Only a bishop or priest of can pronounce God’s forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. Absolution may be pronounced following private Confession of sins or a general Confession of sin in the Holy Eucharist, the Daily Offices, the Ash Wednesday service, or the Penitential Order. The BCP provides that a deacon or layperson may make a “Declaration of Forgiveness” by God of the penitent’s sins after private Confession and that a deacon or layperson may pray for God’s forgiveness following the general Confession in the Daily Offices.
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