Pope John Paul II Asks False Forgiveness for Faults

Pope Karol Wojtyla
a.k.a. John Paul II

^Asks False Forgiveness _for Faults

NEWS RELEASE: At Year End, Pope Asks Forgiveness for His Faults

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 1, 2002 (Zenit.org).- At the end of 2001, John Paul II asked God's forgiveness for his "faults" and "omissions"¹ and entrusted his "apostolic commitment" to divine Providence.

The Holy Father's words resounded in St. Peter's Basilica on Dec. 31 in the afternoon, during the traditional thanksgiving hymn "Te Deum."

In the presence of some 8,000 pilgrims, the Holy Father said it "is a special duty to acknowledge our own frailties² and the times when we have not been completely faithful² to the love of God."

"We ask the Lord's forgiveness for our faults and omissions³," the Pope said. "Let us continue to be confidently abandoned to the Lord's goodness.⁴ He will not fail to offer us his mercy⁵ and to help us continue in our apostolic commitment."

The Bishop of Rome concluded by praying to God. "At the end of the year, we already look toward the new one, and our hearts are confidently abandoned to your mysterious plans of salvation⁶," the Pope said.

He spent New Year's Eve praying in his private chapel that 2002 will be a year of "love and peace.⁷" ZE02010109

Pope John Paul's use of the terms faults, omissions, and frailties diminishes the concept of sin. In itself this would be a mortal sin. Only grave (mortal/deadly) sins require God's forgiveness for entry into Heaven. Lesser sins and all attachment to any sin (human weakness) must be purged and absolute perfection reached before entry into eternal life is allowed. There are no free rides into Heaven.

Mortal sins while commonly committed upon other humans are none the less serious offenses against God. For a thorough presentation concerning sin read the online preparation for confession: "Make All Things Right with God."

Forgiveness, the reception of God's mercy, requires restitution and correction, depending upon the types of sins committed and pertinent circumstances. Mortal sins require oral confession to a priest made with the sincere desire to avoid committing them in the future. A realistic penance is then imposed by the confessor (something rarely done in recent decades) along with the requirement for restitution and correction to the extent reasonably possible.

Any sins committed –particularly by Church leaders and notable figures– that effect others due to there public nature must be acknowledged and corrected publicly. Any scandal caused by such sins is best rectified by public penance for reception of God's mercy. Failure to give satisfaction in this life would at best be imperfect contrition. Faulty love of God at the end of life will require suffering following mortal death before the necessary purgation of mind and heart is obtained. One quickly realizes, following entry into purgation, that extensive deprivation, humiliation and suffering before death is greatly preferable.

Showmanship, the winning of applause or public acclamation, is meaningless to God. For John Paul's public confession to be worthy he would have had to have made restitution (correct his public sins –committed either by act or omission– by acknowledging and replacing them with authentic teachings) for his faults, omissions, and frailties.

^{his "faults" and "omissions" — Generic confessions are without meaning and serve no other purpose than to misdirect listeners as to what is taking place. Such admissions founded upon false principles diminish the all to often fragile faith of hearers, whether received in person or through public media. The higher in priestly rank the one is who makes misleading presentations, the greater the consequence and resultant guilt concerning the sins committed.

acknowledge our own frailties — This reference to frailties (faults due to weakness in moral character) down plays the gravity of sin and leads spiritually deficient people into even greater sin. There is no such thing as partial faithfulness to the love of God in the commission of any sin – particularly those of sufficient gravity to be acknowledge publicly. The concepts of "our" and "we" are misused in relation to confession or a profession of faith. In such matters only individual statements are meaningful to God.

We ask the Lord's forgiveness for our faults and omissions — As the Church does not sin and no one receives forgiveness of sin from God at the request of a third party,¹ a petition such as this encourages belief in general absolution without the necessity for individual confession. John Paul should spend more time examining his own conscience and making public correction for his own public faults and failures (mortal sins), by act or omission, if he truly believes in God and desires entry into Heaven.
^{Luke 23:34 – (Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.") This passage –not found in earliest manuscripts– refers to a general forgiveness of the human race for the crime of killing the Father's only Son. It does not refer to individual or general forgiveness for personal sins. Jesus was asking His Father not to destroy all life in anger due to the gravity of the offense taking place.}

confidently abandoned to the Lord's goodness — By way of subterfuge what is being developed here is the idea that through the goodness of God one need not be concerned with consequences due to sin. While God is always to be trusted, one may never presume upon His goodness or believe that His goodness will keep one from Hell.

He will not fail to offer us his mercy — God's mercy is indeed offered to everyone but it is granted conditionally. The requirements for receiving His mercy are firm. No one receives God's mercy without sincere repentance and some form of available restitution. In recent times the concept has been lost that the greater the restitution in this life (proof of sincerity), the less will be the time required in the next life to purge deficiencies (defects due to pride that result in failure to completely submit to God's perfect will.).

confidently abandoned to your mysterious plans of salvation — God has thoroughly laid out His plans for salvation in Sacred Scripture. These plans are only mysterious to those who live apart from faith.

"love and peace" — All to often these words, Love and Peace, are taken out of the context of Sacred Scripture and humanistically applied. The term "love" when properly used means to be fully submissive to God according to the tenants of the Great Commandment:
a. First: One must love God completely giving preeminence to Him in everything.
b. Next: Each person must accept that in relation to God all are equal. No one has advantage over another due to environment, gifts, physical condition, race, sex, or social status [Act 10:34]. While bodily circumstances vary greatly, the spirit person we are has been created perfectly equal to each and every other spirit person. At inception and throughout life no one, in relation to God, has advantage over another. Each person must accept and overcome his or her own tribulations and trials in this life to be accepted into an eternal loving relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Proper recognition of human spiritual equality serves to advance God's people in this life and brings greater eternal reward to those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Human peace is not God's peace. True peace is with God. Mt. 10:34; Jn. 14:27, 16:33;
"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." [Mt. 5:10]
A worthy servant of God does not expect humanistic peace on the basis of desire.

We exist in this life to face and overcome challenges, not to lead a life

of bliss that is to be followed immediately by eternal happiness.

The hardships of life are meant for spiritual growth or spiritual correction.}

Jesus responded, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:

'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me;

In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.' [Mk. 7:6-7]

Antichrist One can Legally but not Morally be Pope Fatima Prophesy

Make All Things Right with God

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