Why do we need priests?

[Raider_Red]

I figured this title might generate some good feedback. I ask this partly out of ignorance and just wanted some clarity as to why we must go through an ordained priest for absolution of our sins if we are all priests? I think I have a decent understanding of the role of the priest in Old Testament times as a mediator between God and the people, but what actually changed when the veil into the holy of holies was torn apart after the death of Christ in relation to priestly duties. If we have direct access to God as a priest, why do we need to go through an ordained priest. I know where Peter and the disciples were given the authority to bind and loose, but is that the only way God chooses to forgive sins on the earth. Can I not go directly to God under the new covenant and have him forgive my sins in the same way an ordained priest could? I’m not saying I don’t want to go to a priest for confession because I actually do, but I didn’t know how this played out outside of that. What happens in the case of Protestants who don’t go to confession in the same sense as a Catholic would? I think anyone who reads this will see where I’m going with all of this and hopefully add to the discussion and help me out with this.

 

[palmas85]

I figured this title might generate some good feedback. I ask this partly out of ignorance and just wanted some clarity as to why we must go through an ordained priest for absolution of our sins if we are all priests? I think I have a decent understanding of the role of the priest in Old Testament times as a mediator between God and the people, but what actually changed when the veil into the holy of holies was torn apart after the death of Christ in relation to priestly duties. If we have direct access to God as a priest, why do we need to go through an ordained priest. I know where Peter and the disciples were given the authority to bind and loose, but is that the only way God chooses to forgive sins on the earth. Can I not go directly to God under the new covenant and have him forgive my sins in the same way an ordained priest could? I’m not saying I don’t want to go to a priest for confession because I actually do, but I didn’t know how this played out outside of that. What happens in the case of Protestants who don’t go to confession in the same sense as a Catholic would? I think anyone who reads this will see where I’m going with all of this and hopefully add to the discussion and help me out with this.

Actually this is an old argument that the early reformers used in order to first diminish and then eliminate the role of the ordained Priest. It is nothing new at all. If you understand Catholic teaching you already know the answer. If you do not, I doubt that the answer will be found here in any understandable fashion.

Unfortunately too may people today choose to ignore the fact that while in a certain sense we are all priests, we are not all ordained Priests, who have special duties and abilities and responsibilities as a result of their ordination.

Rather then coming on this particular forum, which in all honesty I think was a deliberate attempt to get an argument going, sorry, but it does look that way, why not try the apologetics forum. Over there they might be able to explain things in a way that you can understand.

 

[ConyersColt84]

If you are Catholic, please go to confession and talk to the priest about arrogance. If you are not Catholic then re-read the Bible concerning confessing your sins directily to God. If you are simpley uninformed, as many are, try confiding in a true friend, the weaknesses we share and the community in which we live. We are accepted as a member of the community and our actions directly affect the community, whether we accept this or not. Try speeding in a traffic jam. Yell out a suprelative in a crowd. Live out your way of life fully without the support of others.

Regardless, God Bless!
ConyersColt84

 

[Raider_Red]

Rather then coming on this particular forum, which in all honesty I think was a deliberate attempt to get an argument going, sorry, but it does look that way, why not try the apologetics forum. Over there they might be able to explain things in a way that you can understand.

If it came across this way, I apparently didn’t articulate myself well or used the wrong start. Most every thread I start is a result of a question I receive from my dad or other Protestant friends that I don’t feel I can articulate a good answer. I feel I have enough of an understanding of this concept that I’m more than okay with it (which I guess doesn’t matter if I’m okay with it or not if it’s truth), but at the same time have a hard time articulating it to my dad or friends. I come here in hopes of hearing from the wonderful minds I see on here to help me out. Your are right that the apologetic portion of the forum would have been a better place for this thread, but I initially though this might be the place and way to go. I’m not one who gets a thrill out of getting people excited or starting an argument, but I guess it’s always a chance you take when you ask a question like that. I was expecting to get different views from different individuals, but I think we can disagree with one another on points while doing it in a healthy way and learning something from one another. If someone has a website or anything to answer or to redirect the question I would by all means be appreciative.

 

[EasterJoy]

Most every thread I start is a result of a question I receive from my dad or other Protestant friends that I don’t feel I can articulate a good answer.

I get you. I think you’ll find that the forum is a place to look for opinions, for different ways to explain the subtleties of a basic concept, and for other Catholics to share their experiences and personal insights, and especially for mutual encouragement. You’ll get great information here, too, but when it comes to the basic facts, there are more effecient ways to go.

If you look at the top of the page, we’re on the “forum” tab. Go to the “faith” tab. In it, you’ll find over 120 tracts prepared by the professional apologists at Catholic Answers. These are well-written and accessible, a real gold mine! I think this is where you want to go first.

That’s not to discourage you from posting here, but just to suggest the tracts as a resource that might produce what you want more directly and thoroughly.

 

[palmas85]

If it came across this way, I apparently didn’t articulate myself well or used the wrong start. Most every thread I start is a result of a question I receive from my dad or other Protestant friends that I don’t feel I can articulate a good answer. I feel I have enough of an understanding of this concept that I’m more than okay with it (which I guess doesn’t matter if I’m okay with it or not if it’s truth), but at the same time have a hard time articulating it to my dad or friends. I come here in hopes of hearing from the wonderful minds I see on here to help me out. Your are right that the apologetic portion of the forum would have been a better place for this thread, but I initially though this might be the place and way to go. I’m not one who gets a thrill out of getting people excited or starting an argument, but I guess it’s always a chance you take when you ask a question like that. I was expecting to get different views from different individuals, but I think we can disagree with one another on points while doing it in a healthy way and learning something from one another. If someone has a website or anything to answer or to redirect the question I would by all means be appreciative.

I/m telling you. The answers you are looking for would best be found with the apologetics and not on this particular sub forum. Hey, it’s up to you. If you are really interested check them out. You will learn a lot more from them than over here. I for one really see no benefit in discussing two such radically opposing views except if one is trying to change the others mind. Thats all.

 

[EasterJoy]

I/m telling you. The answers you are looking for would best be found with the apologetics and not on this particular sub forum. Hey, it’s up to you. If you are really interested check them out. You will learn a lot more from them than over here. I for one really see no benefit in discussing two such radically opposing views except if one is trying to change the others mind. Thats all.

I think, too, that the discussions go better if the basic knowledge is there as a starting point. It’s hard to discuss the Church’s teachings when one side doesn’t know what those teachings are. If you get the broad idea of what the Church teaches and still have questions, then the discussions of the subtle points become more profitable.

 

[Raider_Red]

I really appreciate the last couple of posts and the information provided. I’m obviously new to all of this and it’s helpful for those who know the ropes to be patient with those who don’t.

 

[JustaServant]

The existence of a human priesthood within the Catholic Church is foretold in the prophecies of Isaiah (Is. 66:21) and Jeremiah ( Jer. 33: 15-22) . To deny that would leave these prophecies unexplained and unfulfilled. They are despensers of the Sacraments. A Sacrament is an “outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace." If one understands what a sacrament is, they will understand the need for the priesthood. They go hand in hand.

 

[stayreal123]

(I’m new to this site so I’m hoping I do this correctly…lol) O understand this was asked a while ago, but this is how I go about answering this question. I was put in the position of answering this question not too long ago. Now I’m only a teenager, but through prayer and studying Scripture, God was able to help me find some answers. So first of all Confession is a sign of humility. We are physically recognizing that we are sinners that need forgiveness; not just spiritually saying “I’m sorry” in our heads, or out loud isolated from people.
Also, in John 20:22-23, Jesus appeared to His disciples after the Resurrection, breathed on them and said. “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven. If you don’t forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Jesus appointed these disciples with the duty to forgive our sins through the Holy Spirit. That is what the Sacrament of Confession is. Through the Holy Spirit acting through the Priest, we are forgiven and receive the grace to avoid sinning again (it’s our decision to accept the grace)
Also other verses I came across of Jesus Himself appointing men to perform certain duties through the Holy Spirit include Matthew 28:16-20 (specifically Baptism) and Mark 16:14-18 (specifically Anointing of the Sick)
In a sense, we are all priests in that we receive grace and the Holy Spirit. But we have not been ordained, or been anointed by the Holy Spirit the way Jesus anointed the early disciples. That comes through Holy Orders, which is not everyone’s vocation.
Hope this helped!

 

[TimothyH]

We have priests because God prefers to work through people. He even became a person.

-Tim-

 

[otjm]

One of the issues that Protestants, particularly as you get farther away from the high liturgy Protestants, have lost sight of is the issue of sacrifice and the offering of the same.

In the OT, the priests offered sacrifice for the people. Obviously, they were not the only ones (cf. Abraham, for example), but they offered sacrifice for the people as a whole.

That carried over into the NT, with the Apostles appointing bishops, and the bishops appointing presbyters to assist them. And as in the OT, the offering of sacrifice - here, the Eucharist - was restricted to those appointed.

As the Protestant communities drifted further and further away from this issue of offering sacrifice, they drifted away from any concept of priesthood. High liturgy is still within parts of the Lutherans and Anglican/Episcopalians, but the fall-off is rapid from there.

John Henry Cardinal Newman said that to read the Fathers of the Church is to cease to be Protestant. The issue of a clear priesthood and the Eucharist is crystal clear among them, but sadly, most Protestants don’t ever read the Fathers of the Church; and those that doo often are some of our most evangelical converts. Two examples: Scott Hahn and Steve Ray.

 

[Megan7]

One of the issues that Protestants, particularly as you get farther away from the high liturgy Protestants, have lost sight of is the issue of sacrifice and the offering of the same.

In the OT, the priests offered sacrifice for the people. Obviously, they were not the only ones (cf. Abraham, for example), but they offered sacrifice for the people as a whole.

That carried over into the NT, with the Apostles appointing bishops, and the bishops appointing presbyters to assist them. And as in the OT, the offering of sacrifice - here, the Eucharist - was restricted to those appointed.

As the Protestant communities drifted further and further away from this issue of offering sacrifice, they drifted away from any concept of priesthood. High liturgy is still within parts of the Lutherans and Anglican/Episcopalians, but the fall-off is rapid from there.

John Henry Cardinal Newman said that to read the Fathers of the Church is to cease to be Protestant. The issue of a clear priesthood and the Eucharist is crystal clear among them, but sadly, most Protestants don’t ever read the Fathers of the Church; and those that doo often are some of our most evangelical converts. Two examples: Scott Hahn and Steve Ray.

Do you have any tips, titles/books on Fathers of the Church that would help a portestant/future convert? Thanks.

 

[otjm]

Do you have any tips, titles/books on Fathers of the Church that would help a portestant/future convert? Thanks.

I would look to the conversion stories of both people I mentioned; they have spoken about what they have read. Steve’s conversion story is on a CD; Scott’s is in a book.