Dear Visitor:

The Commandments of Jesus Christ are very specific!  They are not multiple choice!

The following article is presented as a result of numerous letters and e-mails and reported actions from and about people through out the United States who have had, or are having, stressful emotional problems dealing with this subject due to either murder, rape, gang-banger activities, molestation convictions of various family members, in addition to priests, monks and other clergy, etc.  Many of these people have become the victims of harms done by others, not forgiving... while yet calling themselves "Christian". What is the true teachings say?  What does this mean?

Most Protestants (non-Orthodox and non-Catholics) are unable and incapable of adhering to the particular part of the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ as regards Repentance and Forgiveness... Since September 11, 2001 we've had a plethora of questions dealing with the loss of life and loved ones... How Can We Forgive?  Even some Orthodox Catholics and Roman Catholics have trouble with this too!

Since the outbreak of accusations and allegations relating to the Roman Catholic Church Sex Scandal, even more e-mail asks... How Can We Forgive?

Some feel that by the modifications of this particular web page on this very subject, I have a personal agenda at hand.  And, to be honest... I do!  My personal agenda is to aide and assist in hopefully thwarting those who have erred from making the mistakes of not dealing with the needs this subject raises, as I have had to deal with....  My personal agenda deals with all those things and more.... The Seals of the Confessional have been attacked by both civil authorities and being considered, it has been alleged, by some bishops of the American branch of the Roman Catholic Church for breaking them.  The Seals of the Confessional is one of the pillars of the Life and Praxis of the Church Catholic!

Society as a whole and Civil Authorities, high and low, have a God given duty to be responsible in a manner and fashion that does not go against the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ if one is to consider themselves, in their heart, as true Christians!

As to the Apostles and their successors as well as those who serve as duly ordained priests under them: "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses, "Matt 6:14-15   Instead, far to many (while still calling themselves "Christian") would prefer to violate His Commandments by following the very thing forbidden, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also," (Matt. 5:38-39), and"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love them which love you, what reward have ye?  Do not even the publicans the same?  If ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?  Do not even the publicans so?  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," (Matt. 5:43-49).

"Judge not, lest ye be not judged," (Matt. 7:1) holds true!

As said above, 'Most Protestants' (Especially Baptists, Pentecostals, Assemblies of God, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Evangelicals, so-called 'Born Again' and those of the Promise Keepers and "I'm Saved" groups, Lutheran, Anglican, along with many Catholics, even Orthodox' are unable and incapable of adhering, practicing and believing in that which has been taught;  therefore having no right whatsoever to even call or consider themselves a true Christian [followers of Jesus Christ's Life and Teachings) in spirit and truth.  This is all the more true of those who claim that they are either Old Catholic, Old Roman Catholic, most of those who claim they are 'Independent Catholic' and so very many more in these present times who are involved in the  syncretism of that called 'ecumenism' on-going today which is a heresy and an apostasy of those who adhere to such tripe.

It is only through the rigors of both spiritual and material struggles in this life can we obtain the Hope and Promise given by Jesus Christ.  To presume otherwise is to appropriate, to steal, to thwart the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ and finally, to blaspheme the Holy Spirit!

When these United States of America returns to those understandings as were more so followed and practiced by many of its founding fathers (albeit a stinted form), returning to God; then God will once again truly bless this country.

Our leaders and its citizens must be wholly compliant, otherwise our Country has ceased to use the right to even claim "In God We Trust" or calling itself a Christian Country and other claims of belief in God in spirit and truth! Anything short of this, is nothing more than 'lip service' that has no merit in the eyes of God whatsoever!  Anyone can, and most do, give lip-service and claim on their lips of being 'Christian' while, knowingly or not, their hearts are far removed as evidenced by their actions and words today.

Without true forgiveness... One makes a false claim of being "Christian," and becomes a follower and practitioner of the perversions of the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ provided by the Deceitful One and his demons.... At best, pseudo-Christian, it would seem!

There are two sides to every coin:  There are two sides to every story.  Lest we forget, there are any number of sides to stories where incidents are taken into secular courts for adjudication.  In many cases that reach a civil court of law, an individual may be found guilty of a charge involving violence while there is still an inner part of the "convicted" person which no one, not even the prosecutor or defense attorney, has ever seen or even knows about, except for what they are provided by psychiatrists or psychologists who conduct very specific tests without themselves having come to fully know the individual.  A psychologist and psychiatrist can easily depict an individual to be of a type or persona that favors whichever side the individual psychiatrist or psychologist wishes to favor without even remotely knowing or truly understanding the individual being evaluated.  It truly depends on the so-called professional who is swayed by their own personal prejudices and convictions of belief that can add to the weight of a conviction or otherwise.

 We are presupposing that the individual being charged is not a "mental case" and thus has basic mental faculties in tact.  While an  individual may in some instances indeed be truly guilty, there is always a more compassionate side that has not been reached or even tapped into by others in his or her family and friends, not even by the prosecution or defense.  That would be the "human" side, if you could ever imagine such!

 In some instances, the individual being prosecuted was not factually guilty except by the "letter" of the law where "hearsay" had become the norm for a conviction.  We are not saying that we should be all "lovy-dovy" in regards to the individual's alleged crime, so much as we need to take a look at the individual's inability to SHOW his inner compassion and passion for the basic regards for life!

 In the State of California alone, an individual can be found guilty of some crimes just on the basis of "hearsay" without any physical evidence being considered, whether presented or not.  We have seen, after numerous years have passed, where a convicted person was later found to be factually innocent of the original charge(s).  It has become so in many other states of the U.S.A.  The state, in those instances, should delete any mention of the conviction it would be reasonable to assume.  However, in far too many instances, the conviction remains on the record with a notation that says in like manner, 'overturned'.  Nothing else is appended! Those of the citizenry who see that, believe the individual is still guilty on the basis of the recorded 'conviction'.  It is psychological manipulation of the public's attitude.

 This is especially more true where clergy who hold to the Seals of the Confessional, have been found guilty of a crime based on hearsay when he was, in fact, holding to the tenets of his faith that require maintaining the Seals of the Confessional, especially when those very Seals, if broken, would have provided evidence and proved his innocence while probably having brought to trial those who were the real guilty ones.

Consider:

If you were a so-called "Christian believer" and had done a horrible crime, then going to your priest, you confessed your sin before him who is the alter-ego of Christ, would you prefer he kept to his vows to God or to give in to the law of man whereby you would end up in prison?  Would you do your "Christian" duty and confess the sin to man?  Or, as most would do, confess to the priest without confessing to man the crime you did?  In many instances, the later is more true.  Would you prefer the priest keep his vows  to God or to the laws of man?  Recognize and realize that in many instances, the priest could suffer the sentence that your crime mandates if he protects the Seals of the Confessional.  Yet, recognizing truth... it is also necessary to understand the fullness of what "Seals of the Confessional" and "Forgiveness" means..  For in the balance is weighed the worth of a true priest.....

 It is believed that the newer laws being brought about more by those whose Protestant beliefs disclaim any respect for such as the Seals of the Confessional of the Orthodox and Catholic Faith, the origination of the Christian Religion that the Protestants claim to hold true to; is based on a false radicalism that, unknowing to those promoters of such laws, degrade the Christian faith which has opened the doors for the acceptance of false ideas and ideals which includes those laws as regarding other religions in the U.S.A. as well as the attacks on our very judicial system by so-called Atheists.

 The emotional trauma of victims, survivors and those alleged and/or convicted of a crime against society; is so devastating that "Forgiveness" of SELF and others is needed in order to get on with life and living.

 Some of the stories that we have heard depicts the proverbial saying of:  "It's just the tip of the iceberg".

 We appeal to the "Light of Christ Within" each of you, bearing in mind that Jesus Christ's teachings are always and everywhere needed in our day and age.

In the practice of Christian Faith... walking and talking as examples of the teachings of Jesus Christ; forgiveness is mandated.  Without forgiveness, no one can truly claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ or even call themselves a "Christian".  Without forgiveness, one is a pseudo-christian, a Pharisee, a false Christian, an "anti-Christian"!

Forgiveness is mandated upon the condition of "repentance"... Mark 1:15 says, "and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."  [The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John].  Matthew 9:10-13 says, "And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.  And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?' But when he heard it, he said, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.'  For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

Forgiveness is one of the most hardest of Christian practices.  It is far easier for the harmed person(s) {or those who perceive they have been harmed} to hold grudges, bad feelings, seek revenge through taking matters into their own hands or through the courts, even to the taking of another's life for the life they may have lost.  For many of these Christian people, based on their own  remembrances of past incidents and actions, the rage within does not allow them to walk and talk "forgiveness" as Jesus Christ demands of us!.

Forgiveness hinges upon the person who has erred to know his error!  Thus, in Matthew 5:23-24 we further learn, "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way: first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

In some ancient (even in very few present day) Christian communities of faithful; it is believed that one's very thoughts will condemn the individual who fails or refuses to put into practice the holistic (body and soul) idea that repentance and forgiveness provide.  Some further believe that if you think of evil in your mind against another, it is the same as though you, yourself, had done it too; and therefore you have taken the same sin upon yourself that you or society has condemned another for, the one whom you hold in judgment!  They base this on many areas of the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ, but primarily two teachings, "Judge not, lest ye be not judged," (Matt. 7:1) and, because Jesus also taught that if one 'thinks' something about another who has transgressed (trespassed), the ones who must forgive will take upon themselves in the sight of God, the same sin as though they had done it themselves, because of their failure and refusal to forgive.

The teachings of Jesus Christ is very specific about forgiveness.  It does not mean that by forgiving someone, you can wholly resume lost links as though the cause of disfavor never existed.  It means that you truly forgive the person, although you may not necessarily forget the incident(s).

Yet, in forgiving... one must allow the one who is 'forgiven' to resume their honorable activities and life as though nothing had happened, remembering that the harms of the past will no more be repeated.  And here is the meat of 'forgiving'...

The one being forgiven must not repeat those actions or words that caused the initial separation, disenfranchisement or disfavor in the eyes of the one granting 'forgiveness'.

A good example might be the experience of a man who stole from a friend and went to jail or prison.  When he gets out he seeks true repentance from the friend he stole from.  Now it is up to that 'friend' (if he be a true Christian) to grant forgiveness because he feels that the one who stole from him will not repeat the action again.

Another example might be a murderer is released from prison.  He seeks out the survivors of the one who he had been convicted of murdering.  The family of the victim (if they be true Christians) must develop within themselves the means to perceive the content of the murderer's conviction of repentance.  Forgiveness is mandated by the very teachings of Jesus Christ!  Nothing short will do.  Because the convicted murderer sought out the survivors is indicative of a repentant person.  Forgiveness is mandated.

This is in store for those who are a part of the problems involved with Roman Catholic Church Sex Scandal....We might also use the example of a priest who was convicted by his taking a plea bargain in a child molestation case involving two youths between 14 and 17, to protect one of the primary pillars of the Church, the Seals of the Confessional, and to save others from the affects of overzealous 'hunters' (prosecutors) who used and abused the judicial system for political advantage.  The alleged activities took place while under influence of substances on the part of the priest.  He reports that the incidents were not as heinous as portrayed and that he is not exempt from the guilt he bears for the things he knows he did wrong, not the wrongs society says he did, for which he was convicted.  The priest served his time (more than 7 years of a 13 year sentence..) and returned to society.  He sought forgiveness of the family... who sought him out while he was in prison and forgave him and he them.  He sincerely repented and they forgave him.  Now it is the Church herself and society who must forgive...  The Church may have forgiven in part, but not in whole, as society has not forgiven because of the manner and method of continued persecution of the individual through a life-time of annual registration with law enforcement, a continuation of the prison sentence which does not allow for a true rehabilitation to be implemented (as prison was supposed to have done).

All priests and bishops are responsible to Jesus' teachings and the Seven Ecumenical Councils, by becoming the examples of Jesus' mandate!  They can neither persecute and castigate further, discriminate or lock him away from what he was ordained to do.  Anything less is un-Christian and Anti-Christ!  Anything less is to "judge" him again which is equally anti-Christian and Anti-Christ!  Even so, the same is incumbent upon all clergy ... all are mandated by the teachings of Jesus Christ in both the spirit and the letter of the teaching itself!

This is a most difficult task on the part of the Society and the Church.  But, again, forgiveness is mandated, even in those instances.

We have all heard of various incidents involving all sorts people who have erred against other people and society; from doctors, lawyers, judges, police persons, ministers, pastors, priests and preachers.  Sometimes those errors stemmed from ignorance or honest intention to do right, but were victims of over zealous "hunters" from within one's own or another organization; creating political, if not criminal situations and circumstances.

Other instances involve a priest and/or a bishop who broke the "Seals of the Confessional" (without permission or proper form) failing or refusing to seek forgiveness of the one on whom he broke those "Seals"... which normally requires under traditional Canon, that the priest or bishop voluntarily degrade himself in both rank and status, otherwise be degraded and stripped of rank and status if not done voluntarily...  However, there are some ecclesiastics (clergy persons) who seem to think they are above the law of church canon, man and God, especially those who are autocephalous bishops, taking onto themselves self-righteous attitudes, believing that they have only to confess to, and seek forgiveness from, God only... not the one whom they offended...  Far be it from the truth.

May it be noted and understood that under certain circumstances, the Seals of the Confessional can be broken, only when the confessant has publicly broken them.  For example: in a court of law where the confessant tells of things that were initially under the Seals of the Confessional, then the priest or bishop may also state only those things that the confessant stated, but not what the confessant did not state.  It is the confessant or repentant one who actually breaks the Seals of the Confessional.  In this example, the priest or bishop only confirmed what had already been said by the repentant confessant.

But, as for these later types who break the Seals of the Confessional without proper form, they are no longer priests or bishops in spirit, even though in material (worldly) aspects they retain such rights until a convocation of peers strips them.  However, we find that in the Independent movement of the Old Catholic and Orthodox Catholic Church; this is next to impossible because far to many have been swayed by the spirit of nihilistic humanism which is actually "ecumenism"...

Many Protestants, especially Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Pentecostals and numerous other protestant divisions, DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE SEALS OF THE CONFESSIONAL and cannot, even when they are provided the truth behind the actual inauguration or creation of the SEALS OF THE CONFESSIONAL by Jesus Christ Himself.  The SEALS OF THE CONFESSIONAL are biblical.  Yet can only be seen by those who have spiritual eyes and spiritual ears.  The story of the Mary being Stoned is the basis.  For it was while Jesus Christ bent down to the ground and wrote, time was passing, and he said to them "Lest ye be without sin, cast the first stone".  More time passed until everyone who were going to stone this particular Mary, departed quietly.  They did not just run away, but quickly thought about what Jesus had to say and probably even briefly discussed with their compatriots what they should do.  This took time.  Then, after the had departed and Jesus looked to Mary, saying, "Where are your accusers" ... etc.  Now think for a moment.  During all this time, Mary poured out her heart to Jesus Christ, and it was upon that by which Jesus said that her sins were many and forgave her.  Yes, He knew even before she spoke who she was and that her sins were many.  But during the time it took for everything to sink into the minds of those were going to stone Mary had, according to both Syro-Chaldean and Coptic oral teachings, poured out her sins to Him who had the power to Forgive her.  And it is upon this that the SEALS OF THE CONFESSIONAL are based.

In some public cases of today, such as the sex scandal and convictions, a simple corrective measures could have been taken... but society is not so forgiving in all cases.

Experience tells us, "All ministry comes to and through broken hearted people." Church is where mistakes can be made. The Lord provides for correction, not simply condemnation.

The question that remains might be, "Can a man of God err and remain a man of God?" In a perfect church, one without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:27), clergy would not err!  But this is not such a world in which we live today, and that is not the present character of the Christian Church either.

Solomon and Sheba committed more than just a moral error of grievous degree before God and the people, but God forgave Solomon.

The Apostles abandoned Jesus; Peter raised a sword against the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus; and Peter tried to dissuade Jesus from the cross (Jesus called him "Satan").  Peter denied Him three times.

James and John sent their mother in an attempt to manipulate Jesus into guaranteeing them the lead position at the table of God.

Who among us would have thrilled with the way John the Baptist conducted his ministry if we were to have walked in those times?  Even so, would we have approved of the ministry of Jesus Christ if we were alive in His time in the flesh?  He was despised and rejected by religious critics because He ran with sinners of all kinds, often the most detestable.

Healing is offered by Jesus Christ to the sinner and is an example for all of us to follow no matter how grievous the sin, except the one sin which God does not forgive.  All other sins are equal to each other in comparison to the one unforgivable sin.

As Christians, we are drawn to the Gospels of Jesus Christ (according to Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) in which "FORGIVENESS" is mandated as equally is "REPENTANCE".  The same is true as regards "...judging lest you be judged!"

If we are to learn anything from the Gospels and the history of our forefathers, we might review the history of the Eastern Church, A.D. 325, that brought about the Nicene Creed which was a defense against the theology of Arius, taking particular note of the subsequent actions of that synod.

The lesson we learn is that all legitimate ministry is aimed at restoring people, even clerics, to life and ministry when and where possible.  In these instances, circumstances and situations, it is not only possible, but proper, just, right, and our bounden duty to do so... If the repentant one is true in his or her heart, mind and soul, then Forgiveness is mandated by Jesus Christ for whom we are all called Christians, as His followers!

The lessons we further learn here, is that no secular or religious organization, be it law enforcement, medical, legal, religious, or otherwise -  is unaffected by errors of people.  Some errors by individuals, are taken to task by society while others are left unscathed.  All in all; damage is done to the hearts, minds, and spirit of people.  Prejudices become more ingrained unless "F O R G I V E N E S S" is granted and given after sincere repentance before man and God, within the depths of one's own soul.  This is one of the reasons why our motto is quoted so often:

"Prejudice makes prisoners of the hated and the hater!"

Also See:

And See:

Do You Know The Difference Between Being Religious And Being Spiritual?

Lest we Forget: GUIDE TO THE SCRIPTURES On:  REPENT, REPENTANCE

•Ancient Canons/Seven Ecumenical Councils  

•An Understanding of the Ancient Canons

• Ancient Canons/Seven Ecumenical Councils

• A bit of understanding about the Fundamentalist Cults....

• Modern Day Ecumenism and its horrors

•  How Many Times

• New Warrior Ministries

• VINE & CROSSROADS of Faith Newsletter  - On-line!

• True Christian or Not?