The Catholic Church and the Power to Forgive Sin

Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (John 20:23). 

Folks, the Jews know that only God can forgive sin, but with the words above, Jesus transferred the power to do so to his disciples. With this, Jesus made each of his disciples and by virtue of ordination, each Catholic priest Alter Christus, which means, Another Christ. Do you know that if you commit a crime, let’s say a robbery and in the process you were caught and charged to court.  Now even after serving a jail sentence for your crime, you are still guilty before God. And if  you were acquitted  by a Judge, before God you are still guilty. Only God can truly forgive all sins; and in his omni-benevolence, Jesus has made it possible that through the ministry of the Church absolution, pardon and peace can be obtained. Praise the Lord! Serving a jail term for crime committed does not absolve the criminal. Being acquitted by a competent Judge does not bestow pardon and peace from God. Only a priest, Alter Christus, can make such possible. 

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR