An attentive perusal of the Fathers will present passages throughout their
works, proving in the clearest terms that this Sacrament was instituted by
our Lord, and that the law of sacramental confession, which, from the
Greek, they call exomologesis, and exagoreusis, is to be received as true
Gospel teaching.
Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992)
No. 980:
It is through the sacrament of Penance that the baptized can
be reconciled with God and with the Church:
Penance has rightly been called by the holy Fathers “a laborious kind
of baptism.” This sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation for
those who have fallen after Baptism, just as Baptism is necessary for
salvation for those who have not yet been reborn.
No. 1441:
Only God forgives sins. Since he is the Son of God, Jesus
says of himself, “The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”
and exercises this divine power: “Your sins are forgiven.” Further, by
virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his
name.
No. 1444:
In imparting to his apostles his own power to forgive sins
the Lord also gives them the authority to reconcile sinners with the Church.
This ecclesial dimension of their task is expressed most notably in Christ’s
solemn words to Simon Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The office of
binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the
college of the apostles united to its head.”
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