[TheGunny]

I couldnt agree more. The absence of shame is why we are where we are as a country and a church.

[Tax-chick]

"Walking in darkness means being overly pleased with ourselves, believing that we do not need salvation. That is darkness! ...

That interpretation is a bit of a surprise, but it does fit in the context of the rest of the letter.

[G Larry]

As further proof, consider that while Dem’s have no shame, they are quite happy to shine the light on conservatives who fall short of conservative values.

[I want the USA back]

Shame has largely left the country.
So has outrage over moral wrongs.

[Slyfox]

The red face of shame is proof that the conscience is still operational.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Hear, hear!

[yldstrk]

oh no try to convince any of today’s psychologists of this TRUTH

[MDLION]

I wish there were more of this type of emphasis on mercy when I was younger. I was considerably damaged by a Jansenistic spirit which too often prevailed among parents, confessors, priests and nuns. It takes so longer to recover once you get the God of vengeance thing rooted in you. I would appreciate the prayers of anyone here who prays on a regular basis.

[Elsie]

Sorry; but SHAME; like it's cousin Common Sense; died a LONG time ago in America.

Self Esteem, however, is flourishing.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Moreover, being ashamed of our sins is not only natural, it’s a virtue that helps prepare us for God's forgiveness.

I agree. (I am sure the Bishop of Rome is thrilled by this) :)

Shame is necessary, normal and natural.

We have to have the ability to be ashamed of ourselves. Being shamed by others may or may not make us ashamed. And that may be a good or bad. But we have to be able to be ashamed of our behavior if we want to have any chance of becoming a decent person.

[boatbums]

The word “confession” has the connotation of “naming it as He names it”, in other words, coming clean with God. If we really understand that NOTHING is hidden before Him and that every secret we have He already knows, then confession, a GOOD confession, entails no rationalization, no justification, no excuses just laying it all on the table whether between us and God OR to a trusted “confessor”. The amazing wonder and beauty is that, when we honestly do this, He IS faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. What a wonderful and loving God we serve!

[denydenydeny]

"But shame is a true Christian virtue, and even human ... the ability to be ashamed: I do not know if there is a similar saying in Italian, but in our country to those who are never ashamed are called “sin vergüenza’: this means ‘the unashamed ', because they are people who do not have the ability to be ashamed and to be ashamed is a virtue of the humble, of the man and the woman who are humble. "

Invariably such people are political leftists , whose self-righteousness erases any possible shame over bad behavior. Michael Moore feels no shame over not paying union wages to his employees because HE CARES ABOUT THE WORKING MAN, DAMMIT! Sean Penn can slap his wife around because HE'S A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED, DAMMIT! It explains why Democrats in power like Clinton and Obama are so shamelessly narcissistic. Guilt and shame are for the unanointed.