By Joan Frawley Desmond, National Catholic Register - “No one can offer general absolution to the whole diocese at once,” Bishop Silva told the Register later, explaining that it was the first time he had done so for a group of the faithful. “But I could offer it to those who were present.”.. Indeed, as he raced from his residence to the chapel, he told himself, “What could be a better way [to prepare for this attack] than to be in Mass and then receive absolution?”