Jul 12, 2021
This is Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. We live in a society in which transgressions or misjudgments from many years ago have a way of catching up to us. When one does not atone for their sins—meaning to make amends—the price can be heavy. However, we must be careful in navigating this “cancel culture.” How do we balance a sense of justice with mercy and forgiveness? On one hand, we know that our actions have consequences, often having a spiritual and practical price to pay. The problem with cancel culture is that being unforgiving towards others is simply unjust. Instead of “canceling” others, we should emulate the mercy and forgiveness of God, while upholding justice to our brothers and sisters. This balance is challenging. But no healthy society can exist where there is only “justice” and no mercy.