil sin and still be given the power of God because he was once upon a time santified?
I think its odd that a priest with much graver sins than your own can cleanse you of your own sins?

the priest has no real power of his own, it is all Gods power, and if a priest is bad, that is no fault of yours, God if all fair, and if you go to a priest for confession who is corrupt, you will still be forgiven, because God tells you that you will be forgiven, and all you can do is trust that,
but just a word of warning in case you didn’t already know, we are never aloud to talk bad about a priest, if we think there is a problem with one, we are to pray on it, and leave it in Gods hands…not saying you do, just wanted to mention that just in case…

 

[Lynxdk]

but just a word of warning in case you didn’t already know, we are never aloud to talk bad about a priest, if we think there is a problem with one, we are to pray on it, and leave it in Gods hands…not saying you do, just wanted to mention that just in case…

Just to clarify that a little, there’s a big difference between “talking bad” as in gossiping about whatever a priest might be doing with your peers, and informing the priests superiors so they can look into it if the issue is serious.

 

[blueriver]

Thanyou I didn’t know that was the case ( talking about a priest), religious corruption is difficult to transcend.
I will pray on it.

 

[Wired]

We really can’t, and should never attempt to, determine the state of grace (or lack thereof) of another person. We can only make that judgment for ourselves… Things are not always as they seem, so be careful when you are tempted to assign guilt to others…