"The authority to forgive sins was a major statement"
I don't mean to intrude at this late hour in the discussion but can anyone point out in scripture where Peter or any of the Apostles forgave sin. It seems in order to do so one would have to know intimately the intent of the heart and only God knows that. Peter in the episode with Simon pointed him to God for forgiveness,
Act 8:18-24, "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and [in] the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me."
I believe Scripture gives to all earnest Holy Spirit led Christians the authority . . .
whatsoever you loose shall be loosed; bind, shall be bound; forgive shall be forgiven . . .
I don't know how God calculates the interactions of that set of rules with all His others but somehow, HE DOES.
BTW - John Piper Is Bad!
We need to realize that to the Apostles penance and baptism were forgiveness of sin:
Peter said to them: Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.(Acts 2:38)
Rise up, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, invoking his name.
(Acts 22:16)
We have numerous references of the apostles giving baptism. Penance is usually mentioned, and always implied.
Here we have a confession, and context suggests that absolution was given:
And many of them that believed, came confessing and declaring their deeds.(Acts 19:18)
There is a general sense that St. Paul is coming to Corinthianms to sort out their sins at the end of 2 Corinthians, although there is no direct prooftext of a confession.
I am, however, curious why given the command of Christ to forgive sins (John 20:23) should we suspect that the apostles in fact disobeyed Him?