The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1898-10-20
The Question Box.
The Second List OF Questions Submitted
to Hr. Powers With His Answers
Briefly Compiled.

ldbb Wcch Ill
swer to the question:: "Does not the
priests of the Catholic church try to
usurp the power of God in pretend
ing to pardon sins; what authority
or warrant of scripture has the
Catholic priest for hearing confess
ions.l
For the sake of clearness let me
repeat the principle conclusions al
ready drawn. First, God gave the
Apostles power to forgive sin.
Second, He gave them power to re-
tain sin. Third, the bestowal o!
these powers implied command
made 1t necessary for them to
know the sins upon which they
were to pass judgement. The
question which remains to be set
tied now is, how were the Apostles
to acquire this knowledge. The re-
quired knowledge could come to
them only in one of two ways,
either they were especially en-
lightned to see into the hearts and
consciences of mon, or those wish.
ing to have their sins forgiven
would have to make them known to
the Apostles in confession. We
have no evidence that the Apostles
possessed any intuitive knowledge
of the sins of 9th ers, but in the first
chapter OF st. Paul's of the Corin-
thians you will find evidence to the
contrary, "FOr it hath been signi-
fled to me my brethren of you by
them that were in the house of
Chloe, that there are contentious
among you" st. Paul therefore
did not know of these contentious
till they were made known to him
at this house. Hence, it is evident
that the Apostles had no intuitive
knowledge of the sins of others.
Confession therefore was necessary
for those who wished to receive
pardon for their sins from the
Apostles. And this evident con-
clusion is still further verified and
strengthened by the direct testimo-
ny of the sacred scriptures. In the
XIX Chapter of the Acts of the
Apostles, we read that the Ephe.
SLAMS who had been eye witnesses
of the miracles wrought by st. Paul
were seized with fear and many OF
them that believed came forward
confessing their sins. "If we say
we have no sins we deceive our
selves and the truth is not in us
If we confess our sins, God is faith
ful and just to forgive US our sins
and to clense US from all iniquity.'
st. John. I Chap. verse. Here we
have it declared in most express
terms that confession is necessary
for obtaining pardon from sins. l
we confess our sins, God will for
give US. If we do not confess them
II we conceal them or say we hav,
no sins we deceive ourselves ant
the truth is not in us.
1t is clear that by confession, 81
John meant, the telling Of our sin
to man. II confessing our sins an,
denying our sins are put in opposi
tion, and the party from whom, b,
cOncealing our sins we would de
ceive ourselves, must be the part
to whom we must confess to obtai
forgiveness. We cannot conces
anything from God, therefore Go
cannot be the one indicated by s.
John 10 confess to. He must hav
meant the telling of our sins t
man. On this supposition tn
Evangelists' words are intelllgibl,
Any other hypothesis would max
nonsence OF them. He was, there
fore, inculcating the duty of cor
Tossing our sins which was enjoiu
ed by Christ when he said to tn
Apostles, "Whose sins ye shall fol
give they are forgiven them, who's
sins ye shall retain, they are r,
tanned"
But supposing that the Apostle
had the power to forgive sins, an
granting that the power implie
the obligation on all who wished
have their sins pardoned to confe:
to the Apostles, does 1t follow tht
the successors of the Apostles hay
the same power? 1t certainly doe
follow. Because Christ establishe
permanent institution and tn
powers essential to it must be pc
manent. His mission on earth ws
to destroy sin. 1t was TO contiun
his mission forever in this worl
that he established his Church hel
on earth. The Church establish
ment instituted by Christ was to
for all ages, not for the Apostol
age alone. The provisions of h
code governing 1t must be for u
ages. 1t Is u generally accepte
prInciDIa that. WTha nerman nay