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Skriven 2006-10-14 00:40:50 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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                               VIS-Press releases

POPE COMMENDS PROMOTION OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 9, 2006 (VIS) - This morning, the Holy Father received
prelates from the Canadian (Western) Conference of Catholic Bishops who have
recently completed their "ad limina" visit.

In his English-language talk to them, the Pope touched on the parable of the
prodigal son, asking whether the elder brother does not in some way represent
"those who sadly distance themselves from the Church? ... Unable to think
beyond the limits of natural justice, he remains trapped within envy and pride,
detached from God, isolated from others and ill at ease with himself."

"The bishop's responsibility to indicate the destructive presence of sin," said
the Pope, "is readily understood as a service of hope: it strengthens believers
to avoid evil and to embrace the perfection of love and the plenitude of
Christian life. I wish therefore to commend your promotion of the Sacrament of
Penance. While this Sacrament is often considered with indifference, what it
effects is precisely the fullness of healing for which we long."

Benedict XVI highlighted the fact that the failure to recognize sin "is
ultimately a weakening of our relationship with God." Where God is excluded
from public life, he said, "the sense of offence against God - the true sense
of sin - dissipates, just as when the absolute value of moral norms is
relativized the categories of good or evil vanish, along with individual
responsibility."

"When the need to seek forgiveness and the readiness to forgive are forgotten,
in their place a disturbing culture of blame and litigiousness arises. This
ugly phenomenon, however, can be dispelled."

Pope Benedict went on to refer to the work of the Catholic Aboriginal Council
for Reconciliation and the Amerindian Fund, saying "such initiatives bring hope
and bear witness to the love of Christ which draws us forward." In this
context, he called on the prelates "to address with compassion and
determination the underlying causes of the difficulties surrounding the social
and spiritual needs of the Aboriginal faithful.

"Commitment to truth opens the way to lasting reconciliation through the
healing process of asking for forgiveness and granting forgiveness - two
indispensable elements for peace. In this way our memory is purified, our
hearts are made serene, and our future is filled with a well-founded hope in
the peace which springs from truth."
AL/.../CANADA VIS 061009 (400)

SUMMARY

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