Reconciliation Resources

Please refer to the following resources we and our partner organizations offer:

Sacred Scripture
Programs
Organizations
Reflections
Bibliography

Sacred Scripture

Compassion \| Compassionate \| Forgive \| Forgiven \| Forgiveness \| Forgives \| Forgiving \| Reconcile \| Reconciled \| Reconciliation \| Reconciling
Compassion
	2 Kings	13:23	compassion because of his covenant with Abraham,
	2 Chronicles	36:15	had compassion on his people
	1 Maccabees	3:44	to pray and implore mercy and compassion
	2 Maccabees	7:6	and he truly has compassion on us,
	Psalms	25:6	Remember that your compassion O Lord,
		40:12	Withhold not, O Lord, your compassion from me,
		51:3	greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
		77:10	Does he in anger withhold his compassion?”
		79:8	may your compassion quickly come to us,
		103:4	he crowns you with kindness and compassion,
		103:13	on his children, so the Lord has compassion
		106:46	for them compassion from all who held them captive
		119:77	Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
		119:156	Your compassion is great.
	Proverbs	19:17	who has compassion on the poor lends to the Lord,
	Jeremiah	13:14	I will show no compassion
	Ezekiel	16:5	or compassion to do any of these things for you.
	Daniel	9:9	O lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!
	Hosea	13:14	My eyes are closed to compassion
		14:4	for in you the orphans finds compassion”
	Micah	7:19	And will gain have compassion on us,
	Hebrews	3:2	in your wrath remember compassion
	Zecharia	7:9	show kindness and compassion toward each other.
	Malachi	3:7	And will again have compassion on us,
		3:17	I will have compassion on them
		3:17	as a man has compassion on his son
	Matthew	20:34	Moved with compassion
	Luke	10:37	the one who treated him with compassion.”
	Phillipians	2:1	love can give, of fellowship in spirit, compassion

Compassionate
	Exodus	22:26	for I am compassionate
	2 Chronicles	30:9	for merciful and compassionate is the Lord,
	Nehemiah	9:17	a God of pardons, gracious and compassionate.
	Psalms	145:9	good to all and compassionate toward all his works
	Sirach	2:11	compassionate and merciful is the Lord;
	Lamentations	4:10	hands of compassionate women boiled their own
	Luke	6:36	“Be compassionate, as your Father is compassionate.”
	Ephesians	4:32	be kind to one another, compassionate
	James	5:11	seen what the Lord, who is compassionate and merciful,

Forgive
	Genesis	32:21	when I face him, perhaps he will forgive me.”
		50:17	forgive the criminal wrongdoing
		50:17	Please therefore, forgive the crime
	Exodus	10:17	But now, do forgive me my sin once more,
		23:21	against him, for he will not forgive your sin.
		32:32	If you would only forgive their sin!
	Joshua	24:19	not forgive your transgressions
	Judges	19:3	went after her to forgive her and take her back.
	1 Samuel	15:25	Now forgive my sin,
		25:28	forgive the transgression of your handmaid,
	2 Samuel	24:10	But now, Lord, forgive the guild of your servant,
	1 Kings	8:34	and forgive the sin of your people Israel,
		8:36	listen in heaven and forgive the sin of
		8:39	from your heavenly dwelling place and forgive
		8:50	forgive your people their sins and all the
	2 Kings	5:18	I trust the Lord will forgive your servant this:
		5:18	May the Lord forgive your servant
		24:4	he filled Jerusalem, the Lord would not forgive
	2 Chronicles	6:25	and forgive the sin of your people Israel,
		6:30	from your heavenly dwelling place, and forgive
		6:39	forgive your people who have sinned against you.
	Sirach	5:6	my many sins he will forgive
		28:2	forgive your neighbor's injustice;
		28:5	flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins?
		34:19	their many sacrifices does he forgive their sins.
	Jeremiah	18:23	forgive not their crime,
		31:34	for I will forgive their evildoing and remember
		33:8	sinned and rebelled against me, I will forgive
		36:3	I may forgive their wickedness and their sin
		50:20	for I will forgive the remnant I preserve.
	Hosea	14:3	Say to him, forgive all iniquity,
	Amos	7:2	Forgive, O Lord God!
		7:8	I will forgive them no longer.
		8:2	I will forgive them no longer.
	Jonah	3:9	Who knows, God may relent and forgive,
	Matthew	6:12	forgive us the wrong we have done as we forgive
		6:14	“If you forgive the faults of others,
		6:14	your heavenly Fathers will forgive you yours,
		6:15	If you do not forgive others,
		6:15	others, neither will your Father forgive you.
		9:6	has authority on earth to forgive sins”
		18:21	how often must I forgive him?
	Mark	2:7	Who can forgive sins except God alone?”
		2:10	to forgive sins”
		11:25	forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance
		11:25	Father may in turn forgive you your faults.”
	Luke	5:21	Who can forgive sins but God alone?
		5:24	has authority on earth to forgive sins”
		11:4	forgive us our sins for we too forgive all who
		17:3	if he repents, forgive him.
		17:4	back to you saying, ‘I am sorry,' forgive him.”
		23:34	“Father, forgive them;
	John	20:23	If you forgive men's sins,
	2 Corinthians	2:10	If you forgive a man anything, so do I.
		12:13	forgive me this injustice!
	Colossians	3:13	forgive whatever grievances
		3:13	forgive as the Lord has forgiven you.
	Hebrews	8:12	I will forgive their evildoing.
	1 John	1:9	forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrong.

Forgiven
	Leviticus	4:20	atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.
		4:26	for the prince's sin, and it will be forgiven
		4:31	make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.
		4:35	for the man's sin, and it will be forgiven.
		5:10	sin the man committed, and it will be forgiven.
		5:13	any of the above cases, and it will be forgive
		5:16	the guilt-offering ram, and he will be forgiven.
		5:18	unwittingly committed, and it will be forgiven.
		5:26	be forgiven whatever guilt he may
		19:22	sin he has committed, and it will be forgiven him.
	Numbers	14:19	as you have forgiven them from Egypt
		15:25	thus they will be forgiven the inadvertence
		15:26	the aliens residing among you, shall be forgiven.
		15:28	has been made for him, he will be forgiven.
	2 Samuel	12:13	The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin:
	Psalms	85:3	You have forgiven the guild of your people;
	Sirach	21:1	and for your past sins pray to be forgiven
		27:21	A wound can be bound up, and an insult forgiven
		28:2	when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven
	Isaiah	33:24	who live there will be forgiven their guilt.
	Lamentations	3:42	you have not forgiven us.
	Matthew	9:2	Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.
		9:5	Your sins are forgiven
		12:31	every sin, every blasphemy, will be forgiven men,
		12:31	blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven
		12:32	anything against the Son of Man will be forgiven
		12:32	anything against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
	Mark	2:5	My son, your sins are forgiven. (Paralyzed man)
		2:9	Your sins are forgiven. (Paralytic)
		3:28	every sin will be forgiven mankind
		3:29	against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven
		4:12	lest perhaps they repent and be forgiven
	Luke	5:20	“My friend, your sins are forgiven you.”
		5:23	easier to say, Your sins are forgiven you
		7:47	Little is forgiven the one whose love is small.”
		7:48	He said to her the, “Your sins are forgiven.”
		12:10	speaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven
		12:10	blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven
	John	20:23	if you forgive men's sins, they are forgiven them.
	Acts	2:38	of Jesus Christ, that your sins may be forgiven;
	Romans	4:7	“Blest are they whose iniquities are forgiven
	Ephesians	1:7	that we have been redeemed and our sins forgiven.
		4:32	forgiving, just as god has forgiven you

Forgiveness
	Psalms	130:4	But with you is forgiveness
	Sirach	5:5	Of forgiveness be not overconfident,
		13:3	the poor man is wronged and begs forgiveness
		17:24	his forgiveness of those who return to him!
	Deuteronomy	9:9	our God, are compassion and forgiveness!
	Matthew	26:28	in behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins
	Mark	1:4	of repentance which led to the forgiveness of sins.
	Luke	3:3	of repentance which led to the forgiveness of sins,
	Acts	5:31	bring repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
		10:43	in him has forgiveness of sins through his name.
		13:38	the forgiveness of sins in being proclaimed
	Colossians	1:14	we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
	Hebrews	9:22	the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
	James	5:15	has committed any sins, forgiveness will be his.

Forgives
	Sirach	2:11	he forgives sins
		16:11	anger alike are with him who remits and forgives
		18:10	and so he forgives them all the more.
	Matthew	18:35	each of you forgives his brother from his heart.
	Luke	7:49	Who is this that he even forgives sins?

Forgiving
	Exodus	34:7	and forgiving wickedness and crime
	Numbers	14:18	rich in kindness, forgiving wickedness
	Psalms	86:5	For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving
		99:8	a forgiving God you were to them,
	Isaiah	55:7	to our God, who is generous in forgiving
	2 Corinthians	2:10	Forgiving I have done has been for your sakes
	Ephesians	4:32	compassionate, and mutually forgiving

Reconcile
	Acts	7:26	tried to reconcile them by saying:
	Colossians	1:20	to reconcile everything in his person,

Reconciled
	2 Samual	13:39	as he became reconciled to the death of Amnon
	2 Maccabees	1:5	hear your prayers, and be reconciled to you,
		5:20	once the great Sovereign became reconciled.
		7:33	he will again be reconciled with his servants.
		8:29	to be completely reconciled with his servants.
	Sirach	22:22	fear not, you can be reconciled.
	Matthew	5:24	go first to be reconciled with your brother.
	Romans	5:10	we were reconciled to him by the death of his son,
		5:10	who have been reconciled will be saved by his life.
	1 Corinthians	7:11	remain single or become reconciled to him again.
	2 Corinthians	5:18	who has reconciled us to himself through Christ
		5:20	be reconciled to God!

Reconciliation
	Romans	5:11	through whom we have now reconciliation.
		11:15	their rejection has meant reconciliation for the world,
	2 Corinthians	5:18	and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
		5:19	he has entrusted the message or reconciliation to us.
	Colossians	1:22	reconciliation for you in his mortal body
Reconciling
	2 Corinthians	5:19	in Christ, was reconciling the world to himself,
	Ephesians	2:16	reconciling both of us to God in one body

Programs

Catholics Returning Home – A Ministry of Compassion and Reconciliation
CRH is a parish-based program designed to reach out and invite practicing/inactive Catholics to return “Home to the Catholic Church” and resume active practicing of their faith.

Landings International, A Paulist Ministry for Returning Catholics
Since 1988, Landings International is welcoming returning Catholics back as active members in the local parishes. It also provides an evangelizing mission for active Catholics who open their hearts to those who have been away from the Church.

Once Catholic via Internet
This Franciscan Friars program at St. Anthony Messenger seeks to help people reconnect with a local Catholic faith community. The program does this by offering: information, opportunities for interaction with others, personal responses and referral to “Come Home” programs within the Catholic Church in the US.

RUaH
RUaH is a prayer- and scripture-centered group of Roman Catholics who seek to
understand the clergy sexual abuse crisis, and to discern our role in
advocating Reconciliation, Understanding and Healing (RUaH) of our Church
and of victim/survivors. For more information or if you wish to start a RUaH
group contact:

Paula Gonzales Rohrbacher
RUaH Coordinator
ikon@alaska.net
907.364.1599

Trauma Recovery Program: Healing the Mind, Body, & Spirit
TRP is a treatment response to adult survivors of childhood abuse and neglect. This program was established by Trauma Recovery Associates (TRA) to instruct mental health practitioners and spiritual caregivers about this particular trauma. TRA receives funding in order to provide training at little or no cost for community and faith-based organizations. For more information contact:

Trauma Recovery Associates
4005 Canterbury
Kalamazoo, MI 49006
269.381.0769
sgfroom@msn.com

Organizations

Catholic Organizations

Catholic Common Ground Initiative – CCGI
Since 1996, CCGI originated in a concern that unnecessarily polarizing differences among church leaders and members hinder efforts to build the church community and to carry out its mission. The ongoing work of the Catholic Common Ground Initiative represents both a call to renewed dialogue within the church and an effort to undertake and exemplify that kind of dialogue.

North American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics – NACSDC
Since 1994, NACSDC is committed to the healing and recovery of those who have experienced separation and divorce.

Trauma Recovery Associates (TRA)
TRA is comprised of mental health professionals with experience treating adult survivors of childhood abuse and neglect. Core concepts of the internationally recognized Trauma Model, situated in the ambience of prayer are used. Its application can be either from a purely psycho educational perspective, or in a faith-based context. For more information contact:

Trauma Recovery Associates
4005 Canterbury
Kalamazoo, MI 49006
269.381.0769
sgfroom@msn.com

Ecumenical & Interfaith

The Faith and Politics Institute
Since 1991, the Faith and Politics Institute provides bipartisan, bridge-building opportunities for political leaders to experience the spiritual power of conscience, courage, and compassion.

The Fellowship of Reconciliation - FOR
Since 1915, FOR seeks to replace violence, wasr, racism, and economic injustice with nonviolence, peace, and justice. FOR is an interfaith organization committed to active nonviolence as a transforming way of life and as a means of radical change.

International Forgiveness Institute
Since 1994, the International Forgiveness Institute is dedicated to helping people gain knowledge about forgiveness and to use that knowledge for personal, group, and societal renewal. IFI was an outgrowth of the social scientific research done at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 1985 by Robert Enright and his colleagues. Professor Enright was looking for a way to disseminate the findings of that research, and the research and writings by others exploring forgiveness, to interested people in all walks of life. The IFI has served as that forum ever since.

Reflections

Every human being has the right to freedom of movement and of residence within the confines of his own country; and, when there are just reasons for it, the right to emigrate to other countries and take up residence there. The fact that one is a citizen of a particular State does not detract in any way from his membership in the human family as a whole, nor from his citizenship in the world community.

Pope John XXIII, Peace on Earth/Pacem in Terris, #25

Bibliography

See entries sourced from:
The Holy See | USCCB | General sources

Documents from the Holy See

Pope Benedict XVI. God is Love (Deus Caritas Est), Vatican City/Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 2006
Pope John Paul II. Rich in Mercy (Dives in Misericordia). Vatican City/Washington, D.C.:USCC, 1981.
Pope John XXIII. Peace on Earth (Pacem in Terris), Vatican City/Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 1962, 2002.

USCCB Publications

Forgiveness International Politics, William Bole, Drew Christiansen, Robert Hennemeyer. USCCB, 2004, Publication #5-574
Go and Make Disciples, A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States. Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 2002 Publication #5-475. (English/Spanish bilingual edition)
Committees on African American Catholics and on Hispanic Affairs. Reconciled Through Christ, On .Reconciliation and Greater Collaboration Between Hispanic American Catholics and African American Catholics. Washington, DC: USCC, Publications No. 5-025, 1997. (English/Spanish bilingual edition)
Heritage and Hope/Evangelization in the United States. Washington, D.C.: USCC, 1990.
Committee on Black Catholics. Here I am, Send Me. A Conference Response to the Evangelization of African Americans and The National Black Catholic Pastoral Plan. Washington, D.C.: USCC, 1989.

General

Aridas, Chris. Reconciliation: Celebrating God's Healing Forgiveness. Garden City, NY: Image Books, A Division of Doubleday & Co., 1985.
Augsburger, David. The Freedom of Forgiveness. Chicago: Moody Press, 1988.
(Mr. Augsburger is a Mennonite clergyman and professor of theology.)
Barbernitz, Patricia. Parish Ministry for Returning Catholics. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1993.
Bausch, William. While You were Gone: A Handbook for Returning Catholics and those thinking about it. Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1994.
Burke, Harriet, Bill Edens, Ken McGuire and Maggie Stapp. People, Promise & Community. New York and Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 1997.
Catholic Common Ground Initiative. Resources for Dialogue. New York, NY: National Pastoral Life Center, 2006.
Champlin, Joseph. The Marginal Catholic: Challenge, Don't Crush. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1989.
Crichton, J.D. The Ministry of Reconciliation: A Commentary on the Order of Penance. Great Britain, UK, 1974.
Cunningham, Lawrence. Faith Rediscovered: Coming Home to Catholicism. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1987.
Dallen, James and Favazza, Joseph. Removing the Barriers: The Practice of Reconciliation. Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 1991.
Davidson, James, Andrea Williams, Richard Lamanna, Jan Stenftenagel, Kathleen Weigert, William Whalen and Patricia Wittberg, SC. The Search for Common Ground, What Unites and Divides Catholic Americans. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 1997.
Donnelly, Doris. Learning to Forgive. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1979.
(This is a Christian approach to forgiveness.)
Donovan, Vincent. Christianity Rediscovered. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1978.
Duquin, Loren Hanley. Could You Ever Come Back to the Catholic Church. New York, NY: Alba House, 1997.
Enright, Robert and Joanna North (eds.). Exploring Forgiveness. Madison, WI: UW Press, 1998. (This is a compilation of papers presented at the 1995 UW International Conference on Forgiveness.)
Finley, Mitch. The Seeker's Guide to Being Catholic. Chicago, IL: Loyola Press, 1997.
Fitzgerald, William J. Stories of Coming Home. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press 1997.
Gallagher, Michael. What Are They Saying About Unbelief? Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1995.
Greeley, Andrew. Crisis in the Church: A Study of Religion in America. Chicago, IL: Thomas More Press, 1979.
Greeley, Andrew. The Catholic Myth: The Behavior and Beliefs of American Catholics. New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1990.
Grgic, Bob. Reconciliation: Prayers of Healing and Forgiveness - a Youth Ministry Handbook. Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1992.
Hahn, Scott and Hahn, Kimberly. Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 1993.
Harmony, Sarah. Re-Membering/The Ministry of Welcoming Alienated and Inactive Catholics. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991.
Hart, Thomas. Spiritual Quest, A Guide to the Changing Landscape. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1999.
Hellwig, Monika. Sign of Reconciliation and Conversion: The Sacrament of Penance for Our Times. Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier, Inc., 1984.
Helmick, SJ, Raymond and Rodney Petersen. Forgiveness and Reconciliation, Religion, Public Policy and Conflict Transformation. Philadelphia, PA: Templeton Foundation Press, 2001.
Herzig, Maggie and Laura Chasin. Fostering Dialogue Across Divides, A Nuts and Bolts Guide. Watertown, MA: Public Conversations Project, 2006.
Higgans, Gregory. Where do YOU Stand? Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1995.
Hinze, Bradford. Practices of Dialogue in the Roman Catholic Church, Aims and Obstacles, Lessons and Laments. New York and London: Continuum, 2006.
Hoge, Dean. Converts, Dropouts, and Returnees. Washington, DC: USCC, 1981.
Kemp, Carrie. Catholics Can Come Home Again!: A Guide for the Journey of Reconciliation with Inactive Catholics Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2002.
Kemp, Carrie and Donald Pologruto, Catholics Coming Home/A Handbook for Churches Reaching Out to Inactive Catholics. San Francisco, California: Harper San Francisco, 1990.
Kennedy, Robert, Reconciling Embrace, Foundations for the Future of Sacramental Reconciliation.Chicago, IL. Liturgy Training Publications, 1998.
Klein, Rabbi Charles. How to Forgive When You Can't Forget. Bellmore, NY: Liebling Press, 1995.
Larson, Earnie. From Anger to Forgiveness. New York: Hazelden Books, 1992.
(This is a 12-step approach.)
McKee, William, CSSR. How to Reach Out to Inactive Catholics. Laager, MO: Laager Publications, 1982.
McKenna, Megan. Christ All Merciful. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2002.
Meeds, Blair. Ritual and Reconciliation. Washington, DC: Liturgical Conference, 1991.
Mick, Lawrence. Penance: The Once and Future Sacrament. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1987.
Osborne, Kenyan. Reconciliation and Justification: The Sacrament and Its Theology. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1990.
Petri, Gary, Nancy Fogey and Sr. Marian Klostermann, O.S.F. An Outreach Program for Inactive Catholics / WE MISS YOU. Kansas City, MO.: Archdiocese of Omaha, Sheed & Ward, 1993.
Raybon, Patricia. My First White Friend. New York, NY: Viking Press, 1996.
(Ms. Raybon is an African-American journalism professor who offers a beautifully articulated personal journey of forgiveness.)
Rolheiser, Ronald. Forgotten Among the Lilies, Learning to Love Beyond Our Fears. New York, NY: Doubleday, 2005.
Rolheiser, Ronald. The Shattered Lantern, Rediscovering A Felt Presence of God. New York, NY: Crossroad Publishing Company, 2004.
Smedes, Lewis. Forgive and Forget. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1996.
(This is a Christian approach and a classic in the field of interpersonal forgiveness.)
Smedes, Lewis. The Art of Forgiving. Nashville: Moorings, a division of Random House, 1996.
Sofield, ST, Loughlan, Carroll Juliano, SHCJ and Bishop Gregory Aymond. Facing Forgiveness, A Catholic's Guide to Letting Go of Anger and Welcoming Reconciliation. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 2007.
Sullivan, Francis. Creative Fidelity: Weighing and Interpreting Documents of the Magisterium. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1996.
Tobin, Fr. Eamon. How to Forgive Yourself and Others. Ligouri, MO: Ligouri Publications, 1993.
Wakefield, Dan. Returning: A Spiritual Journey. New York, NJ: Doubleday, 1987
Weldon, Michael. A Struggle for Holy Ground: Reconciliation and the Rites of Parish Closure. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2004.

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