Home › Forums › All Things Catholic › A few important questions › Reply To: A few important questions
Catholic teaching on the priest forgiving sins.
As posted in the last post, the authority was given by Jesus to the Apostles, (as we read in the Bible) the Apostles passed on their authority by the laying on of hands to others, (also read in the Bible)
Priests do so in the name of, or by the Authority given them by Jesus, our High Priest. So while the priest has the authority, or as some would call it, “power” to forgive sins, they are doing so, by Jesus authority. Each of the Sacraments the Catholic Church teaches, is not a work of man, it is not the priest who supplies the graces, but Jesus who supplies the graces through His priesthood. So the forgiveness that the priest has the authority to grant, comes primarily and ultimatly from Jesus.
Many Protestants say, “I go directly to God”. That’s fine to say, but that is not how Jesus set things up. If he did not want us to submit to His will and the authority of the Church, why would he clearly establish the Church (as we read in Scripture) why would he give the Apostles the authority to forgive sins? Why would he command that they go out to the ends of the earth preaching the Gospel and Baptizing all those who hear and accept the Gospel. (There are Protestant sects who reject what Jesus said, by teachingt that all you have to do is “Accept Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior” but reject the need for baptism, which Jesus told His Apostles they were to do. He said, “Go therefore and teach, baptizing in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Not let anyone believe in me and leave it at that.