We don't go to confession to get the priest's forgiveness, we go the get God's. The priest only recognizes out contrition.
I thought the Priest's position was effectively God's position, (i.e., whatsoever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven). So if the priest tells you that your sins are NOT forgiven, then they remain, isn't that true?
Or is this another pop-culture myth?
I've always wondered how the Mafioso's and gang members can go to confession after killing someone and expect to get forgiveness. If I were the priest, I sure as heck would not offer to bind God to forgiveness of some punk killer just because he pretends to be contrite. I'd tell him to go to hell. And I'd pray that God would be bound to that decision.
IMHO (YOPHO) it is not any man's prerogative to forgive another man for sins they did to someone other than themselves or to declare to them that God has forgiven them. Only God and the victim can forgive and in the case of murder, there is no victim to forgive.
What amazes me is how these politicians who promote abortion can continue to remain in fellowship with the Catholic Church when they have the blood of millions of innocent children on their hands.
Does the priest (by virtue of his office) have the power to bind God to forgiving them merely because they offer up some contrition and a few prayers and maybe a few bucks to buy some pews?