Letter on reconciliation

ANDREAS PELTZER, A CATHOLIC THEOLOGIAN, WRITES:

In his last book Church and State in Namibia: A Critical Review the late Gerhard Tötemeyer writes: “The Church cannot escape its task to take on ethical responsibility and consciously deal with a morally and politically sick society.” P21 

The Churches have a special role with regard to reconciliation about the genocide, atrocities before independence and current injustices. Often, these challenges are reduced to justice and peace among the living population.

But the Churches aim at nothing less than healing the whole of history. One may speak of a vertical responsibility towards forgiveness and reconciliation. 

In an interview in the year 2000 the agnostic Jew and philosopher Jacques Derrida explained that the Holocaust is unforgivable. At the same time, forgiveness only really exists for the unforgivable. Forgiveness is impossible. It can only happen if the impossible happens.

But it is not the role of the great-grandchildren to ask for or offer forgiveness. The real reconciliation has to take place one day amongst the great-grandparents. 

Religious culture has to stress this necessity and possibility against political or material purposes. 

Absolute forgiveness – possible only in the Absolute – is a mystery of faith and thought (Psalm 138). Faith and grace transcend time – the sin can be annihilated if truth prevails. 

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) shall be the guide towards the fullness of time – against any fear. Thus the Churches have a special socio-spiritual task towards reconciliation and representation of the hurt who shall never be forgotten.

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