Why do Roman Catholics go to a priest for forgiveness?

Question

Can they not ask Jesus themselves for forgiveness? Jesus is the one who truely forgives us anyways.

To HOPE,

Please let me know where in the Bible it says that a preist is a new Christ? Everything I have ever read says there is only one Jesus Christ

Answer 1

Because it's a cult

Answer 2

It is Jesus Who forgives. However, we don't know if Jesus has forgiven us. The priest gives us the reassurance that we are forgiven. Not all sins can be forgiven immediately and by any priest. For example, the sin of abortion can be forgiven by a priest who has the authority to forgive this sin. Also, when we sin, we have to make reparation for the sin. The priest gives us the absolution and the penance we have to perform to atone for the sin. If we steal something, we have to return it or make reparation. Also Jesus gave His Apostles the power of the keys. He gave Peter the keys to bind or lose. He said, " You are Peter and upon this rock I shall build My Church ... Whatsoever you bind on earth is bound in heaven. Whatsoever you lose on earth is lose in heaven." He also said to the apostles, "Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven. Whose sins you shall retain they are retained." Therefore, the priest is another Christ and he forgives us in the person of Jesus Christ.

Answer 3

You can just ask Jesus for forgiveness, but if you go to confession with a priest you're actually saying your sins and getting them off your chest. The thing is, it's not that you're just telling some guy your sins. You're telling a guy who Jesus works through to forgive. To be honest, I'm Catholic, and after I go to confession, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off me.

Answer 4

Not a catholic but the bible John 20:21 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. 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.

It clearly says what it says Jesus commanded the apostles to retain or forgive catholics believe only Jesus takes away sins, but apostles were given the rite to forgive sins. Through apostolic succession priest are too, but I doubt you'd know about apostolic succession?

ex-baptist, currently and agnostic.

Answer 5

This is a highly misunderstood concept. In the Catholic faith - one can go to Jesus and ask for forgiveness. You aren't bared from Jesus.

And a priest cannot forgive you. You can only be forgiven by God and only if you are truly contrite in your soul.

If you would like to learn more about the sacrament of confession and about what it actually means - visit http://www.newadvent.com It's a Catholic website.

Answer 6

The Catholic Church believes that "Only God forgives sin."

When a penitent person asks God for forgiveness, his (or her) sins are immediately forgiven.

Catholics also believe that when someone sins they not only hurt their relationship with God, they also injure the entire church, the body of Christ.

Jesus said, "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,"Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (Luke 20:22-23)

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation with a priest ordained in the name of Jesus Christ not only reconciles the sinner to God but with the entire church, including you and me.

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much. -James 5:16.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. -1 John 1:8-10.
We say it to the priest, and confess it before God, the priest prays for us. There is nothing un-Biblical about this.
God gets the confession, the priest is there to pray and witness.

Answer 8

IN TRUTH, YES, but catholicism has little truth remaining in its teachings. According to scripture, EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A PRIEST, ABLE TO GO DIRECTLY TO GOD THROUGH JESUS ALONE.

Hebrews 4:15 We have a high priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. We have a high priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But he did not sin. 16 So let us boldly approach the throne of grace. Then we will receive mercy. We will find grace to help us when we need it.

The catholic church puts the "priest" into a position which scripture reserves ONLY for Jesus:

1Timothy 2:5 There is only one God. And there is only one go-between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus...
What part of "ONLY ONE" was it they didn't understand?

Answer 9

A Priest represents God and helps catholic church followers to feel closer to Him. The Priest helps take our sins to Jesus that will present them to God for forgiveness. Bunch of BS if you ask me for I never truly cared about telling any of my sins to those lunatics and child rapists...

Answer 10

because in their beliefs the priest is Christ's Representative on Earth. I do not believe this myself, but it is in the Catholic belief system. I am not sying they are right or wrong just that I do not believe the same as them.

Answer 11

Christ told his disciples that they were given the power to bind sins or forgive them.

Mat 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Thus, anyone in the priestly line of the disciples would have the same authority.