- “The Church is incapable of forgiving any sin without Christ, and Christ is unwilling to forgive any sin without the Church. The Church cannot forgive the sin of one who has not repented, who has not been touched by Christ; Christ will not forgive the sin of one who despises the Church. What God has joined together, man must not separate. This is a great mystery, but I understand it as referring to Christ and the Church.” — Saint Isaac of Stella
- “Because of forms of conditioning and mitigating factors, it is possible that in an objective situation of sin – which may not be subjectively culpable, or fully such – a person can be living in God’s grace, can love and can also grow in the life of grace and charity, while receiving the Church’s help to this end.(351) /// (351) In certain cases, this can include the help of the sacraments. Hence, “I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber, but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy” (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium [24 November 2013], 44: AAS 105 [2013], 1038). I would also point out that the Eucharist “is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak” (ibid., 47: 1039). — Francis
Thus, what’s his name, Wilton Gregory or something, Archbishop of Washington DC, corrected Joey Biden to say that life does indeed begin at conception. However, at the same time, old Wilt will still be giving Holy Communion to Joe. It’s called the accompaniment by Pope Francis. By any other name it’s called neither recognizing anyone’s moral capacity nor the power of Jesus’ sanctifying grace, you know, from Jesus, who said, “Go, and do not sin again.”
By the way, that citation of Saint Isaac of Stella is fortuitously taken from the Novus Ordo Liturgy of the Hours for this very day. ;-)
ARISE! LET US BE GOING! 
So there is a comparable matrimony between forgiveness and repentance, as the Church and Christ. So justice and mercy kiss in matrimony. I’m sure I’ve clumsily stated it.
Justice and mercy kiss on the cross.
Thank you, Father!
I liked the comment of Phil Lawler at Catholic Culture on Cardinal Gregory’s correction of Biden. Lawler picked up a subtle problem in what the Cardinal said– while the Church teaches that human life begins at conception, it teaches that because it is a scientific fact, not open to debate or disagreement. It can be proven, as I learned in seventh-grade science class with a Jewish science teacher in a public school in the 1970’s before the truth was chased out of the public schools altogether. When the cardinal says that “the Church teaches it,” he leaves open the possibility that some other church or those of no church could teach something different and possibly be right. Our leaders really need to be more careful and forceful about what they say about abortion.
Exactly. A matter of Natural Law.