[johngrace]

John 20:21 " Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus tells them as the Father sent me so I sent you.

We believe he is declaring as he was to the Father so is the Apostles in Authority concerning especially confession. Catholics believe he is giving the Apostles the ability here with a special unction when he breathed on them. Remember this is before Pentecost in the book of Acts when the Holy spirit came upon all in the group. So Jesus declares

"John 20:23 - Jesus says, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained." In order for the apostles to exercise this gift of forgiving sins, the penitents must orally confess their sins to them because the apostles are not mind readers. We believe The text makes this very clear."

How can you retain or forgive sins unless Jesus gave you the authority. It does not make any sense otherwise.

[MHGinTN]

And at last count, ALL the Apostles upon whom Jesus as God with us gave this baptism of His Spirit Directly are dead now. Jesus did not specify they could pass this Divine authority on.

[Mom MD]

Only Christ can truly forgive sins if I have repented of a sin and run to Christs mercy no one can hold it against me no matter who they are the one that the son sets free is free in deed

If I were you with your beliefs I would be worried that I had ticked a priest of at some time in my life and that priest decided not to forgive me....

My salvation is dependent on God alone and no man no matter who they are