repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all
nations” (St. Luke 24:47). If such were the case, verse 23 would be utterly
devoid of purpose.
In claiming that her priests have the power to forgive sins, the Catholic
Church is criticized and accused of carrying out a function that is proper to
God alone. It is the same accusation Christ the High Priest had to endure:
“This man is blaspheming” (St. Matt. 9:3). In forgiving sins, priests and
bishops act as Christ’s ministers and instruments; the fact that they may be
sinners themselves does not inhibit the exercise or effectiveness of this
power. Furthermore, we see a ministerial priesthood also operating in the
administration of other sacraments. In Acts 8:14-17 we read that Sts. Peter
and John went to the Samaritans and “laid their hands on them and they
received the Holy Spirit.” Since time immemorial the ordinary Minister of
Confirmation has been only a Bishop (or at least one ordained to the
priesthood as in the Eastern Rites), who places his hand on the candidate
and anoints the forehead with Holy Oil mixed with balsam while saying the
words “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Finally, St. James advises his readers to call upon the elders (presbyters) of
the Church in times of life-threatening illness: “Is any among you sick? Let
him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing
him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the
sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he
will be forgiven” (St. Jas. 5:14-15).
Far from being a usurpation of Divine power and the role of the laity, the
ministerial priesthood forms a foundational part of the whole structure of
Christianity, the removal of which would result in the collapse of the whole
edifice.
The Fathers
St. Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians 40, 5 (c. 98 AD)
“To the high priest, indeed, proper ministrations are allotted, to the priests a
proper place is appointed, and upon the levites their proper services are
imposed. The layman is bound by the ordinances for the laity.”
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