They appear here either as the disciples of a rabbi who empowers them to make authoritative decisions on legal questions, or as priests authorized to give or withhold absolution of sins. (religion-online.org)
In the end, the ITC referred the question to the discernment and authoritative decision of the Magisterium. (firstthings.com)
The wonder, though, is that it appears never to have made him sympathize at all with J. A. O. Preus» attempt to find a way to make authoritative decisions within the synod. (firstthings.com)