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Dear catholic.com visitors: This website from Catholic Answers, with all its many resources, is the world's largest source of explanations for Catholic beliefs and practices. A fully independent, lay-run, 501(c)(3) ministry that receives no funding from the institutional Church, we rely entirely on the generosity of everyday people like you to keep this website going with trustworthy , fresh, and relevant content. If everyone visiting this month gave just $1, catholic.com would be fully funded for an entire year. Do you find catholic.com helpful? Please make a gift today. SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR NEW MONTHLY DONATIONS! Thank you and God bless.

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Making Amends for Sexual Misconduct

Question:

What is the appropriate reparation to the community for sexual misconduct?

Answer:

The Christian community doesn’t need to know about your sexual misconduct, nor does the larger community. To make amends, if possible, repent to those with whom you have engaged in sexual misconduct, receive sacramental absolution in confession, and then live a chaste life and encourage others to do so by your words and deeds.

If you’ve committed crimes via your sexual misbehavior, turn yourself in to the police as well.

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