Scope of forgiveness

[cjaubert]

Certainly, we as Catholics (and Christians) are compelled to forgive those who sin against us. My question, though, is: What are the boundaries of this obligation? For example, if someone sins against us and is NOT repentant about it, do we still have an obligation to forgive? Or, is our only obligation in that example to be READY to forgive once the sinner repents? Thank you.

 

[Jim_Blackburn]

While we must be willing to forgive those who repent, we’re not obligated to forgive the un-repentant. Jesus said, “if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him” (Lk 17:3).

To say that we are under an obligation to forgive even the un-repentant is to hold ourselves to a higher standard than God holds himself to. God does not forgive the unrepentant. But if we repent, our sins will be forgiven. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9).