And how is a priest to know whether to forgive or retain a sin if the penitent does not speak to him?
The disciples forgave the sins when they preached the Gospel.
That is not what the passage says. This is just another example of Protestants substituting their own manmade traditions for the clear words of the Scriptures.
16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-16 NASB
Again, it does not say Scripture alone.
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 1 Corinthians 11:24 NASB
"This is my Body," not anything other. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that the Eucharist is anything other than the Body of Christ. The Protestant tradition that denies this is not based on Scripture.
8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB
Grace alone, not faith alone. The words of our Lord, as well as Paul and Jame, make this clear. "Faith alone" is an invention of Martin Luther; it is not to be found in Scripture.
"This is my Body," not anything other. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that the Eucharist is anything other than the Body of Christ. The Protestant tradition that denies this is not based on Scripture.
The Roman Catholic misapplication of John 6 is well attested to.
It was only when the hard-hearted Jews misunderstood Jesus that He said what He did. Prior to and after that, and throughout the NT, He said it was by faith as did the rest of the NT writers.
See the example of the rich young ruler for a similar encounter.
The priest cannot know a person's heart so is in no position to be able to decide to retain a person's sins.
Besides, GOD promised this.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If God is faithful and just to forgive sins that are confessed, then what business does a priest have *retaining* anything?
Show us the command by Jesus to believers to go to a priest and confess their sins to another human being.
The Catholic interpretation of that passage about retaining sin PRESUPPOSES a command where none is given.
It's interpreted to imply that the command was given to believers to go to one of the disciples and confess their sins. No such command exists anywhere in Scripture.
oooops....