If not than why in the world do you need to tell a priest what is wrong with your life? Read your bible catholic John 16:23 " And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you." Jesus said that. So if your asking for forgiveness than why tell the priest when Jesus himself said ask my Father and he will give it to you.
If you feel he has the power to forgive than read I Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. I didn't say it, it is in the bible. Therefore the priest does not have the power to do so. I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Please catholic study up on some of your teachings, ask your priest see if they really no the answers. I understand all catholic churches dont teach this but the vatican does.
2007-03-25 17:39:20 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No. They are human beings like us. So why would they have the power to forgive sins. Only God and Jesus Christ (being the Son of God) can do that. Read the Bible and nowhere can you find that command to confess your sins to a priest.
2007-03-25 23:32:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been a Catholic for 53 years so I don't need to study my faith but you need too because Jesus also said
'Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained' (John 20:22-23). By which action so signal and words so clear the consent of all the Fathers has ever understood that the power of forgiving and retaining sins was communicated to the Apostles and to their lawful successors, for the reconciling of the faithful who have fallen after Baptism
2007-03-26 00:51:26 · answer #2 · answered by Angel Eyes 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
John 20:21-23 states "(Jesus) said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.' And when He said this, He breathed on them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
Jesus gives the disciples the authority to forgive, and not to forgive. This means a priest must hear the sins in order to know whether to forgive them or hold them bound. We do confess to God directly in our own prayers, but we also confess through the ministery of the priest because that is what God requires, as taught in Scripture. If you will read 2 Cor 5:17-20 you will see that St. Paul explains how the Apostles are ambassadors of Christ's work of reconciliation. This means that they share in the ministry of Christ and forgive sins in His name. James 5:13-16 tells us that the sins of the sick are forgiven in this sacrament of annointing. He specifies that the presbyters (priests) must be called. They obviously had a power the ordinary Christians didn't have, the power to forgive sins. So we go back to what Jesus said "As the Father sent Me so I send you". The Apostles are to continue the mission of Christ. The mission to forgive sins. Jesus knows our human nature and provides sacramental confession to give us several important gifts: humility, the certainty of forgiveness, spiritual direction and help to overcome self-deception and rationalization in matters of sin.
God bless,
Stanbo
2007-03-26 00:49:34 · answer #3 · answered by Stanbo 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Priests do not have the power to forgive sins. That is Catholic doctrine.
In the bible as you stated, it does NOT say anywhere to go confess to a priest.
2007-03-26 00:51:48 · answer #4 · answered by Rena 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus personally told the first priests of His Church, "whose sins YOU forgive, they are forgiven them". Pretty straightforward, wouldn't you say? Yes, Christ empowered priests to forgive sins. Immediately before He said this to them, He breathed upon them, symbolizing a special outpouring the of the Holy Spirit. Obviously the power belongs to God, who alone can forgive sin; but God can forgive sin any way He chooses to do so, and He has chosen to do so through the ministry of His priests.
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2007-03-26 00:47:32 · answer #5 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Thats right,
Every one has the power or right to forgive the sins of our opponents i.e. if some one does something and appologizes we have the power/right to forgive him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
but none of the human being has the power to forgive others sins and has the power to interceed for someone's sins.
thses wrong practices should be stopped.
2007-03-26 00:58:59 · answer #6 · answered by ponder of God's Desire 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no man can forgive sins only God through Jesus Christ.
2007-03-26 01:04:13 · answer #7 · answered by shashonah 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A priest is a person, just like the rest of us. You might as well go to your neighbor and confess your sins, and save some gas money going to Church. There is no difference in higher power between your neighbor, and a priest.
2007-03-26 00:46:13 · answer #8 · answered by Ashley 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think a priest can help you understand why you have sinned.I guess it's up to you if god forgives you..blessings
2007-03-26 00:50:37 · answer #9 · answered by moondancer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YEAH!
LETS ALL GO ON A KILLING RAMPAGE LIKE RAMBO, RAPE ALL THE WOMEN, TORTURE ALL THE MEN, AND THEN GO TO SEE A PRIEST TO CONFESS!
Yay my slate will be wiped clean!
wow this religion sounds appealing!
So much for hedonism!!!
2007-03-26 01:54:12 · answer #10 · answered by Gab200512 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋