Sin and Forgiveness

Marguerite Léna introduces the first of three articles in this issue on the theme of sin and forgiveness with a beautifully sensitive treatment of the place of the sense of forgiveness in education . . .

"Education in the sense of forgiveness is essential to all education, both on the interpersonal and global socio-cultural levels, in order that we may transmit our heritage of meanings and values from one generation to the next."

"Jesus does not stand opposite sinners as some stranger, as one who is innocent, but in solidarity with sinners he bears (away) the sin of the world."

"The revelation of God's true nature—of the unexpected gulf of his creating, protecting, forgiving, and purifying love—alters utterly the soul's vision of itself and others as well."

"Faith does not destroy philosophy but defends it, and only when doing so is theology true to itself."

"A recovery of the fuller Thomistic/papal understanding of social justice would enable one to show the connection between the practice of virtue and the quest for justice."

"As the pastoral writings of the Catholic Bishops' Conferences throughout the world demonstrate, under current conditions of the nuclear arms race and totalitarian ideology and politics, the dilemmas of securing peace are a heavy burden for all theoretical and practical efforts."