[metmom]

If the priest thinks that the person is not sincere in his confession, just doing it because he feels that he will be automatically forgiven, the priest might attempt to counsel with the person, but if he detects a lack of sincerity, he is free to refuse remission.

IF a priest THINKS.....

So a priest can refuse to forgive sins and ultimately send someone to hell based on nothing more than his opinion?

That's EXACTLY why Jesus would not man that kind of ultimate power over another human being. That priest is NOT God, who knows the heart.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely and we've seen that play out in Catholicism over the centuries.

God Himself promises that if we confess our sins HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. If He is going to do that, there's no way He'd give a priest the power to retain sins. It's going against His will for the priest to do so.

[MamaB]

Amen. No man can forgive any sins. None.

[terycarl]

God Himself promises that if we confess our sins HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. If He is going to do that, there's no way He'd give a priest the power to retain sins. It's going against His will for the priest to do so.

Yeah, but He did...it's beyond my pay grade to ascertain why.....but He did.