The Limits Of Absolution: Can Priests Refuse To Forgive Sins?

can catholic priests refuse to forgive sins

The concept of a Catholic priest's ability to forgive sins is steeped in controversy. While some believe that the Bible does not teach that there are to be priests in the New Covenant, and that believers are told to confess their sins to God, others argue that Jesus gave priests the power to forgive sins.

The Bible states that Jesus said to his apostles, If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. This passage is interpreted differently, with some believing it means that Jesus gave the apostles the responsibility of declaring the terms on which God forgives sins, and others arguing that it proves priests have the power to forgive sins.

Priests' authority to forgive sins is further supported by the fact that in the Old Testament, people had to go to the priest to be forgiven. Additionally, the apostles were given the power to bind and loose in Matthew 18:18, which is believed to be linked to the forgiveness of sins.

However, others argue that the Bible never mentions the confession of sins to a priest, and that the power to forgive sins is God's alone. They believe that Jesus is the only mediator between God and humans, and that we can approach God directly without the need for a human mediator.

Characteristics Values
Can Catholic priests refuse to forgive sins? Yes
Is it backed by the Bible? No
Is it backed by the New Testament? No
Is it backed by the Old Testament? Yes
Is it backed by the Catholic tradition? Yes
Is it backed by the Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church? Yes

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The Bible says only God can forgive sins

The Bible says that only God can forgive sins. This is illustrated in Mark 2:1-12, where Jesus declares that He can forgive sins and backs up his claim with a miraculous healing. In this passage, Jesus says to a paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). The scribes and Pharisees, who were sitting there, question this, saying, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2:7).

Jesus responds to their doubts by saying, "Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, [...] get up, take your mat and go home" (Mark 2:9-11). Jesus is showing that He has the authority to forgive sins by performing a miracle—healing the paralytic.

This idea is also seen in Luke 5:21-24, where the scribes and Pharisees again question Jesus's ability to forgive sins. Jesus responds by saying, "Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, [...] I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home" (Luke 5:23-24).

In John 20:21-23, Jesus gives this authority to forgive sins to His apostles: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:22-23). This passage is the basis for the Catholic belief that priests have the power to forgive sins. However, it is important to note that a priest's authority to convey forgiveness comes from Christ, and they are acting as witnesses to Christ's love and mercy (2 Corinthians 5:18).

In conclusion, while the Bible says that only God can forgive sins, it also shows that Jesus, as the Son of God, has the authority to forgive sins on earth. Additionally, Jesus passed on this authority to His apostles, who continue to pass it on through the priesthood.

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Jesus is God, therefore he can forgive sins

The Bible states that only God can forgive sins. However, it also says that Jesus, as the Son of God, had the authority to delegate certain responsibilities to his disciples. In John 20:21-23, Jesus gives the disciples the authority to proclaim the forgiveness of sins. This means that they were to share the message of forgiveness and tell people that if they repented and turned to God, their sins would be forgiven.

Jesus, being the Son of God, had the power to forgive sins. In Mark 2:5, Jesus says to a paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven." The scribes objected, asking, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus then performs a miracle to show that "the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" (Mark 2:10).

In John 20:21-23, Jesus breathes on the disciples and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." This passage is interpreted differently by different Christian denominations. Some believe that Jesus is giving the disciples the authority to proclaim the forgiveness of sins, but not to forgive sins themselves. Others interpret this passage as giving the disciples, and by extension, priests, the authority to forgive sins.

Catholics believe that Jesus gave his priesthood, and with it, the power to forgive sins, to men so that they could continue his earthly work of forgiving sins. They cite John 20:21-23 as evidence, interpreting "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven" as Jesus giving the apostles the authority to forgive sins.

However, some disagree with this interpretation, arguing that Jesus is giving the disciples the authority to proclaim the gospel, which includes the message of forgiveness, rather than the power to forgive sins themselves. They argue that only God can forgive sins and that Jesus, as God, had the authority to do so.

In summary, while some Christians interpret John 20:21-23 as giving priests the authority to forgive sins, others believe that only God and Jesus, as God, can forgive sins, and that the disciples were given the authority to proclaim the message of forgiveness, not to forgive sins themselves.

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Jesus passed on his authority to forgive sins to his apostles

The authority of Jesus to forgive sins is a central tenet of Christian theology, underscoring His divine nature and His role as the saviour. This authority is explicitly demonstrated in several passages of the New Testament, where Jesus not only claims the power to forgive sins but also exercises it.

One of the most direct assertions of Jesus' authority to forgive sins is found in the account of the healing of the paralytic, as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels. In Mark 2:5–12, Jesus, seeing the faith of those who brought the paralytic to Him, declares, "Son, your sins are forgiven." The scribes present question in their hearts, "Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, responds, "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," and then commands the paralytic to rise, take up his mat, and walk. This miracle serves as a visible demonstration of His authority, linking the physical healing with the spiritual forgiveness He offers.

Jesus passed on this authority to forgive sins to his apostles. After His resurrection, Jesus told the disciples, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:23). The Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church interprets this passage as Jesus continuing His apostolic ministry through priests, who "stand as a witness to Christ's love and mercy in declaring the sinner forgiven".

However, some argue that this passage does not grant the apostles the power to forgive sins. Instead, they suggest that Jesus is giving them the authority to proclaim the gospel, which includes the forgiveness of sins. They believe that the power to forgive is something that Jesus kept for Himself, and that only God can truly forgive sins.

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Priests are not apostles, so they cannot forgive sins

The Bible says that only God can forgive sins. In Mark 2:1–12, the story of the healing of the paralytic, Jesus says to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). The scribes objected, asking, "Who can forgive sins except God alone?" (Mark 2:7).

Jesus was indeed God, and therefore had the power to forgive sins. However, he was also a man, and the Bible says that he passed on his power to forgive sins to his apostles. In John 20:19–23, Jesus says to his disciples, "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. [...] Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

The Catholic Church teaches that priests have the power to forgive sins because they are acting with the authority given to them by Christ, who passed on his power to the apostles, who in turn passed it on to their successors. This is known as apostolic succession.

However, some people disagree with this interpretation of the Bible. They argue that Jesus was not giving the apostles the power to forgive sins, but rather the authority to proclaim the gospel, which includes the message that sins can be forgiven through faith in Jesus. They also point out that nowhere in the Bible does an apostle claim to be able to forgive sins.

Furthermore, they argue that if priests have the same power as the apostles, then they should also be able to perform other miracles attributed to the apostles, such as healing the sick and raising the dead.

In response, Catholics point to other Bible passages that they believe support their interpretation, such as James 5:14-15, which instructs the sick to call for the elders of the church to pray for them and anoint them with oil, and their sins will be forgiven. They also cite early Christian writings outside of the Bible, such as the letters of St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Iranaeus of Lyons, which refer to the practice of confession and penance overseen by priests.

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Confession to a priest is a Catholic tradition

The Catholic Church teaches that a priest has the power to forgive sins. This is a tradition that has been practised for almost 2,000 years. However, some people disagree with this idea and argue that it is not supported by the Bible.

The Bible and the power to forgive sins

According to the Bible, only God can forgive sins. In Mark 2:1–12, Jesus says to a paralytic: "Your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). The scribes objected, asking, "Who can forgive sins except God alone?" (Mark 2:7). Jesus, being God, had the power to forgive sins.

However, Catholics believe that Jesus passed on this power to his apostles. In John 20:21–23, Jesus says to his disciples: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Catholics interpret this to mean that Jesus gave his apostles the authority to forgive sins, and that this authority was passed on to the successors of the apostles, including Catholic priests.

Objections to the Catholic interpretation

Some people disagree with the Catholic interpretation of John 20:21–23. They argue that this passage does not mention the confession of sins or the passing on of apostolic authority. They also point out that the apostles never acted as if they had the authority to forgive sins. Instead, they proclaimed the gospel and exercised church discipline.

Furthermore, the New Testament teaches that all believers are priests (1 Peter 2:5–9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10) and that Jesus is the only mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). Believers are instructed to confess their sins directly to God (1 John 1:9) and to one another (James 5:16), rather than to a priest.

The role of priests in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, people had to go to a priest to be forgiven. The priest acted as a mediator between the people and God, offering sacrifices on their behalf. However, this is no longer necessary due to Jesus' sacrifice. Believers can now approach God directly without the need for a human mediator.

While the Catholic Church teaches that priests have the power to forgive sins, this is a matter of tradition and interpretation rather than a clear biblical mandate. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the only mediator between God and humanity, and instructs believers to confess their sins to God and to one another.

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