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Good morning. “Some people are unforgivable.” So writes the Rev Dr Stephen Cherry, Dean of King’s College Cambridge, in his recent book Unforgivable? Christianity has got forgiveness wrong; even, “when it comes to forgiveness God takes second place to the victim.” Forgiveness must be optional, Dr Cherry claims, or it isn’t forgiveness at all. In the New Statesman this week he reiterates: repentance must not be request. Forgiveness cannot be demanded in exchange for remorse. This week Paul Gadd, Gary Glitter to you and me, was ordered to pay half a million pounds in compensation. A staggering sum. Which many may feel inadequate on the most cursory calculation. Given that this victim (one of many) – twelve when he raped her in 1977 – has never been able to work. Senior abuse lawyer Richard Scorer, her solicitor, says the case still keeps him awake at night. “The sexual abuse she suffered was horrific. I’ve dealt with many appalling cases: this is one of the worst. Sometimes the idea of forgiveness is utterly irrelevant. We need to keep children safe.” We’re taught to pray, “Our Father, forgive us as we forgive others…” If we don’t, I’ve often heard preached, we can’t find forgiveness ourselves. A powerful lever indeed. So forgiveness has often been weaponised, coerced, enforced; victims sometimes made to feel more guilty than perpetrators for demonstrating inadequate acceptance. Is this really what Jesus meant, when he said Peter must forgive seventy times seven? But He Himself often didn’t. Someone who abuses the Holy Spirit, He said, will never find forgiveness… even to the end of time. Theologians can agonise down the centuries as to what this dreadful offence could be, but they can’t alter the inescapable: some of us are unforgivable. So where does this leave me, wicked as I am? Perhaps even more shocking than those Jesus condemned are those He didn’t. Forget the great and good, religious leaders and righteous examples. Think swindlers, the immoral and the frankly evil. Executed alongside Him was a ruthless and violent criminal not worthy of a name. But he acknowledged his guilt. And God’s goodness. Remember me, he said, when you come into your kingdom. Thus, even the murderer was forgiven. The most despicable penitent can be reinstated, the most virtuous proud remain convicted. Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. Not always our actions, but our attitudes condemn us.