[metmom]

431 In the history of salvation God was not content to deliver Israel “out of the house of bondage”20 by bringing them out of Egypt. He also saves them from their sin. Because sin is always an offense against God, only he can forgive it.

Exactly. Which is why a priest CAN'T forgive a person's offense against another.

Only the offended party can forgive the offense.

[MamaB]

I do not understand why they think confessing to a man gets sin forgiven. Only Jesus can do that so why not go directly to Him?

[terycarl]

Because sin is always an offense against God, only he can forgive it. Exactly. Which is why a priest CAN'T forgive a person's offense against another. Only the offended party can forgive the offense.

As a Catholic, you should remember that a priest does indeed forgive sins through the power of God. The priest says the words of absolution, but it is God who forgives the sin....remember now????

[Elsie]

Psalm 51:4
To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words and mayst overcome when thou art judged.

(For some reason, the Catholic D-R has this as Psalm 50:6 - I have no idea why.)

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Exactly. Which is why a priest CAN'T forgive a person's offense against another. Only the offended party can forgive the offense.