Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pope unleashes 'super confessors' to tackle special sins
Yahoo News ^ | 10 Feb 16 | Ella Ide

Posted on 02/12/2016 3:00:24 AM PST by SkyPilot

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next last
To: naturalman1975
Your Jesuit priest friend said, "Sins are forgiven by God and in the Sacrament of Penance, the Priest merely acts as an intermediary for the forgiveness of sin."

If this is true, then why does the priest hearing the confession, then assign tasks that must be done (such as: say 20 Hail Marys and $20 in the collection box) in addition to Christ's forgiveness through Grace? If Christ's death on the cross is sufficient, why are the additional tasks necessary or warranted?

It seems to me that your Jesuit Priest is inferring that the church, because it is not perfect, can demand punishment (or whatever it wants to call it). If the church is demanding this "punishment" in order that the sinner be allowed to remain a member of the church, then either the church does not truly believe that Christ's death on the cross is sufficient for Grace, or (could it be) that the church sees an opportunity to (and I will put it quit bluntly) "blackmail" the sinner by saying that we cannot allow you to remain a member unless you do this and this and this for us.

21 posted on 02/12/2016 5:43:26 AM PST by Apple Pan Dowdy (... as American as Apple Pie)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Jed Eckert

That verse doesn’t give warrant for any of this. The Bible tells us that all who have been born again are royal priests and that Christ is our great high priest. There is no need for a class of people called priests today. All believers have direct access to the Lord. We are directed to go boldly before the throne of grace. Christ is the sole mediator between man and the Father.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
—Hebrews 4:16


22 posted on 02/12/2016 5:51:07 AM PST by .45 Long Colt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

(sigh).....My church is SO far out of line with Biblical teaching on this issue.

Sins that can only be forgiven by the Pope?
Excuse me, sins can only be forgiven by God through his Son, Jesus Christ.


23 posted on 02/12/2016 5:59:52 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

“At this rate, the Pope is going to hand over the keys to heaven to the gay Episcopalians.”

Or, arguably, hand those keys over to Ahab the A-rab.


24 posted on 02/12/2016 6:00:34 AM PST by GladesGuru (Islam Delenda Est. Because of what Islam is - and because of what Muslims do.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Apple Pan Dowdy
Your Jesuit priest friend said, "Sins are forgiven by God and in the Sacrament of Penance, the Priest merely acts as an intermediary for the forgiveness of sin."

I was always taught that too (by my late Jesuit uncle, among others). But the article makes clear that in reality that is NOT what the Church believes.


25 posted on 02/12/2016 6:14:39 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

What a whackjob.


26 posted on 02/12/2016 6:19:36 AM PST by Lazamataz (I'm an Islamophobe??? Well, good. When it comes to Islam, there's plenty to Phobe about.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: .45 Long Colt; Jed Eckert

Then why did Jesus even say what he did at John 20:22-23? Why confer this on his disciples at all? Did the command dissolve once the disciples died?

What about James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed”?

Catholic Confession/Penance/Reconciliation certainly complements the the verses you cited.


27 posted on 02/12/2016 6:23:23 AM PST by ReaganGeneration2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

Having an oversized carbon footprint is probably going to require some super duper special confession.


28 posted on 02/12/2016 6:30:21 AM PST by DungeonMaster (the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: naturalman1975

Welcome home, I will pray for you during Lent. I am sure you have realized that FR has many people who are misinformed about the Church. Somehow they remain that way as they ask questions but do not seek answers.


29 posted on 02/12/2016 6:43:22 AM PST by pbear8 (the Lord is my light and my salvation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: bill1952

Both your sentences are false but I am sure you already knew that.


30 posted on 02/12/2016 6:44:28 AM PST by pbear8 (the Lord is my light and my salvation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ReaganGeneration2
"Then why did Jesus even say what he did at John 20:22-23? Why confer this on his disciples at all? Did the command dissolve once the disciples died?"

Could the answer to your question be:

"The meaning of the passage is not that man can forgive sins that belongs only to God (Isaiah 43:23) but that they should be inspired; that in founding the church (meaning church universal, not just the RC church), and in declaring the will of God, they should be taught by the Holy Spirit to declare on what terms, to what characters, and to what temper of mind God would extend forgiveness of sins. It was not authority to forgive individuals, but to establish in all the churches the terms and conditions on which men might be pardoned, with a promise that God would confirm all that they taught; that all might have assurance of forgiveness who would comply with those terms; and that those who did not comply should not be forgiven, but that their sins should be retained.

This commission is as far as possible from the authority which the Roman Catholic claims of remitting sin and of pronouncing pardon."

31 posted on 02/12/2016 6:47:04 AM PST by Apple Pan Dowdy (... as American as Apple Pie)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: scrabblehack
Because of the serious nature of certain sins, they are called 'reserved', ie, reserved to the Pope himself for absolution and penance. They include, trying to kill the Pope, profanation of the Blessed Sacrament, violation of the Seal of the Confessional and abortion since it is the taking of innocent life.

In the case of abortion, a confessor must go to his bishop and get permission to absolve. Many American bishops have already given their priests permission to absolve one abortion, but in the case of multiple abortions, he is consulted.

In the other instances, breaking the Seal is extremely rare, I have only heard of one case; attempting to kill the Pope, not too common; profanation of the Blessed Sacrament, yes, it does happen.

To answer your question, if one of the above is confessed to a priest, the person would be put in contact with the appropriate Confessor.

32 posted on 02/12/2016 6:57:33 AM PST by pbear8 (the Lord is my light and my salvation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ReaganGeneration2

I’m sitting in a doctor’s office trying on my phone which is near impossible. Rather than answering your questions now and this way I would ask you to ask your questions of the verses I cited. What do they really mean?

You must read Scripture in light of Scripture. You can take isolated verses and draw all kinds of faulty conclusions. The priesthood was done away with. It’s an old thing that passed away. Just like all of the old Levitical system, it was a shadow but Christ is the substance. Every aspect of the old dead system pointed to Christ. Why go to a man today when you can go to Christ!


33 posted on 02/12/2016 7:01:38 AM PST by .45 Long Colt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: DH
Church needs more members and money and power...simply send out the special confessor army and get some. Bottom line is that it is all about money and power.

Even though this article is from Yahoo News, nowhere is money mentioned. Why would you believe that money is exchanged?

34 posted on 02/12/2016 7:01:50 AM PST by pbear8 (the Lord is my light and my salvation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

Physician, heal thyself.


35 posted on 02/12/2016 10:29:34 AM PST by Albion Wilde (Who can actually defeat the Democrats in 2016? -- the most important thing about all candidates.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Apple Pan Dowdy

That quote frames the question nicely. The Church would agree with much of it, I think, but might clarify that the Holy Spirit’s gifts flow through other people to all of us, and that authorized men are the ones who we can rely on to channel the forgiveness gift. Centuries of scholarly work and inspired practice is used to back this up.


36 posted on 02/12/2016 12:08:02 PM PST by ReaganGeneration2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

Is this one of those semi-satire pieces?


37 posted on 02/12/2016 1:20:15 PM PST by fwdude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pbear8
Even though this article is from Yahoo News, nowhere is money mentioned. Why would you believe that money is exchanged?

Members = money. That's where this is going.

38 posted on 02/12/2016 1:22:18 PM PST by fwdude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

Oh...so it is all about money and not the salvation of souls. Well that is good to know.


39 posted on 02/12/2016 1:49:53 PM PST by pbear8 (the Lord is my light and my salvation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: scrabblehack

They do apply. Look it up in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.


40 posted on 02/12/2016 6:18:11 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson