Q. 729.  Can the priest forgive all sins in the Sacrament of Penance?  A. The priest has the power to forgive all sins in the Sacrament of Penance, but he may not have the authority to forgive all.  To forgive sins validly in the Sacrament of Penance, two things are required:  (1) The power to forgive sins which every priest receives at his ordination, and (2) the right to use that power which must be given by the bishop, who authorizes the priest to hear confessions and pass judgment on the sins.

Q. 730.  What are the sins called which the priest has no authority to absolve?  A. The sins which the priest has no authority to absolve are called reserved sins.  Absolution from these sins can be obtained only from the bishop, and sometimes only from the Pope, or by his special permission.  Persons having a reserved sin to confess cannot be absolved from any of their sins till the priest receives faculties or authority to absolve the reserved sin also.

Q. 731.  Why is the absolution from some sins reserved to the Pope or bishop?  A. The absolution from some sins is reserved to the Pope or bishop to deter or prevent, by this special restriction, persons from committing them, either on account of the greatness of the sin itself or on account of its evil consequences.

Q. 732.  Can any priest absolve a person in danger of death from reserved sins without the permission of the bishop?  A. Any priest can absolve a person in danger of death from reserved sins without the permission of the bishop, because at the hour of death the Church removes these restrictions in order to save, if possible, the soul of the dying.

Q. 733. {189} How do you know that the priest has the power of absolving from the sins committed after Baptism?  A. I know that the priest has the power of absolving from the sins committed after Baptism, because Jesus Christ granted that power to the priests of His Church when He said:  “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.  Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”

Q. 734.  How do we know that Our Lord, while on earth, had the power to forgive sins?  A. We know that Our Lord, while on earth, had the power to forgive sins:  (1) because He was always God, and; (2) because He frequently did forgive sins and proved their forgiveness by miracles.  Since He had the power Himself, He could give it to His Apostles.

Q. 735.  Was the power to forgive sins given to the apostles alone?  A. The power to forgive sins was not given to the apostles alone, because it was not given for the benefit merely of those who lived at the time of the apostles, but for all who, having grievously sinned, after Baptism, should need forgiveness.  Since, therefore, Baptism will be given till the end of time, and since the danger of sinning after it always remains the power to absolve from such sins must also remain in the Church till the end of time.