Section Seven: the doctrine of Atonement of sins:

Christianity was not satisfied with the Doctrine of Crucifixion for the sake of Redemption that aimed at forgiving the human beings’ sin that they had not committed, but Christians derived from this doctrine another doctrine of forgiving sins administered by priests and monks. Christians “believe that Christ first chose the Apostles, who were aided by bishops, patriarchs and deacons, who became their successors after them.”[1] When Christ rose from the dead he appeared to his disciples and said to them: “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”[2] This allegation of theirs implies that Allah (SWT) authorized the priests to accept penitence and forgive sins; whatever sins they forgive on earth would be forgiven in heaven. “The church and priests utilized this matter and printed atonement contracts and sold them earning a lot of money. By these contracts all sorts of sins were forgiven and the sinner would be freed from all the liabilities and rights.”[3]

Penitence is achieved through confessing sins before the priest, who will forgive or atone the sins of the confessing person. As the priests are authorized to forgive sins, they have the right of excommunication. The doctrine of penitence to them is one of the seven secrets of the church. It is a divine secret trough which and with the power of the Holy Spirit the penitent person secures forgiveness from all the sins he has committed and confessed before the priest that is authorized by the church, and thereby he is reconciled with Allah and with the church, for the sin that distances man from Allah distances him from the church, as well. [4]

Some sects[5] have rejected the doctrine of confession and not adopted it because it leads to abominable blood-curdling deeds, such as what happened to some ladies who went to the priest for confession. Stories pertaining to this phenomenon are numerous and known to the Christians and often released in the press.”[6]

The question now is if the priests represent the only authority to forgive the sins of people, who will be authorized to forgive the sins of the priests themselves?

The answer is that in the sight of Christians the priest, besides being sanctified, is immune against sins and guilt! “Under these two slogans (sanctity and infallibility) and for their sake Christianity was involved in long-standing wars between the proponents and opponents of the infallibility of the popes, and several Ecumenical Councils were held to confirm this infallibility.”[7] Such infallibility and sanctity are the extension of the infallibility and sanctity of Christ (peace be upon him). So, whoever rejects their sanctity and infallibility rejects Christ himself (peace be upon him).

Nobody can practice the ministerial service unless he is legally granted what is called the license of ministerial service. There are various ranks and degrees of priesthood:

1.     In Catholicism the Pope is the representative of Christ and he is aided by a number of cardinals.

2.     The orthodox have three degrees of priesthood: the bishop, the priest and the deacon.

3.     The Protestants do not believe in any human priesthood. The only priest they recognize is Jesus Christ. In Protestantism the so-called priest does not mean one who practices the secrets of the church.[8]

“Since the Pope is described as infallible and sanctified by Allah, no error or misdeed can be ascribed to him, and consequently revolting against him is injustice and aggression, not only against him but against the heavenly will also, for the Pope in Christianity is always right, always innocent, always above suspicions, and always irresponsible and uncountable. With respect to this state of the Pope, a Christian, unlike a Muslim, is forced to always keep silent and is rewarded for doing so, and is punished and becomes responsible for any breach of the rules of the perpetual silence.[9]