[Beloved Levinite]

irish,

re: confession - Were you ever taught that the priest, during your confession, is given the power, by either God or the Church, to forgive your confessed sins?

Thanks.

[Campion]

Were you ever taught that the priest, during your confession, is given the power, by either God or the Church, to forgive your confessed sins?

Yes. Jesus taught me that in John 20:23.

[red irish]

All forgiveness goes through Christ,and it is through the power of the holy spirit and the priesthood that forgives sins. They work together. And yes I can ask for for Gods mercy and ask for forgiveness without a priest. But preparing ones conscience to go to confession and really considering the life one lives as a Christian with the help of the holy spirit to guide one to the truth of his or her life as a Christian can be a narrow road to approach sin. And I also believe we Christians can live the truth of the Gospel and forgive one another as well. But too many people today do not see sin,they see mistakes. How many churches today condone abortion and homosexuality as ok. We Christians who truly believe in the Gospel of Christ need to stand together and remember Ephesians 6:12,it is not one another where the fight is but the enemies of Christ and sin.