Madam, - W.G.A. Scott (May 5th) disagrees with the Pope's statement that, if one is aware of serious sin, one must first go to confession before one can participate in the Eucharist. He believes that there is no need for "an intermediary" to confess one's sins to God and he adds that it was only at the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 that "the Vatican" required that people confess their sins to a priest.
In fact, it was Christ himself, after his Resurrection, who gave his Church the power to forgive sins: "Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained." (John, 20:23). It is an essential part of Catholic belief that this power is handed down through the priesthood.
The Pope in his encyclical refers to this teaching and says that if one is aware of mortal sin, one must first seek forgiveness through the Sacrament of Penance before one can take part in the Eucharist. (cf. no.36).
It has always been Catholic belief that the Church has the power to forgive sins through the priest. In the words of St. John Chrysostom (347-407): "Priests have a power to bind and loose, to forgive and retain, a power which is not even given to the angels. It is a power given to them by God through the promise of Christ". (On the Priesthood III, 5 paraphrased). - Yours, etc.,
Rev MICHAEL MANNING,
Millstreet,
Co Cork.