Seeking Forgiveness: Catholic Bishop's Role In Absolution

In Catholicism, a priest is acting under the authority and power of the Church, which, in turn, is acting under the authority and power of Christ. The Bible says that Christ gave the Church two means to absolve sins: baptism and penance, confession, and reconciliation. During his life, Christ forgave sins, and he gave this power to the apostles, which could be passed on to their successors, since the apostles wouldn't always be on earth.

In the case of some particularly grievous sins, such as abortion, priests must consult first with their bishop before absolution. Some sins are considered canonical crimes and thus receive canonical penalties that need to be lifted. Most reserved penalties can be lifted by the local bishop, but some are reserved for the Pope.

Bishops cannot forgive sins on God's behalf

In the Bible, Jesus Christ forgives sins as the Son of God. He says in Mark 2:10 that "the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins". Jesus passes on this power to his apostles, who are able to forgive sins and retain them.

> "Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

John 20:23

However, this power to forgive sins does not extend to bishops. Bishops are chosen by the Pope, who is also not mentioned in the Bible. The Pope is not God and therefore does not have the power to forgive sins.

The Catholic Church does teach that a priest can absolve sins. However, this is not the same as forgiving sins. A priest can absolve sins by acting under the authority of the Church, which has been given authority by Christ.

> "The Catholic Church teaches that man's sins may be absolved by the Church. Absolution from sin means 'to free from sin', which is pretty much the same as forgiveness of sins."

Despite this teaching, it is clear that only God can forgive sins. Bishops are not God and are therefore not able to forgive sins on His behalf.

Only God can forgive sins

The Bible says that only God can forgive sins. In Psalm 130:4, the Psalmist says, "But with you there is forgiveness." However, the Catholic Church teaches that priests can forgive sins. This is based on the belief that Jesus gave this power to the apostles, who could then pass it on to their successors.

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 proved that he had the authority to forgive sins by healing the paralytic (Mark 2:10).

Some interpret this to mean that Jesus, as the Son of God, had the power to forgive sins, and that he passed this power on to his apostles. In John 20:21–23, Jesus tells the apostles, "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 power was understood as coming from God: "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18). The apostles could then pass this power on to their successors, including bishops and priests, who can forgive sins on God's behalf.

However, others disagree with this interpretation. They argue that Jesus was giving the apostles the authority to proclaim the gospel, which includes the forgiveness of sins, rather than the power to actually forgive sins. They believe that only God can forgive sins, and that individuals must confess their sins directly to God to receive forgiveness.

Furthermore, while priests can forgive most sins, there are some sins that are considered so grievous that they are reserved for the bishop or even the Pope to absolve. These include abortion, violation of consecrated species, physical attack on a pope or bishop, and unauthorized ordination of a bishop.

In conclusion, while the Catholic Church teaches that priests can forgive sins, this is a matter of ongoing debate, with some arguing that only God can forgive sins.

Bishops are not appointed by God

While the Catholic Church does believe that bishops can forgive sins, the appointment of bishops is not solely done by God. The process of selecting bishops in the Catholic Church is complex and involves many people, including the apostolic nuncio, the Congregation for Bishops, and the pope.

The selection process typically begins at the diocesan level, where any bishop in a province can submit names of priests they believe are suitable for the role. The province's archbishop circulates these names, along with resumes, to the other bishops in the province. The bishops then discuss and vote on the candidates, and the resulting list is submitted to the apostolic nuncio, who is the pope's representative in a country.

The apostolic nuncio plays a crucial role in the selection process. They gather facts and information about the potential candidates and interpret this information for the Congregation for Bishops. The nuncio also conducts their own investigation into the suitability of the candidates, consulting with various individuals within the diocese. After narrowing down the list of candidates, the nuncio seeks input from several people who know the candidates and prepares a report with their preferred three candidates, known as the "terna." This report is then forwarded to the Congregation for Bishops in Rome.

The Congregation for Bishops, a department of the Roman Curia headed by a Cardinal, reviews the documentation provided by the nuncio and makes a decision. If the appointment involves a bishop being promoted or transferred, the prefect and staff of the congregation may handle it directly. However, if the appointment is for a priest to become a bishop, the full congregation is typically involved. A cardinal relator summarizes the documentation and presents it to the congregation, which discusses and votes on the appointment.

Finally, the Congregation for Bishops presents its recommendations to the pope, who makes the ultimate decision. The pope can agree with the congregation's proposal, choose another candidate from the list, request a new list of candidates, or select their own candidate.

While the pope has the final say in appointing bishops, the process involves input and collaboration from many individuals within the Catholic Church. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to say that bishops are solely appointed by God.

Bishops are not free of sin

According to the Bible, only God can forgive sins. In Mark 2:1–12, Jesus, who is God, forgives the sins of a paralytic, proving that only God can forgive sins. However, Jesus also gave his apostles the power to forgive sins on his behalf. In John 20:21–23, he says to them, "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 shows that Jesus gave his apostles, and by extension, their successors, the authority to forgive sins.

While bishops and priests may have the authority to forgive sins, they are still human and fallible. They are not immune to sin and can still commit sins themselves. In fact, there are several "reserved sins" in the Catholic Church that can only be absolved by a bishop or even the Pope. For example, certain sins, such as abortion, are considered canonical crimes and require the lifting of a canonical penalty, which can only be done by a bishop or the Pope.

Furthermore, the power to forgive sins is not inherent in bishops and priests but is derived from God. They are acting as representatives of God and are subject to the same sins and temptations as any other person. They are chosen and established by God to carry out his work, but they are not infallible.

In conclusion, while bishops and priests may have the authority to forgive sins, they are still human and capable of sinning. Their role is to guide and lead parishioners, but they are not free from sin themselves.

Bishops can forgive sins in certain cases

In the New Testament, Jesus gave his apostles the power to forgive sins: "Whose sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose sins ye retain, they are retained" (John 20:23). This power was understood as coming from God: "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18).

The apostles' successors, including bishops, were expected to act as though they had the power to sacramentally forgive sins. This power was passed down from generation to generation, as Christ ordered the apostles to "make disciples of all nations".

However, not everyone agrees that bishops and priests can forgive sins on behalf of God. Some argue that only God is holy and capable of forgiving sins, while humans are corrupted by sin and cannot represent God. Bishops and priests are chosen by the Church, not personally appointed by God, and therefore cannot forgive sins on God's behalf.

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