Any idea what the Pope means by "repent"?

[Dennis M. Scott]

The pope yesterday acknowledged that in the sexual abuse debacle, people in the church needed to "repent". What does that mean to dirt road catholics?

[Ryan Scott]

The pope yesterday acknowledged that in the sexual abuse debacle, people in the church needed to "repent". What does that mean to dirt road catholics?

I heard this was a said in a private mass so we don't have the exact audio. From what I heard it sounded like he was saying the Church needs to remain humble enough to admit mistakes - the idea that Christians are perfect is far from the truth. My only issue is that he's yet to actually take that position in his public statement. Although I do wonder how much of that is his concern for various legal processes. I know our denominational leadership won't make public statements about ongoing issues either.

[Gary Creely]

The pope yesterday acknowledged that in the sexual abuse debacle, people in the church needed to "repent". What does that mean to dirt road catholics?


I assume by "people" he means the offending priests, as well as those who shielded and covered up their actions. The Catholic church is in a world of hurt these days, and I still get the sense that they are adjusting to a climate that has grown increasingly negative towards them. It is difficult for the church to reconcile what a cataclysmic failure allowing such wide spread abuse to go on for so long, and the result will be Priests will be suspect for generations to come.

No church is with out instance of this type of abuse (including CotN), but the instances I am aware of in our tradition were dealt with swiftly and people were immediately removed. My feeling is this issue with the Catholic church is less about the abusers, and more about the system that protected them. That is much more difficult to move forward from.

[Ryan Scott]

I assume by "people" he means the offending priests, as well as those who shielded and covered up their actions.

I heard an extended quote - it really seemed like the context was all Christians. He basically said "repent" has become a dirty word and all Christians need to remember their sins and repent, especially to the watching world that does not understand what often looks like hypocrisy. He wasn't addressing the controversy directly, but obviously the implication was there.

[Dennis M. Scott]

Probably the media shouldn't be our sole source of context, but the implication was that the Church needed to repent from moving pedaphile priests from one country to another, where they were reinstated as priests. That seems to be the controversy presently. Apparently he was involved in orchestrating some of that in earlier years. Does he now confess such practice - moving and reinstalling - to be something needing forgiveness and change? Does "repent" mean forgiveness and change, or forgiveness only?

[Steven Martinez]

Well some complaints by Evangelicals is that he also called for penance and not just repentance. The issue is what kind of penance will be required. Some sort of action of restitution would go along way in helping.

[John Reilly]

The pope yesterday acknowledged that in the sexual abuse debacle, people in the church needed to "repent". What does that mean to dirt road catholics?

Hi Dennis, I have Joseph Ratzinger's book, "An Introduction to Christianity." On pp.258-259, 262, The Pope talks about the sacrament of penance, forgiveness of sins, "To become truly a man ... he must turn round." p. 259, "The gift of God which turns round towards a new being which he cannot give to himself, ... he can only receive as a gift." p. 260, "The cross really is the salvation of the world." Catholic doctrine fully embraces Satisfaction Theory written by Anselm 1033-1109. Jesus fully provides satisfaction for sin and man can in no way do anything to self atone for his sin. Therefore the church teaches salvation by grace through faith. The mission of the church has been and is today renewal of the heart. The Pope also wrote, "Jesus of Nazareth." Clear and pointed teaching of Christology and the doctrine of redemption.

[Mike Schutz]

Does "repent" mean forgiveness and change, or forgiveness only?

It is one of the great perversions of the faith that "repentance" has been at times considered to be a request for forgiveness, without change. It must be both a change of mind, and a change of action.

This seems to be particularly relevant in the case of systemic evil.

[Billie Goodson]

It is one of the great perversions of the faith that "repentance" has been at times considered to be a request for forgiveness, without change. It must be both a change of mind, and a change of action.

This seems to be particularly relevant in the case of systemic evil.


It is one of the great perversions of the faith that "repentance" has been at times considered to be a request for forgiveness, without change. It must be both a change of mind, and a change of action.

This seems to be particularly relevant in the case of systemic evil.

I think Mike's point is important in that there is a popular usage of repent (2a below) that says repentance can occur and no change is implied. I don't think that really is true to the actual meaning of the word (1 below and 2a when considered with 2b) and I would give the Pope the benefit of the doubt on this one. I thought the Vatican had recently issued another statement that says that care must be taken to ensure that church practices adhere with local laws. Since child abuse is a mandatory reporting issue for many nations, then this should help to bring the church into line with protecting children and not hiding behind a clergy privilege.

The dictionary definition of repent from Merriam-Webster is:



1 : to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life
2 a : to feel regret or contrition b : to change one's mind


In the discussion on "Penance" -- the Catholic doctrine on the sacrament is "Penance is a sacrament of the New Law instituted by Christ in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest's absolution to those who with true sorrow confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same." I believe there is other church writings that address the situation where confession is made but is not sincere and how that is viewed by God and the church.

So, to a dirt road Catholic, I would think that repentance would mean the stronger definition of turning from the sin rather than simply being contrite.

[Jeff Scott]

I'm assuming this "orchestrating" was before he was infallible?

[Mike Schutz]

I'm assuming this "orchestrating" was before he was infallible?

Jeff,
Are you suggesting that the Pope is implying that he is speaking [I]ex cathedra[I] in any aspect of this issue? I don't see it.

[Jeff Scott]

Jeff,
Are you suggesting that the Pope is implying that he is speaking [I]ex cathedra[I] in any aspect of this issue? I don't see it.

Not really. It was more of a tongue-in-cheek comment that proved my lack of knowledge about papal stuff!