Jesus forgave sins in the power of the Holy Spirit, and he handed that power on to his apostles, who in turn passed them on to the priests.
The Church has always insisted on the importance of the priest in the experience of reconciliation. This is not because God will not forgive us directly (God always forgives those who repent), but because the priest is the representative of the Church community. Reconciliation with the Church community is the sacramental sign of reconciliation with God. The priest is the representative of the community, as well as the representative of Christ.
The Church has always insisted on the importance of the priest in the experience of reconciliation. This is not because God will not forgive us directly (God always forgives those who repent), but because the priest is the representative of the Church community. Reconciliation with the Church community is the sacramental sign of reconciliation with God. The priest is the representative of the community, as well as the representative of Christ.