Valid Absolution?

[KatieD]

I have been asked a question by a Protestant relative, and I don’t have a good answer - I’m hoping you can help!

We used to have a priest in my parish (I believe he has since left the priesthood) who was a known alcoholic and an active homosexual. My relative has asked why the absolutions granted by this priest during those years would be more valid than an individual earnestly asking the Lord for forgiveness on his own. The way he sees it, this man was very openly committing mortal sin, so how could he absolve others of their sins and administer the sacrament? I tried to explain that no person is perfect and that all of us are sinners, but the question remains - how can someone so publicly doing these things have the authority to absolve? Thanks for your comments.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Okay, the thing is, that a priest need not be “a good person” in order to fulfil his priestly function. Naturally if he is conscious of being in mortal sin, he should get to confession as soon as possible, but if he must administer the sacraments before he can confess to a priest, he can still do this, and do it validly, because it is Christ through him who is actually administering the sacraments.

IOW, the validity of the sacraments do not depend on the personal holiness (or otherwise) of the one who administers them. (though again, if the priest is conscious of mortal sin he should go to confession as soon as possible.)

Thomas Aquinus speaks of this in the Summa Theologica.

 

[Sir_Knight]

A priest’s personal sinfulness has no bearing on their official authority. Just look at what Jesus teaches us in scripture. The Scribes and Pharises were an evil bunch for the most part. Jesus called them hypocrites and a “brood of vipers” – pretty strong words coming from the Son of God. Yet, in the same breath Jesus commanded the people to obey their teaching because their authority was lawful – thus, showing that a person’s own sinfulness has no bearing on the authority that they hold.

 

[mgy100]

Donatism is an ancient heresy that describes the above situation, that the priest wasn’t “good enough.” The graces and gifts bestowed upon a man when he is ordained to holy orders mean that when he dispenses sacraments they are in fact, sacraments. Even if you don’t like the priest or think he’s this or that or not worthy (which is pretty much opposite thinking of what we are to believe as Christians), the functions he performs as a priest are true and full of grace.

 

[Joseph_Smith]

I disagree 100 percent. I contend that no priest of the Holy Roman Catholic Church can absolve anyone of sin. Under any conditions period. There can be no priest in the church in fact. God does only honer one priesthood at a time. In the case of the priesthood there is one High Priest Jesus Christ. He alone is the high prist per the letter to the hebrews. The earthly priesthood was done away with at the cross and Christ became the one high priest between God and man the one mediator and the one person that can forgive mens sins unto God. Now there is retained sin and unretained sin. In which any person can begrudge another. Which will stop your blessing. So we ask forgivensss of sin in whos name. Is it not in the name of Jesus so why would you think that pertition goes to another but jesus the high priest. do you not know you are priest. And all equal in the sight of God. Is it not written to him belongs the glory. So in fact we as priest take our request and out pertitions to the high priest Jesus Christ and he corrects them and presents them to God the father. Can a earthly priest do that as long as the eternal priest Jesus is seating as high priest seated next to God. There can only be one high priest and Jesus is his name.

 

[Veritas41]

In John 11:49-53 we have Caiphas the High Priest prophesying (God speaking through him) as he approves of the plot to murder Jesus, the greatest crime/sin committed in history. Someone’s moral character doesn’t prevent God from working through their God-ordained status. If a priest’s personal morality and holiness determined the validity of sacraments, we would never have any certainty if the sacraments we have received were valid.

 

[Randy_Carson]

I disagree 100 percent. I contend that no priest of the Holy Roman Catholic Church can absolve anyone of sin. …Can a earthly priest do that as long as the eternal priest Jesus is seating as high priest seated next to God. There can only be one high priest and Jesus is his name.

Joseph-

To whom was Jesus speaking when he said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”? (John 20:21-23)

Men.

Christ is the only mediator, but He told us that all authority was given by God the Father to Him, and He was free to decide how His mediation would be applied to us. The Lord chose to use priests of God to carry out His work of forgiveness.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I don’t judge my MD’s competence by the state of his physical health. Why should I judge my spiritual doctor by the state of his spiritual health?