(photo: St. Stanislaus Church, Milwaukee, 2006) Gallup released a new poll report today marking a steady 10 year decline in religiosity in the United States. Religious faith is a significant and frequent motivation for forgiveness at the personal level, and the Gallup data should cause at least a question, if not a concern, that the … Continue reading Faith in Decline: “Will forgiveness decline too?”
Tom Delaney
Is refusing forgiveness good for you?
(photo: Sherburne County, Minnesota, Tom Delaney, 2025) The northern lights were on spectacular display earlier this week here in Central Minnesota. The wonder of their intense color and ambling hues easily reminds us that there is something much bigger than us afoot in our universe. We thrill to the sight of the northern lights and … Continue reading Is refusing forgiveness good for you?
Forgiveness is Seeing Fraternity with Love of Christ
(art: Siblings, Paul Klee, 1930) The REACH Forgiveness Process developed by Everett Worthington and taught through Live and Forgive is a research-validated individual level approach to forgiveness. A critical component of the REACH process is having the forgiving person cultivate empathy for the person they are forgiving based on their basic human sameness. The idea … Continue reading Forgiveness is Seeing Fraternity with Love of Christ
Harvard Catholic Forum Hosts Tyler VanderWeele: A Theology of Health
(photo: Harvard University, 2025) Join the Harvard Divinity School online for Professor VanderWeele's book talk on A Theology of Health tomorrow, November 13th, at 5:30 PM ET. Register to attend here: https://www.harvardcatholicforum.org/event/book-talk%3A-a-theology-of-health. If your parish or faith community is seeking a deeper experience of forgiveness, healing, mercy, and spiritual renewal, Live and Forgive is here … Continue reading Harvard Catholic Forum Hosts Tyler VanderWeele: A Theology of Health
Our Own Anger is Still Not Good for Us
(art: Church of St. Nicetas, Macedonia, 14th cent.) Whenever the Gospel accounts of Jesus driving out the money changers from the temple come up in the Liturgy of the Word, I often see an article or hear someone asserting that the Gospel account is proof that anger can be righteous and even a virtue. It … Continue reading Our Own Anger is Still Not Good for Us
Fr. Hugh Duffy: Forgiveness When There’s No Apology
(photo: Capilla Sixtina, Jorge Valenzuela, 2011) "Not long before his death, Pope Francis gave a startling speech to the Curia — the Church’s central administrative body. Before a room full of high-ranking officials, he spoke honestly about the hypocrisy, gossip, and careerism that had crept into the Church’s leadership. His words cut deep. The assembled … Continue reading Fr. Hugh Duffy: Forgiveness When There’s No Apology
Forgiveness is a Constant Invitation to Rebirth in Love
Today's Liturgy of the Word includes a reading from the Gospel of Luke (17:1-6) that is a cornerstone for forgiveness as Christian faith in action. In this section of the gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples: If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.And if he wrongs you seven times in one … Continue reading Forgiveness is a Constant Invitation to Rebirth in Love
Forgiveness Will Make Your Best Tomorrow
(photo: The Unjust Steward, Eugène Burnand, 1850-1921) The reading fro the Gospel of Luke in yesterday's Liturgy of the Word related the parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-8). In this parable, a servant of a wealthy property owner is found to have squandered his employer's assets, property, and holdings, and is told to prepare … Continue reading Forgiveness Will Make Your Best Tomorrow
Meditation Nurtures Mind, Body, and Spirit for Forgiveness
(art: Saint Clare of Assisi) In September I wrote an article entitled The Way to Forgiveness: Quiet and Meditation that explained how quiet meditation can help move you mentally and spiritually to the place you need to be in order for you to be ready to engage with forgiveness. Our Franciscan tradition includes exemplars of meditation … Continue reading Meditation Nurtures Mind, Body, and Spirit for Forgiveness
Templeton Foundation Forgiveness Resources Available for Fall 2025
(photo: Alex Polezhaev, 2008) The Templeton World Charity Foundation has compiled and released a set of freely available forgiveness resources with the idea that autumn is a time to strengthen our immune systems, and that includes forgiveness. The resources include: Research Spotlight: Forgiveness and Physical Health Forgiveness as a Stress Buffer Linking Forgiveness and Physical … Continue reading Templeton Foundation Forgiveness Resources Available for Fall 2025