Expert: Edward Bode - 3/6/2005

Question
I asked another expert about I John 1:9 about who to confess to and he said Jesus Christ. If we confess our sins, who do we confess them to? Why do people confess their sins to a catholic priest when he said you confess your sins to Jesus Christ? What if one is not available? Will confessing to Jesus Christ provide forgiveness? How and when did catholic priests get the power to forgive sins? Will people be forgiven if they confess to a lay person?

Answer
As your questions suppose, Mary, sin is an offense against God; so, God is the one to determine the fact and the manner of its forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 speaks of confessing but does not say to whom one is to confess in order to obtain forgiveness from God (Jesus Christ)[see 1 John 2:1-2].
When many biblical references refer to the same topic, one needs to look at all the references in order to form a total understanding of the issue.
While many NT passages refer to sin and its forgiveness, these stand out in their importance:
Based on the NT, the Catholic church has long taught that Baptism forgives all sins committed previously.
James 5:14-15 speaks of a special anointing for sick by Church officials as forgiving sins.
Beyond these cases, Mt16:19 and John 20:23 attest to forgiveness being assigned to certain persons within the church.  The Catholic church has from ancient times interpreted these sayings to require a confession of sins [to know what is being forgiven] together with contrition [sorrow and resolution of reform] for forgiveness.  Priests act in the name of Jesus to pronounce His forgiveness.  Priests' power comes from their ordination to the priesthood and their bing delegated by church authority [usually the bishop of the locality]to exercise that power.  Lay persons have no such authorization so confession to them has no efficient effect.
If a priest is not available, a member of the church can obtain immediate forgiveness if he or she includes an act of perfect contrition with the intent to confess are soon as possible.  [Perfect contrition includes true sorrow for sin because one's sins are an offense againt God, Who is all good worthy of all one's love.]
For more information on Catholic teaching, you could go to this website:
www.nccbuscc.org/catechism/text/index.htm
Search under this heading: Penance and Reconciliation.
If you would like further comment from me, please feel free to write again.
Best wishes, Mary.