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dare to hope

Culture of blame or culture of penitence?

6/3/2020

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In To Heal a Fractured World: The Ethics of Responsibility, Jonathan Sacks contrasts a penitential culture with a blame culture.

Penitence involves honestly acknowledging our mistakes, learning from them, and endeavoring to live better lives. We seek reconciliation with God, people, and the earth where needed, and do not waste energy on unnecessary guilt and shame. Mistakes serve a higher purpose when they lead us to new opportunities for good. Our communities benefit as a result.

If we succumb to the temptations of blame culture, we treat ourselves as a victimized object. We pin blame on somebody else and nothing more happens. Energy dissipates. Everyone loses.

We can opt instead for a penitential culture approach, one where we ask, “This happened; what shall I do?” We recognize ourselves as a subject who has choices to make. This can lead us to constructive action, such as calling oppressors to account. We are not distracted from our focus on a better future.

The future can be different from the past. It depends on whether we participate in a culture of blame or a culture of penitence.

Charles Hoffacker
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    authors

    The Rev. Charles Hoffacker is a retired priest of the Diocese of Washington
    who lives in Greenbelt, Maryland. He and his wife Helena Mirtova are members of Ascension and St. Agnes.

    The Rev. Mary McCue, is a vocational deacon and currently ministers at Church of the Ascension and St. Agnes.
    ​
    The Rev. Dominique Peridans is the Rector of Church of the Ascension and St. Agnes. 

    Molly Jane Layton is a seminarian intern at Ascension and St. Agnes. 

    Zach Baker Rodes is a seminarian intern at Ascension and St. Agnes.

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  • Welcome
    • Newcomers >
      • Letter to Inquirers
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • How to Find Us
    • Childcare
  • Who We Are
    • Our Beliefs >
      • Statements of Mission, Vision, Beliefs & Value
      • What is an Anglo-Catholic?
      • Apolitical or Supra Political?
    • Our History
    • Our Leadership >
      • Parish Staff
      • Vestry
  • Worship
    • About our Worship >
      • Attending Mass
      • Music
  • Formation
    • About Formation
    • Adult Formation >
      • Adult Theology Upcoming
      • Adult Theology Archive >
        • Knowing Christ
    • Sermons
  • Connect
    • Contact us
    • Rector's Weekly Letter
    • Pastoral Care >
      • Pastoral Offices >
        • Reconciliation (Confession)
      • Prayer Requests
    • Stewardship >
      • Stewardship Letter
      • Givelify Instructions
      • Planned Giving
      • Endowment Fund
  • Calendar
  • Baptism
  • Outreach
  • Feasibility Study