THE PRIESTHOOD DEBATE

EWTN ^ | 4/1/1996 | James Akin

[Kolokotronis]

“Orthodox theology has very strongly incorporated the intellectual tradition of classical Greece....(K - I know that you shudder at the thought!)”

It has taken five minutes for the shuddering to subside! Rome and especially the Schoolmen are/were the heirs of the Pre Christian Greek philosophers, especially Aristotle. Orthodoxy really is more the heir of Israel, even if we do express theology with Greek philosophical terms. You know, H, the reason we Greeks keep all those marble statues of the old philosophers around is to remind us what Christ freed us from! :)

So...are you going to post that article?

[Kolokotronis]

“Note that the liturgy ad orientem brings the two closer.”

Agreed 100%!

[dangus]

I’d say that the priest offers reconciliation to the Church through absolution of sins; that God actually forgives the sins. And, here, I mean “reconciliation” in a sense almost akin to “reunification.”

In the first century, the community as a whole shunned those who sinned gravely and unrepentantly. When the person confessed their sins to the community, and absolved to amend their behavior, they were welcomed back into participation.

As the Christian community became more established, inherent conflicts arose. What if one person confesses adultery with another Christian, for instance? How can the 2nd person’s confession be anything other than coerced, if that person has known nothing but the Christian community his entire life? The solution was to permit the presbyter to represent the entire community in offering discrete absolution, permitting each sinner the opportunity to come forward as their conscience dictated.

Now, the person freely confesses their sins, permitting their consceince the opportunity for genuine contrition and amendment, so that they may worthily receive the blood of Christ for the atonement of their sins. However, the priest acts as the gatekeeper, so that such a sign of forgiveness is not received without having been reconciled with the Church. The sign can be forged through illicit reception of the Eucharist, but this is itself a very grave sin. (What good does it do to have one sin forgiven, while assuredly sending oneself to Hell?)

[annalex]

I’d say that the priest offers reconciliation to the Church through absolution of sins; that God actually forgives the sins

Very true, but won't you agree that absolution by the priest is a single act that is efficacious both ways, reconciling to God and to the Church?

[byzcath]

I concur that the church, in all its rites, has always taught that God is the only person that can forgive sins, and the priests are used to help us confess our sins to our Almighty God. The priest never forgives us, we are forgiven through God when the priest says the prayer of absolution over us.

[Not gonna take it anymore]

Please add me to your ping list.

Thank you.

[annalex]

I am sorry: I don’t have one. Several years ago I posted these series, and used a certain list for that purpose alone, but I never had a permanent list and currently do not post anything serially.