Could you forgive a clergyperson who, at one time, may have punched you out for not “seeing the light?”
How badly did you get “beaten” by a nun, priest, brother, or other clergy member for the error of your ways?

“To err is human; to forgive, divine” was a saying Alexander Pope (1688-1744) – the English poet - wrote in his An Essay on Criticism, Part II back in 1711.

That’s what Pastor Eric Dammann of the Bible Baptist Church in Hasbrouck Heights is hoping congregants and the public alike will believe following the response to a video that went viral about a sermon in which he talks about “convincing” a young man to “pay attention to the Lord!”

I don’t think you ever forget a beating you caught – whether it be from a parent, or for that matter, any authority figure.

Especially someone acting “in the name of God!”

I could remember having gone to an all-boys Catholic High School in Brooklyn where corporal punishment was the norm.

We expected we’d get hit if we were out of line. And it made you wonder that if someone wearing a cloak signifying “God’s” representative on earth – then he (or she) is acting in “his” name.

Hell of a way to learn about “his” mercy.

(By the way – I use quotes to signify that you may have lost all faith in religion if you were so treated.)

Either way, being treated as such leaves a lasting mark – and not just physical.

Apparently the young man “Ben,” in Pastor Dammann’s story, had a different reaction having since forgiven Pastor Dammann.

I deeply regret my actions of 13 years ago. I do not condone abuse in any form. I chose a very poor example from my past and very poor wording to describe it and deeply regret using it. By viewing the clip it is certainly understandable how outraged people are. I acted out in one moment many years ago, it is not how I believe people especially a pastor should act. My actions were not reflective of Christ and the teachings of the Bible. I was wrong, there no excuses to be made. I was forgiven by Ben many years ago and can only ask the same from my church, community and the world.

Sincerely,
Eric Dammann

Perhaps “Ben” is a bigger person than me. I doubt I’d be so forgiving!

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