The traditional Catholic view as expressed by Pope Boniface VIII in his Bull, "Unam Sanctam" (A. D. 1302): "There is one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and that outside this Church there is neither salvation nor remission of sins." This position was reaffirmed on September 5, 2000 in a 36-page document from the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and was approved by the pontiff. It states that the Roman Catholic Church is the only "instrument for the salvation of all humanity." (see U.S. News and World Report, September 18, 2000 v129 illp74)

"...Catholics believe that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah, true God and true Man. They believe that mankind was redeemed by Christ's atonement, though individual men must still work out their personal salvation by faith and good works."

Religions in America, p.24

982 There is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive.Catechism of the Catholic Church, page 278, Doubleday, New York, 1995.

986 By Christ's will, the Church possesses the power to forgive the sins of the baptized and exercises it through bishops and priest normally in the sacrament of Penance.Catechism of the Catholic Church, page 279, Doubleday, New York, 1995.

Were the Redeemer to descend into a church, and sit in a confessional to administer the sacrament of penance, and a priest to sit in another confessional, Jesus would say over each penitent, Ego te absolvo," the priest would likewise say over each of his penitents, "Ego te absolvo," and the penitents of each would be equally absolved. The Dignity of the Priesthood, St Alphonsus DeLiguori, Volume XII, Redemptorist Fathers, Toronto, p.28. Note: the phrase "Ego te absolvo" means "your sins are forgiven."

Jesus has died to institute the priesthood. It was not necessary for the Redeemer to die in order to save the world; a drop of his blood, a single tear, or prayer, was sufficient to procure salvation for all; for such a prayer, being of infinite value, should be sufficient to save not one but a thousand worlds. But to institute the priesthood, the death of Jesus Christ has been necessary. Had he not died, where should we find the victim that the priests of the New Law now offer? The Dignity of the Priesthood, St Alphonsus DeLiguori, Volume XII, Redemptorist Fathers, Toronto, p.26.

When he ascended into heaven, Jesus Christ left his priests after him to hold on earth his place of mediator between God and men, particularly on the altar. "Let the priest," says St. Laurence Justinian, "approach the altar as another Christ." According to St. Cyprian, a priest at the altar performs the office of Christ . . . . . The priest holds the place of the Saviour himself, when by saying "Ego te absolvo," he absolves from sin." The Dignity of the Priesthood, St Alphonsus DeLiguori, Volume XII, Redemptorist Fathers, Toronto, p.34.