Forgiveness

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger

I do not know from where any of my readers get their news, or what may offer the security, let alone certainty, that it is true and accurately represents things as they are. Personally, I have always been wary of headlines, labels and sound bytes, especially when used to characterize a human being’s whole life and identity. I even take with a certain tentativeness the way people describe themselves, whether professionally, temperamentally or politically, lest I project my own prejudices on them before making at least some effort to get to know them.

Both the accolades and imprecations anyone with eyes and ears have been witnessing these days following the passing of Charlie Kirk — and the vast differences that seem to separate the reactions of those tuning in — has led me to question how any two people can look at the same events and reach such different conclusions. What is it that convinces one person that we are seeing a display of the highest level of human love (Erika Kirk’s, “I forgive him,” of her husband’s killer) or the culmination of what was a Hitlerian hate rally.

One popular influencer on X (@TheOmniLiberal) claims to have found archival footage of Hitler forgiving his own would-be assassins in the name of Jesus Christ. I did run that claim past my own AI source (ChatGPT) and asked whether Hitler ever did such a thing. I asked specifically, “Did Hitler ever forgive anyone in the name of Jesus Christ?” This was the response:

“No, there is no historical evidence that Adolf Hitler ever forgave anyone in the name of Jesus Christ.

“Hitler’s Relationship to Christianity”

Hitler was raised Catholic but abandoned traditional Christian teachings as an adult. His public speeches sometimes referenced God or Providence, but this was largely for propaganda purposes. Privately, he often expressed hostility toward Christianity, especially its emphasis on compassion, forgiveness and humility, which he saw as weaknesses.

“Forgiveness in Hitler’s Ideology”

Forgiveness, particularly in the Christian sense of mercy and grace, was incompatible with Hitler’s worldview. His ideology was rooted in notions of radical struggle, dominance and extermination, not reconciliation or forgiveness. In fact, Nazi policy was explicitly merciless toward those he considered enemies (Jews, Slavs, political opponents, the disabled, etc.)

“Propaganda Use of Religion”

At times, Hitler framed his mission as divinely ordained and tried to align the Nazi movement with a distorted form of Christianity (“Positive Christianity”), but was stripped of central teachings like forgiveness and love of neighbor. Instead, it emphasized obedience, strength and nationalism.

“In short: Hitler never forgave anyone in the name of Jesus Christ. Forgiveness was not part of his political or personal practice and invoking Christ in that way would have contradicted both his ideology and his actions.”

I have no idea whether AI is any more reliable than Wikipedia. What I hope, and have been thinking a lot about lately, is that none will become so hardened in our convictions that we dismiss the possibility that some of them may be clouded by false impressions, even sinful patterns that render us unable to recognize what is really happening these past days.

Reports have been circulating of many young people returning to religious faith, particularly Christianity, on a global scale. I read a moving account written by a woman who identifies as “a Muslim in a Muslim country,” and claiming “this is not political,” as to how she was profoundly moved by the words of Erika Kirk (“we do not respond to hate with hate”) and even envious of that feeling. Of course, we know how the conviction of faith and love of Jesus in the soul can stir aflame the longings in all souls, even of nonbelievers. Ultimately however, to paraphrase St. Francis, it is not words but actions that make the difference. The acts we perform show people what we believe and the power that our faith offers them.

Rather than condemn or canonize the persons who have been at the center of the haunting events in which we have all been caught up in such emotionally wrenching ways, we might all be better off if we put aside for a while our political and ideological inclinations and view one another and the main characters in this unfolding story as human beings. 

All of us are on a pilgrimage to God. Wherever we may be on our spiritual journey, the Word who the Gospel announces as one who “pitched his tent among us” (Jn 1:14) has chosen to save us through us and to lead us to our place in the Kingdom of God. God wants everyone to be saved. Saved from what, however, is a very important question.

If we are content with things exactly as they are and are spending most of our energies trying to hold onto them, then we are in no need of any kind of a savior. We are, effectively, our own god, our own judge and our own standard of truth. If, however, we feel a hunger for something else than more of the same, we might be open to suspect that the restlessness in our souls is a desire for something — some ONE — greater and more satisfying than our own little kingdom. This is the path the greatest saints among us have discovered and followed. It is what Christians believe Jesus to be, who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

The first step in following that Way is an acknowledgement of our own sins and the need to be forgiven, not just as an honest gesture of humility, but essential to move forward. Furthermore, our own need to forgive others who have sinned against us is at the center of the Lord’s Prayer itself. Religion is useless if it does not begin with actions of forgiveness. “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Mt 5:23-24). Like what the 12-step process counsels as “letting go and letting God,” we need to forgive and be forgiven, and have a Savior to lay it all on.