Fr. Jerry Pokorsky: The Pedagogy of Forgiveness

By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky, Catholic Culture, Feb 24, 2025

Fr. Jerry Pokorsky is a priest of the Diocese of Arlington who has also served as a financial administrator in the Diocese of Lincoln. Trained in business and accounting, he also holds a Master of Divinity and a Master’s in moral theology. Father Pokorsky co-founded both CREDO and Adoremus, two organizations deeply engaged in authentic liturgical renewal. He writes regularly for a number of Catholic websites and magazines.

The driving theme of The Godfather movie is summed up in the line: “Tell Mike it [Sonny’s betrayal] was only business.” But in matters of injustice, everything is personal, provoking acts of retribution. Most of us favor receiving forgiveness, but granting forgiveness, after suffering a personal offense or insult, is—like courage—far more enigmatic.

We see God’s mercy and forgiveness throughout the Scriptures. Cain murders Abel out of envy, and God catches him in the act. God punishes him by sending him to wander, but He spares him. He places the “mark of Cain” on him to warn others not to mess with his life.

God destroys the world for its wickedness with the great flood but saves Noah and his family. As the flood subsides and nature returns to normal, God places a rainbow in the sky as a covenant of His everlasting love.  …

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