[CynicalBear]

>> But don’t you agree that he established his church on the Apostles by breathing on them and imparting the Holy Spirit, thus giving them power to forgive sins — one of the Sacraments?<<

Acts 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.

[Salvation]

Big distinction — they knew Christ in person and carried out his plan to save the world by traveling from India to England and everywhere in between.

They were the first Bishops of the Catholic Church.

[daniel1212]

And i have shown that it was not only the 11 apostles that were there when this statement was given, though leadership is who normally exercises authority, while all are subject to Scripture, contra,

God Himself is obliged to abide by the judgment of His priest, and either not to pardon or to pardon, according as they refuse or give absolution… The sentence of the priest precedes, and God subscribes to it.” – Dignity and Duties of the Priest, St. Alphonsus Ligouri, Vol. 12, p. 2. http://www.archive.org/stream/alphonsusworks12liguuoft/alphonsusworks12liguuoft_djvu.txt