A week or two ago, the Register ran a piece on the death of Dr. Bernard Nathanson. In the comboxes, somebody asked if he could really be forgiven the horrible things he had done as an abortionist. What followed was a huge outpouring of emphatic mercy for Dr. Nathanson, coupled with a lot of good solid catechesis for the troubled reader on just how huge the vast range of God’s mercy is, what the effects of baptism are, and the immensity of hope this gives us as we struggle with our own sins.

It was a long, gentle and hopeful conversation, and I came away from it thinking how rare and beautiful it is to see a real conversation about mercy—genuine mercy—in today’s culture. It’s a cold, miserable unforgiving world out there and it warmed my heart like the glow of a hearth to see one Catholic after another stepping forward to remind us that the purpose of the Gospel is mercy and forgiveness for the sins of the world.

It’s an easy thing to forget. Thanks to all y’all for reminding me of it and being such beautiful witnesses—as was Dr. Nathanson—to the power of God’s redeeming love.