Seems to be confusion about Confession. Catholics do confess to God but there’s a helper there to talk us through not repeating the sin, plus the priest can reassure you that you ARE forgiven if there’s still doubt. God forgives, but the priest provides care during the process.
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The priest is not Christ. The priest has no power to forgive you in the place of God. The priest does not decide your fate. The priest’s job is to hear your confession so you can speak it aloud, keep it confidential so you don’t have to be afraid, and help you find ways to atone.
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This is about pastoral care, guidance, and comfort. Reconciliation is the real name of the sacrament, Confession is the slang term. The goal is to help the person reconcile with God. The priest participates in that as a servant of Christ.
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Replying to @TheBrometheus
Well the priest stands in the person of Christ. So he is kind of.
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Replying to @Emily30Red
Yeah I get that. Speaking to Protestants who’d recoil at that so being careful and clear. ;)
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Replying to @TheBrometheus
Sure. But also important that you’re not confessing to a person. When a priest becomes a priest the sacrament changes him — gives him a special Grace—so he can stand in for Christ this way.
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Fair point, that’s true. But the priest is not himself forgiving sins as God. God is forgiving through the priest. An important distinction. I think we’re arguing the same thing but from opposite ends.
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