Forgiveness
Sir: John Casey (Test we forgive', 9 September) wrote truly that there is con- fused thinking about crime, retribution and forgiveness. Yet neither he nor the corres- pondents who replied to him on 16 September argued from principle. Retribu- tion is rightly called punishment when inflicted by authority, but when inflicted by individuals to satisfy their anger it is revenge, a thing forbidden to Christians.
Forgiveness does not mean there will be no penalty. God punishes even where he forgives, as in the case of King David. For us humans, forgiveness does not mean
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having no strong feelings of grief and anger; it means maintaining basic good will to the offender despite the injury. As John Casey said, only God can forgive in the fullest sense, expunging guilt and restoring innocence, but that cannot take effect until the offender repudiates his action.
The Gospels repeatedly show that our own failings disqualify us from retaliation. Why did John Casey admire the parent at Enniskillen who forgave his daughter's murderers, but show contempt for the vicar in Ealing who forgave his daughter's rapists? Surely they acted alike and for the same reason.
M. A. Lynch 15 Church Street, London N9
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