"One must indeed take care to avid confessing to a priest of known bad character, but I do not believe that his sin strips away his power to absolve, for though he may have THE RIGHT TO WITHHOLD ABSOLUTION, it is not he who actually absolves, BUT THE CHURCH."
"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with HIM, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES." (Col. 2:13).
Did Christ pay the full penalty for our sins?
"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with HIM, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES." (Col. 2:13).
Makes sense to me...They do not confess to God, they confess to a mere man, a priest...The priest is their Church...In their reality, the Church forgives and absolves their sin...
Sadly, if they have not ask God for forgiveness, they have not been forgiven...