By M K George

Rome, July 24, 2022: Today, (Sunday, July 24), Papa Francesco will begin a weeklong trip across Canada, which he calls a “pilgrimage of penance.”

He plans to meet with Indigenous communities and formally apologize for the rampant abuse and “cultural genocide,” at residential schools—ran by the Catholic Church—where more than 150,000 Indigenous children were forcibly enrolled.

About the apologies of Papa, some think he is crazy. Others think he is not doing enough. The truth, always in the middle somewhere, is about forgiveness and healing, two fundamental experiences of healthy human living.

Stories of forgiveness and healing

I remember watching a documentary on restorative justice, where a woman who was raped by a stranger, meets with the rapist, then under incarceration, with professionals who helped the meeting for restorative justice. She just wanted to see the rapist, ask him why he did such a cruelty, and why she was chosen the victim.

After all, she had not done anything provocative, was not dressed tantalizingly or the sort. Just seeing him, asking him those questions, gave her a peace, which allowed her to move on with her life. Not that the pain was gone. Or, that the struggle ended. But, for her there was a new energy for re-starting her life again.

Another recent and moving story of forgiveness is the experience of the killer of Blessed Rani Maria. The words of Sister Selmy, Rani Maria’s sister, resound in our conscience. She told Samandar Singh, her sister’s assassin, “We have forgiven you. Do not keep anything in your heart. Be good to everyone,”

Tying a rakhee on Singh, she said, “It is hard to believe but from then on, I received the grace to feel that he was my own brother.” Singh himself said, ‘I am a new man and I help others.’

Asking for forgiveness, giving forgiveness, and being forgiven are deeply human experiences, essential for moving on in lives shattered by hurt. The effects are emotional, spiritual and even physical. You hear a number of stories of people whose physical ailments disappeared the moment they were able to forgive someone, whom they had refused to forgive.

Psychological and spiritual perspectives

From a psychological perspective, there are five reasons why we should be able to forgive. First, when you forgive another, you forgive yourself. In forgiving yourself, your feelings of resentment and hurt are replaced by healing. Second, Forgiveness get you out of the victim mode. Third, forgiveness frees you. It is as if you are taking back your inner power, which you had surrendered to negative feelings. Fourth, Forgiveness give you better health. Negative emotions rob your energy and take a toll on your body, mind, and spirit. Finally, forgiveness helps you move forward in your life. It is a path to peace (Brenner, 2020).

From a Christian theological perspective, forgiveness is the core of the Christian living. The primary experience of God forgiving human disobedience and accepting them even to the point of sending his own son to save the world, and build a new Kingdom of God, is the basis of all forgiveness. Christians are a forgiven people.

In the Gospel of Mathew, Jesus advocates, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Mathew 6, 14-15) This means one of the primary marks of the Christian will be a willingness to forgive others generously. People will know Christians, not only by their love, but also by their forgiveness.

A warning

We need to be aware that forgiveness alone need not lead to healing. ‘Healing is a long road to be travelled pace by pace. Healing comes from having others hear our stories, being accepted, talking it out, feeling loved and heard (not just listened to), and understood.’ (Zakarian K. 2010) Hence the importance of restorative justice practices, professional help to those wounded , continued dialogue and prayer.

The Challenge to the Indian Church

The Indian Church has so much to ask pardon for. Be it the treatment of the Dalits in the Church, rampant clericalism and in the near history, almost total neglect of justice issues, except for a few people working in small pockets. The Indian Church probably has become primarily concerned about their survival, than to live Christ’s values. Will the Indian Church have the courage to ask forgiveness and be healed?

Papa Francesco is doing it right. Are we his children following it up, in the path of forgiveness and healing at our own levels?