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Where is the line for confession's forgiveness?
🇸🇪 Sweden /Culture & Society

Where is the line for confession's forgiveness?

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Explainer Named sources Context piece
  • Catholic priest Jorge de Salas discusses the boundaries of forgiveness within the sacrament of confession.
  • He emphasizes that God always forgives, but sin is not taken lightly, requiring self-knowledge and change.
  • De Salas advises individuals to report criminal acts to the police, stating God cannot forgive if they do not.

Catholic priest Jorge de Salas has articulated the profound nature of forgiveness within the sacrament of confession, emphasizing that while divine mercy is boundless, sin itself is never trivialized. "God always forgives us. His mercy is greater than sin, but he does not take sin lightly," stated de Salas, a priest in the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm.

God always forgives us. His mercy is greater than sin, but he does not take sin lightly.

— Jorge de SalasDescribing the nature of divine forgiveness.

Through years of hearing confessions, de Salas has encountered a wide spectrum of human failings, from stray thoughts to grave transgressions. He stressed that confession is not merely a way to assuage guilt but a sacrament demanding introspection and a genuine commitment to change. "Sometimes I have to speak up when I notice that the person continues to act wrongly. Then I tell the person that they must not do or say such things, that they must change," he explained.

Sometimes I have to speak up when I notice that the person continues to act wrongly. Then I tell the person that they must not do or say such things, that they must change. Confession is not for quieting the conscience, it is a sacrament that requires self-knowledge and the ability to examine oneself.

— Jorge de SalasExplaining the role of correction and self-examination in confession.

De Salas highlighted a critical aspect of the sacrament: accountability for criminal actions. He firmly advises individuals who confess to criminal acts to report themselves to the police. "Otherwise, God cannot forgive," he stated, underscoring that true repentance involves facing earthly justice.

If what is said during confession concerns a criminal act, the person is urged to go to the police and report themselves, otherwise God cannot forgive.

— Jorge de SalasStating the requirement to report criminal acts for divine forgiveness.

Furthermore, de Salas noted that sin can also manifest as omission, failing to act when one could have helped others. He expressed a wish for people to more readily seek forgiveness from one another for both minor and major offenses, suggesting that interpersonal forgiveness mirrors the divine model.

Sin can also be omission, something we could have done better to help others.

— Jorge de SalasDefining sin as including acts of omission.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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