Forgiveness in the Church

With Christmas just around the corner, we continue to prepare our hearts for the Lord Jesus by considering how forgiveness might remove the obstacles to His love. In last week's reflection on the family, I pointed out that forgiveness in our parish begins in the home and that forgiveness in the universal Church begins in the “domestic Churches” of our homes.

The Church is, after all, our family of faith, and the same lessons apply. Just as we need to give and receive forgiveness within the family circle, so that same need also exists within the Church family. As we know painfully well from the past few years, this can be very difficult, especially when those in need of forgiveness are those whom we hold to a higher standard " those who hold positions of authority or responsibility in the Church and act in the name of the Church, including bishops, priests, deacons, religious brothers and religious sisters, Church employees and volunteers.

Yes, God calls each of us to holiness, but experience demonstrates that we often fail to respond to His call, instead acting in ways that are not Christ-like. Although we who represent the Church try to be Christ for others, we too are human and prone to sin. In fact, we do sin. Sometimes, this sin manifests itself in small ways, like impatience with others or lack of charity in thoughts or words or actions.

Tragically, sin is manifested in more serious ways, including the violation of the solemn commitment which bishops, priests, deacons and religious men and women make as they embark on their service to the members of the Church.

The abuse of minors and young people by some clergy and religious in past decades has profoundly scarred not only the victims and their families, but indeed to some degree, all the members of the Church. The experience of victims is beyond human words to describe adequately. In the Church, we are all connected, one to the other; we all have struggled with a range of emotions, including hurt, betrayal, anger, despair, rage and even the desire for revenge.

In Masses for victims of sexual abuse held throughout our diocese over the past six months, members of our diocese have brought the immense pain and suffering of victims before the Lord and prayed for healing and reconciliation. I have apologized and asked forgiveness from victims, but also from other Catholics who have struggled with hurt and anger over the lack of responsibility exercised by those in positions of authority in the Church.

To ensure that the Church does everything in her power to safeguard the children in her care, the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and Essential Norms have and will hold clergy and religious who have abused minors accountable for their violations of trust. As our Holy Father said in 2002, “There is no place in the priesthood for those who would harm children.”

It has been said that ours is a society that “condones everything and forgives nothing.” Nonetheless, even priests and religious who have violated their vows " and are therefore, by our policies, no longer permitted to serve in ministry " need to be forgiven. This is not meant for a moment to diminish the gravity of their sinful behavior or attempt to gloss over it. In fact, to forgive is not to excuse what was wrong or to pretend that something very wrong and evil did not happen. As I have stated before in this series, to forgive necessarily implies that something wrong and evil did occur and that I am making a conscious decision to get beyond the hurt and the pain, imitating Jesus, Who prayed for His executioners as He was being unjustly nailed to the Cross.

Just as forgiveness needs to be offered and received in our domestic churches, so within our family of faith. Rightly so, we expect much from our parents, and we expect much from ordained priests and deacons and consecrated religious. They have a high calling and significant responsibilities. They are not private persons but rather, persons who explicitly represent the Church.

As disciples of Jesus, let us not withhold forgiveness, even if those who have hurt us in some way are representatives of the Church. I recognize that this is not easy. Yet His transforming grace awaits all of us.

The Infant of Bethlehem grew up to become the Man of Sorrows on Calvary. Those little arms which were outstretched as He lay in the manger were later outstretched on the Cross in the everlasting sign of His reconciling and healing love. The Prince of Peace is also the Lord of forgiveness and reconciliation.

As Christmas draws ever closer, let us ask the Infant Savior to transform our minds, hearts and wills in order that we may truly forgive anyone who has done us wrong, including those acting in the name of the Church. While the Church year is still young, let us imitate Jesus more closely, so that in Him and with Him and through Him, we too can be instruments of forgiveness, healing and hope. “Come, Lord Jesus, Come! Teach me to forgive as You forgive!”

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Bp. Paul S. Loverde is the bishop of the Diocese of Arlington in Virginia.

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