The Question Of Priestly Sin Absolution In Catholicism

The question of whether Catholic priests can forgive sins is a contentious issue, with some arguing that it is against the Bible. This argument is based on the belief that only God can forgive sins, as stated in Psalm 130:4, But with you there is forgiveness. However, Catholics defend the practice of priestly forgiveness by citing Jesus' authority to forgive sins as the Son of God and his passing of this authority to his apostles, who became the first bishops. They believe that this authority has been passed down through the generations via apostolic succession, with priests acting under the power of the Church and Christ.

The Bible says only God forgives sins

In John 20:19–23, Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:22-23). This passage is often interpreted as Jesus giving his apostles the authority to forgive sins. The Catholic Church interprets this passage as evidence that Jesus gave his priesthood to men so that they could continue his earthly work of forgiving sins.

However, some argue that Jesus was giving the apostles the authority to proclaim the gospel, not the power to forgive sins. They believe that only God can forgive sins and that the power to forgive is something Jesus kept for himself.

The practice of confession and absolution of sins by priests is a unique feature of the Catholic Church. The priest is acting under the authority and power of the Church, which, in turn, is acting under the authority and power of Christ. The priest is seen as a mediator between the individual and God, conveying the forgiveness of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

While the Bible does state that only God can forgive sins, the Catholic Church interprets certain passages, such as John 20:19–23, as evidence that Jesus gave his apostles and their successors the authority to forgive sins in his name.

Jesus gave priests the power to forgive sins

The Catholic Church teaches that a priest's power to forgive sins comes from Jesus. In John 20:23, Jesus tells the apostles, "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven". In John 20:21, he says, "As the Father has sent me, I send you", implying that just as God the Father gave Jesus the authority to forgive sins, Jesus is now giving that same authority to his apostles.

In Mark 2:1–12, Jesus demonstrates that the Son of Man has the authority to forgive sins on earth. In Mark 2:5, he says to a paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven", to which the scribes object, asking, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?". Jesus then heals the paralytic to prove that he has the authority to forgive sins on earth.

In John 20:19–23, Jesus breathes on the apostles 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 is interpreted as Jesus giving the apostles the authority to forgive sins.

The Catholic Church teaches that a priest's authority to forgive sins comes from Christ, who passed it on to his apostles, who then passed it on to their successors. A priest, therefore, does not forgive sins by his own power but by the power Christ conferred on his apostles.

Priests are acting under the authority of the Church

The Catholic Church teaches that a priest can forgive sins, but only under the authority and power of the Church, which, in turn, is acting under the authority and power of Christ.

In John 20:21-23, 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." This is interpreted as Jesus giving his apostles the same authority that he received from God the Father – the authority to forgive sins.

This authority was then passed on from the apostles to their successors through the sacrament of ordination, in what is known as apostolic succession. Thus, Catholic priests are able to forgive sins, not by their own power, but by the power that Christ conferred on his apostles and their successors.

This is further supported by the epistle of James, which states: "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven." Here, the passage links the forgiveness of sins with the ministry of the elders, or priests, of the Church.

Additionally, in the Old Testament, those who wished to have their sins forgiven brought an animal to the priest, who would sacrifice the animal. This priesthood and the ability to forgive sins were given authority by Jesus and continue in the New Testament through the Eucharist and the sacrament of penance.

Therefore, it is understood that Catholic priests have the authority to forgive sins, not as supernatural beings, but as human agents of Christ, acting under the power and authority of the Church and, ultimately, of God.

The Church is acting under the authority of Christ

The Catholic Church teaches that a priest has the power to absolve sins, acting under the authority and power of the Church, which, in turn, is acting under the authority and power of Christ.

In John 20:21-23, Jesus says to his disciples: "Peace be with you. 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."

Jesus is giving his apostles the same authority that he received from God the Father. In Mark 2:10, Jesus states that he has the authority to forgive sins: "The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." In John 20:21-23, he is giving that same authority to his apostles.

Jesus is a human who has the power to forgive sins. In John 20:21-23, he is giving that same authority to his apostles, who were the first bishops. In turn, the bishops pass on this authority through the generations.

In John 2:1-11, Jesus performs his first miracle at the Wedding at Cana by turning water into wine. He does this through the actions of the servants, who are the ministers of the miracle. This is an example of how Jesus works through human actors to perform miracles.

In John 9, Jesus heals a blind man by anointing his eyes with clay and telling him to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man's sight is restored, not when Jesus anoints his eyes, but when he goes and washes himself. This is another example of how Jesus works through human action to perform miracles.

In Acts 3, Peter heals a lame man by saying: "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Peter is healing the man, but he makes clear that he is doing so through the power of Jesus Christ.

These examples show that Jesus works through human beings to perform miracles. The power to forgive sins is no different. The priest is acting "in persona Christi" – Christ is speaking and acting through the human priest.

The Bible supports Apostolic Succession

The Bible does support Apostolic Succession, which is the belief that the 12 apostles passed on their authority to successors, who then passed the apostolic authority on to their successors, continuing throughout the centuries, even unto today.

Firstly, the Bible supports the idea of Apostolic Succession through the example of Matthias, who was chosen to replace Judas as the twelfth apostle in Acts chapter 1. While this is often used as an argument for the church replacing ungodly and unfaithful leaders with godly and faithful ones, it also serves as evidence of continuing apostolic succession.

Secondly, the New Testament implies a personal apostolic succession, from Paul to Timothy and Titus. For instance, in 1 Timothy 1:6 and 4:14, Paul reminds Timothy that the office of bishop had been conferred on him through the laying on of hands. In Titus, Paul describes the apostolic authority Titus had received and urges him to act decisively in this leadership role.

Additionally, the Epistle of James states: "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven." This passage situates the act of confessing sins within the context of seeking healing and forgiveness from the church's elders, or presbyters/priests.

Furthermore, in John 20:21-23, Jesus says to his disciples, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you," indicating that he is giving them the same authority that he received from God the Father. This includes the authority to forgive sins, as stated in Mark 2:10, where Jesus claims the power on earth to forgive sins.

Finally, the early Church Fathers provide additional support for the doctrine of Apostolic Succession. For example, Clement of Rome writes that the apostles appointed bishops as successors and directed them to appoint their successors, ensuring continuity in the ministry of the Church. Hegesippus and Irenaeus introduce the idea of the bishop's succession in office as a guarantee of the truth of their preaching, as it can be traced back to the apostles.

In conclusion, while some may argue that the concept of Apostolic Succession is not explicitly stated in Scripture, the Bible provides several examples and implications of this doctrine, which was further elaborated and defended by the early Church Fathers.

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