Penance and civil penalties

June 17, 2019
Lynn Yap
San Carlos
 
Re “No priest may obey proposed law,” June 6:
 
Forgiveness of sin in the sacrament of reconciliation only follows if a sinner is genuinely contrite. The point of confession is not only to anonymously wipe the sinner’s slate clean. More important, confession must be a true change of heart. A contrite sinner willingly carries out the penance the priest asks for. It follows to me that a sinner must also to be willing to accept legal consequences for their behavior. The way I see it, a humble penitent should seek spiritual grace of reconciliation first. Then they should go forward and accept whatever action civil society needs to impose. With all due respect, couldn’t a priest give a sinner the penance of reporting their crime to the police and accepting the consequences?
 

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