FORGIVENESS? - PART 3: A PROGRAM OF DESTRUCTION

The news, yesterday, of the payment of "war reparations" could not have been better timed. I was just about to get to the topic of "reparation," something many Catholics in our modern "Jesus loves me just the way I am and everybody goes to heaven" post Vatican II stupor, often forget about (despite the endless lists of "animas").

Why is it that 75 years after the Japanese invaded Guam, and 72 years after they were thrown out, are some still demanding "reparation?" What's wrong with "I'm sorry, can't we all get along," as certain people think we should do with Apuron and his ilk? (By the way, I'll have more to say about those war reparations another time.)

The answer is in the word "reparation": REPAIR. 

I haven't heard the expression in a while, but back when I was kid I remember hearing when someone hurt someone else and they wanted to show that they were really sorry, not only did they say they were sorry, they would say "I"ll make it up to you." 

FORGIVENESS? - PART 2

Posted by Tim

Our local debate over the nature of "forgiveness," and how said forgiveness should be applied to those who used their positions of power in our diocese to mislead the faithful - and in the case of sex abuse victims, physically and psychological damage them, might benefit from a review of the current controversy brought on by the pope's extending to priests the power to forgive the sin of abortion. 

Pope Francis initially extended this power to priests as a provision of the Year of Mercy, and now has extended it permanently. The decision led to quite a bit of confusion amongst Catholics because, and rightly so, we believed that priests (with faculties) already have the power to forgive sin, even the sin of abortion. 

So what was the pope talking about?

FORGIVENESS? - PART 1

Posted by Tim

I am continually amused by those who believe that our campaign against the injustices perpetrated by the powerful of this diocese is somehow motivated by a vendetta, or a response to a personal wound, or just "hate." It shows how far we have sunk from an ability to recognize Evil, put on the armor of God, and go out to do battle with it.

Our inability to do this isn't just an oversight, it is an age-old tactic of Satan: apathy, except that in the present case, the apathy is made even more sinister by dressing it up in the Christian garb of "forgiveness," and then "forgiveness shaming" anyone who doesn't measure up to the "can't we all just get along" mantra of the "forgiveness police." (credit to Austin OE) 

By chance (?) as I sat down to write this post, I checked my Facebook first and came across an article in the National Catholic Register entitled: "Come Out of the Cold This Advent," and subtitled: "Praying for someone does not mean you agree with the bad things they do." Here is the money quote: