A Twisted View of Justice and Forgiveness

Sharon at The Brazos de Dios Cantina had to sit through one sorry sermon...on 9/11 of all days. I don't blame her for being angry at this priest's drivel. Basically, this guy was saying that we should forgive 9/11 because, well, we had it coming:

I was angry, angry that little young heads had to hear that forgiveness viewing what happened as justice for not giving enough to people who needed it, and not being kind and forgiving enough. Angry that young heads full of mush would see 9-11 as justified action against a people who have a two-by-four in their eyes. Angry that no word of what good has come out of all of this. "A wake up call!" the priest said, as if we were still inured in our own arrogance when it happened, and now we need to forgive them, because after all, we deserved it.

(Strange how those who spout this garbage never call for those who are angry at America for whatever reason to forgive us. Why is the call for forgiveness a one-way street?)

Sharon then pretty much nails down the meaning of forgiveness:

Because *I* believe it means not letting hatred ruin the day or for your joy in God's love. Forgiveness means acknowledging what is right and wrong and responding correctly to it, but it also means not letting hatred keep you hostage.

Forgiveness does not negate the need for justice. This priest and many like him seem to think justice means vengeance, but that is not the case. I just think it's very telling that he thinks the terrorists' vengeance is justified, whereas America's alleged vengeance is not.