[Mrs. Don-o]

In an absolute sense, it's true that only God can forgive sin. In another sense, God has made our being forgiven , contingent upon our practice of forgiveness:

"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

In yet another sense, there is a role of the Church in forgiving, since Christ told His disciples on the evening of His resurrection, "Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain, they are retained."

Whose sins YOU shall forgive; whose sins YOU shall retain.

That's what He said to His disciples after He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." In other words, He was talking to His gathered church.

[Tax-chick]

But enough of that irrelevant Bible stuff ...