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Date:         Thu, 1 Oct 1992 08:48:07 -0400
From:         Eric James Ewanco <ewanco@MLO.DEC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Confused Catholicism

Excerpts from christia: 30-Sep-92 Re: Confused Catholicism TOM
BREWER@LSUVM.BITNET (2282)

> Saint John Nuemann's catechism is the one that says specifically that only
> the Pope et. al. can forgive sins. I'm not making this up. Nuemann is making
> it up.

What they mean is that forgiveness can be received only through the
ministry of the presbyterate.  "If you forgive anyone their sins, they
are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."  So in
a sense, priests _can_ forgive sins, but only through Christ.  Christ
has granted this ministry to the presbyterate.

It is more precise and less confusing to say that sins are forgiven by
God through the ministry of the priest.  Then you don't get rabid
Protestants twisting Catholic doctrine into unrecognizable forms that we
have never held.

> >If the penitent has "perfect contrition" the sins are forgiven, even though
> >the penitent is obligated to include them the next time the penitent
> >receives the sacrament of Penance.  If the penitent has "imperfect
> >contrition" the sins are forgiven by God through the instrumentality of
> >God's ordained minister in the sacrament of Penance.

> Please define "perfect contrition." You have obviously added your human
> works to aid the work of Christ in the forgiveness of sins. This is pure
> heresy.

Let me ask you something, Tom.

Is it necessary to repent in order to be forgiven of a particular sin?
If no, you are the one advocating heresy, for Scripture clearly says otherwise.
If yes, then you understand that this is not a human work to aid the
work of Christ in the forgiveness of sins.

You have totally twisted what was said and made false accusations.  No
one _ever_ said that Christ's work needed to be "aided" or supplemented
by what we did.

Now, for a definition of "perfect contrition".  Contrition is just
another word for "repentance". It happens to be a technical term in
Catholic theology.  Perfect contrition, or perfect repentance, is
repentance based solely on sorrow for sinning because of one's love for
God.  If your motive for repentance is because you love God and you have
hurt God by your sin, that is perfect contrition.  What is the
alternative?  Imperfect contrition, where your motive to  repent is
primarily because you fear the consequences (damnation), and are unable,
at your point in your Christian walk, to repent solely because of your
love for God.

No doubt most of you would repent because of your love for God, and not
merely out of fear of condemnation.  This is excellent.  But not all
Christians are at that point in their Christian walk, though they
certainly should set that point as a goal.

An "act of perfect contrition" is an act of prayer expressing perfect
repentance as I described above.  Basically, it is private confession
and expression of repentance, which is an entirely Scriptural way of
receiving forgiveness.  For example, Psalm 51 could be called an act of
perfect contrition.  (As it happens, there is a standard prayer to pray
as an act of contrition; but you are free, if you are able, to pray in
your own way.)

Therefore it has nothing to do with a work performed to earn
forgiveness.  It is merely a prayer of repentance.

> See Romans 5:8-10 to get your terminology straight on what is reconciliation.
> Jesus Christ is our reconciliation, not confession or "penance"!

Yes, we know this, Tom.  But in order to receive forgiveness, we must
REPENT and CONFESS OUR SINS.  This is SCRIPTURAL.  We must also turn
away from our sin -- metanoia -- and this is exactly what penance is.
Penance is the process by which we make an effort to turn back to God
and turn away from sin.  Prayers, fasting, and deeds of charity are
excellent ways to help us turn back to Christ and flee from sin.

Eric
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU