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On misunderstanding grace and forgiveness in Fountain Hills

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There’s a particular bitterness among some in town who, having convinced themselves of their own moral superiority, constantly obsess over Allen Skillicorn like medieval inquisitors hunting heretics. It’s a fascinating ritual to watch — especially when performed by those who mock faith while demanding to define it.

At a recent council meeting, a majority of members rightfully voted to lift the sanctions against Councilmember Skillicorn. Calls for grace and forgiveness were offered — and predictably, met with fury. Some seemed less interested in forgiveness than in maintaining outrage.

In opinion letters attacking Skillicorn, one particularly passionate critic singled me out by name, insisting that I explain grace. Happy to oblige!

Grace, not perfection, is the Christian standard. As it is written: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Grace is not a transaction earned by flawless behavior; it’s a gift divinely offered — to the undeserving, which is to say, to all of us. Grace flows one way — from God. Forgiveness, however, can be a human act.

The local critics miss this, of course. To them, forgiveness is not a sacred act but a political tool invoked only when convenient. They demand confessions not for healing but for humiliation. They do not offer forgiveness — they seek revenge.

It’s easier, I suppose, to rage endlessly at Allen Skillicorn than to confront one’s own desperate need for mercy. Easier to stone the sinner than to examine the hardness of one’s own heart.

To paraphrase G.K. Chesterton: “A saint is not someone who is good, but who knows he is not good and trusts in God.” Grace requires humility and is always offered — even to those too proud to recognize the need for it. Whether it is accepted is another matter entirely.

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