Page 557 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Supper, the Sacrifice of the Cross, and Holy Mass are OF THE SACRAMENT.’
one and the same Sacrifice, and Jesus is the only In another step aimed to encourage Catholics to return
Victim” (The Eucharist in Catholic Life, pp. 26, 27, 94, to regular confessions to priests, the pope ‘canonized a
97). 20th-century Croatian monk known for his work as a
Catholic priests have power to forgive sins. confessor.’ This was done in October 1983.
“The priest has Christ’s power. He can forgive every There can be no doubt that the Roman dogma of
sin, provided that we confess sincerely and with a auricular [in the ear] confession is and will remain an
contrite heart. a new life, the Holy Spirit. What a great important part of Catholic life. In many predominantly
wonder ... Man goes to confession a sinner, if he goes Catholic countries the confession booth is very popular.
sincerely and trustfully; he returns a new man, brought On a visit to Czechoslovakia in the early 1990s I
back to life, filled with strength” (The Art of Teaching witnessed people lined up before the booths awaiting
Christian Doctrine, pp. 152,153). their turn to confess to a priest.
There might be someone who will protest at this Bible Answer:
point that the practice of confession to a priest is no 1. Men go directly to God through Jesus Christ, the
longer a common part of Catholic life. It is true that One Mediator between God and men (1 Ti. 2:5; He.
visits to the confessional booth have decreased in past 10:19).
years, especially in Western countries; but it is also true 2. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only priest after the
that the “Sacrament of Penance” remains a dogma of the order of Melchizedek. What strange, unbiblical
Roman Catholic Church. blasphemy for fallen men to claim to be priests after the
The practice of confession was reaffirmed and high order of Melchizedek! The New Testament plainly
encouraged by the Second Vatican Council. Pope John teaches that only Jesus Christ is a Priest after this order;
Paul II did much to draw Catholics back to the He is the Great and only High Priest (He. 6:20). The
confessionals. An article in The Atlanta Constitution for writer of Hebrews dwells at length upon the subject of
September 30, 1983, was titled “Pope, cardinals seeking the Melchizedek priesthood, and he only describes one
to draw sinners back to confession booth.” The article Man who is after this order, and that is Jesus Christ. The
gave the following facts: New Testament does say that all true Christians are part
Pope John Paul II and more than 200 Roman Catholic of a priesthood (1 Pe. 2), but never are Christians
cardinals and bishops from around the world launched referred to as part of the priesthood of Melchizedek. It is
a triennial synod Thursday to seek ways of bringing certain that no Catholic priest fits the qualifications for
sinners back to the confessional booth. The pontiff in a this priesthood.
homily told the bishops they have a ‘particular Qualifications for the Priesthood Of Melchizedek:
responsibility’ to stress the importance of the (a) The priesthood of Melchizedek requires a kingly
confession of guilt, which, he said, leads to position. No Roman Catholic priest is a king. “For this
reconciliation with God. ‘IT WOULD BE VERY
DIFFICULT TO FIND A MORE FUNDAMENTAL THEME Melchisedec ... first being by interpretation King of
FOR THE WORK OF THE SYNOD, A MORE righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which
EVANGELICAL THEME, ONE MORE APOSTOLIC, OR is, King of peace” (He. 7:1-2).
ONE MORE URGENT,’ said the pope, speaking in (b) The priesthood of Melchizedek requires an
Italian. ... eternal generation. No Catholic priest has had an
For this synod, the pope chose the theme ‘Penance and eternal existence! “Without father, without mother,
Reconciliation in the Mission of the Church’ because of without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor
the sharp decline, especially in Western Europe and end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth
North America, of individual confessions of sin to a priest continually” (He. 7:3).
priests in the Rite of Reconciliation. THIS HAS BEEN A
MAJOR CONCERN OF JOHN PAUL SINCE THE START (c) The priesthood of Melchizedek requires a
OF HIS PONTIFICATE. TO EMPHASIZE HIS personal appointment by God, yet no Catholic priest has
CONCERN, HE AT LEAST TWICE DONNED A PRIEST’S been personally appointed by Almighty God. They are
GARB AND HEARD CONFESSIONS IN ST. PETER’S appointed by men. “For he testifieth, Thou art a priest
BASILICA. ... for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (He. 7:17). See
‘NO PASTOR CAN BE COMPLACENT ABOUT THE also Hebrews 5:4-6.
EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE WHO NEED THE (d) The priesthood of Melchizedek requires an
SACRAMENT ARE TODAY EITHER NOT RECEIVING IT immortal existence. “And they truly were many priests,
OR RECEIVING IT VERY SELDOM,’ said American because they were not suffered to continue by reason of
bishops attending the synod in a statement issued in
Washington. THEY SAID INDIVIDUAL CONFESSION death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath
OF SINS ‘IS AND WILL REMAIN A NECESSARY PART

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 557