[metmom]

The apostles and disciples were going forth as leaders and needed to act in conjunction with God, doing His will, not their own.

And not forgiving someone their sins is God's will? I don't think so.

You know, if Catholics didn't claim that Peter or priests had the power to bind up and not forgive sin so that a person ended up damned, they'd have a lot easier time with those verses.

What kind of person, claiming to be a representative of Christ on earth (who forgave freely) would bind another's sins to them, knowing it would damn them to hell?

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. That kind of power in the hands of corruptible men can only lead to trouble, as the history of the Catholic Church demonstrates.

[1000 silverlings]

yes, what did He say, forgive 70 x7. Absolute power corrupts absolutely