“Only a priest can forgive sins - in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Sorry, but to me only God can forgive me of my sins. I will be looking to Him to ask forgiveness, not some priest. I might look to the ministry for guidance but not forgiveness.
That is correct and, according to Scripture, He does so through the priesthood that He commissioned.
as the Father sent me, so I send you - John 20:21"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
John 20:23
How do we know this to be true? As freeper Quix commented above:
BECAUSE