"Neither is there salvation in any other [than Jesus]: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Huh??? Then how can the priest forgive our sins? Or the pope? Please tell me where in the Bible I can find the part where it tells me i have to go to confession to be forgiven. Where it says I have to confess to a priest.... I am really confused now!

-- Debbie (sccldhrt@netscape.com), May 19, 2003

Answers

Dear Debbie,

Your mixing in two different things - salvation does occur only through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Confession stems from Christ's instruction to the Apostles (at the Last Supper in one gospel, and after the resurrection in another) that whatever they hold bound on earth is held bound in heaven and whatever they loose on earth is held loosed in heaven.

Hope that's helpful.

-- Fr. Michael Skrocki, JCL (abounamike@aol.com), May 19, 2003.

Michael,

What would you say, then, to the accusation that this passage was added later by a Church hierarchy desperate to increase its power? And what about "Everyone who asks will receive..."? The passage is not specific as to whom must be asked. Do you mean to imply that only those who ask a male who has gone through certain schooling and claims to live a chaste life will receive?

-- J Biscuits (clavooxadado@aol.com), May 19, 2003.

"Everyone who asks will receive" refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit, not the forgiveness of sins. Read the passage in context, rather than trying to twist it to fit your own preconceived notions.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), May 19, 2003.

J. Biscuits,

What would you say, then, to the accusation that this passage was added later by a Church hierarchy desperate to increase its power?

If someone's not a Christian, this wouldn't bother them, as they don't believe Christ is Lord. If someone is a Catholic they wouldn't make this silly accusation as we have both the Bible and Tradition as instructions of what is required from us. So the only people who *would* make an accusation like this are Protestants or disgruntled people of some kind.

My personal reply would be that we were here first, and the Protestants showed up 1500 years later. It's not up to us to prove that Scripture is correct if someone disagrees, it's up to the schismatic to prove that *their* interpretation is correct. The dissenters are the ones that have changed, not the original church.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), May 19, 2003.

j biscuits...

are you sure you want to walk down the "added later to the Bible" road? all protestants have to rely on is the Bible. tear that down and all you have is tradition (and the Catholic Church is the only one that has that)

-- paul (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), May 19, 2003.

Hello Debbie,

Here are some more scriptures from www.scripturecatholic.com concerning The Necessity and Practice of Orally Confessing Sins:

James 5:16 - James clearly teaches us that we must confess our sins to one another (to our confessors), not just privately to God.

Acts 19:18 - many came to orally confess sins and divulge their sinful practices. Oral confession was the practice of the early Church just as it is today.

Matt. 3:6; Mark 1:5 - again, this shows people confessing their sins before others as an historical practice (here to John the Baptist).

1 Tim. 6:12 - this verse also refers to the historical practice of confessing both faith and sins in the presence of many witnesses.

1 John 1:9 - if we confess are sins, God is faithful to us and forgives us and cleanse us. But we must confess our sins to one another.

Num. 5:7 - this shows the historical practice of publicly confessing sins, and making public restitution.

2 Sam. 12:14 - even though the sin is forgiven, there is punishment due for the forgiven sin. David is forgiven but his child was still taken (the consequence of his sin).

Neh. 9:2-3 - the Israelites stood before the assembly and confessed sins publicly and interceded for each other.

Sir. 4:26 - God tells us not to be ashamed to confess our sins, and not to try to stop the current of a river. Anyone who has experienced the sacrament of reconciliation understands the import of this verse.

Baruch 1:14 - again, this shows that the people made confession in the house of the Lord, before the assembly.

1 John 5:16-17; Luke 12:47-48 - there is a distinction between mortal and venial sins. This has been the teaching of the Catholic Church for over 2,000 years, but, today, most Protestants no longer agree that there is such a distinction. Mortal sins lead to death and must be absolved in the sacrament of reconciliation. Venial sins do not have to be confessed to a priest, but the pious Catholic practice is to do so in order to advance in our journey to holiness.

Matt. 5:19 - Jesus teaches that breaking the least of commandments is venial sin (the person is still saved but is least in the kingdom), versus mortal sin (the person is not saved).

-- Michael (Pickandpen@aol.com), May 19, 2003.