We confess our sins to a priest because Jesus told us to. You see, while Jesus was on earth he regularly forgave people’s sins. The religious leaders of his time were indignant about this, asking: “Who can forgive sins, but God only?” – (Mark 2:7) Jesus received some really harsh judgement from the religious leaders of his time over this. However, he proved to them that he did indeed have the authority to forgive sins by doing miracles that only God could do. No Christian today denies that Jesus has the authority to forgive sins. (Matthew 9:2-8) That’s beyond dispute now. Catholics however, take the whole testimony of Scripture into account.
Not only did Jesus have the authority to forgive sins, but he also shared this authority with his Apostles and their successors: “He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.” – (John 20:21-23) This one passage alone demonstrates, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Jesus shared his authority to forgive (and retain) sins with his Apostles. The Apostles then hand-picked their own successors (Acts 1:20-26) and likewise transferred this ministry to them. (2nd Corinthians 5:17-20 62)
For Catholics, this is simply a matter of believing the Bible and taking what it says seriously. Either Jesus gave some men his authority to forgive sins, or he did not, and the Bible clearly says he did.
Now when we Catholics commit a sin, we do confess those sins directly to God, both before confession and during confession. The priest then, by the authority he has based on Jesus’ own words, dispenses Christ’s forgiveness in an official way, as if Jesus Christ himself had said it.
The real question here is not why do Catholics go to a priest? But rather, why do other Christians not go to a priest when the Bible specifically says that Jesus gave some men the authority to forgive sins in his place? Since the earliest days of the Church, Christians have always approached their church leaders for absolution. What makes some Christians today think they’re so different? Catholics don’t see any difference at all. The early Christians approached their church leaders for reconciliation. So do we.
Was this short article helpful? If so, consider getting the book: Are Catholics Christian? by Shane Schaetzel. This short article is an excerpt from the book Are Catholics Christian? which has been used by clergy and catechists throughout North America in OCIA (RCIA) and other Catholic education programs. You can get the whole thing, in one short book, by clicking here.
Shane Schaetzel is an author of Catholic books and an Evangelical convert to the Catholic Church through Anglicanism. His articles have been featured on LifeSiteNews, The Remnant Newspaper, Forward in Christ, and Catholic Online. You can read Shane’s books at ShaneSchaetzel.Com
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