Low risk 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Low risk 1 - Essay Example If his right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.   This means the Pope has no power to remit sins. Only God can remit sins. What the Pope can do here is only to declare to a person that God has remitted their sins. Therefore, when the pope offers the sacrament of penance, he does not effect the penance himself, but lets the penitent know that God has remitted their guilt. This shows it is only God, who has the power to remove a person’s sins. The Pope has no power to remove sin. What the Pope can do in this case, is only offer the sacrament of penance, after a person humbles and accepts their sins before the pope. However, the real penance comes from God. Canon law, including the penitential laws only applies to the living and not the dead. Therefore, the dead souls in the purgatory are not under the judgement of penitential canons. This means the Pope has no power to remit the penalties owed by the souls in the purgatory, since the penitential laws do not apply to them. Either way, in case the souls in the purgatory have any remorse, this is outside the power of the pope, and there is nothing he can do. This means when a person dies, they are released from penalties. The canon law then no longer holds them. The dead, by virtue of being dead are entitled to freedom from all penalties, and this release from penalties is owed to God, and not to the Pope. Therefore, the Pope has no power to free the dead from their penalties, as God is responsible for