An apology, most of the time, can be almost as annoying as the act that warranted it in the first place. However, when it is backed with actions, it’s more acceptable. A former religious right activist joined the Minnesota anti-ICE protest despite the cold to make up for the damage he had caused for years.
In a video posted on X, the man, Rev. Rob Schenck, explained, “I’m making up for errors of my past.” Shedding more light on the statement, he recounted that he had spent thirty-five years as an activist on the religious right, causing “a lot of damage” and “helping to deliver the entities that are now inflicting all of this suffering on all these people.”
The reverend added that during that time, he had contradicted the very message he thought he stood for. “So now I have to do that work of repair. And it came too late,” he admitted. However, he stated that he was ready to make amends for the “decades of harm and injury” by joining the protests. He added that the people he met at the protests were more “gracious” than himself and the “so-called Christian leaders.” He admitted that they had welcomed him with “so much grace” that he would not have extended to them years ago. “This is redemption,” he concluded.
“I genuinely feel for this guy. It must be a horrible thing to realize that what you have spent your life doing was wrong,” someone empathized in the comments. “What a wonderful story! That’s a brave and humble man to speak out,” another added. Many more netizens extended grace to the reverend. “A man smart enough to realize he worked against the freedom of the people, the Republic, and the rule of law. He stands corrected,” one wrote commending him. “We forgive you, Rev. We need to come together, forgive each other, and pray together to defeat this evil that has overtaken America like a flood,” another said.
A user said, “This is really great to see. It’s important to show grace to people like this. We have to appreciate the honesty, humility, change, and action.” A second one noted, “This is an honorable and welcome step. He may never be able to make up for the damage he’s fine, but knowing that and still doing better is admirable.” Another wrote, “Never too late. We are allowed to evolve.” One netizen wrote, “Meanwhile, those other ‘Christians’ are still following false prophets and have absolutely zero self-awareness about it.”
As expected, some people did not completely buy into it. “I’m glad he’s seen the light, but I’m not feeling especially gracious or forgiving at this point. Decades, and he didn’t realize the evil he was working with? He couldn’t see they were only interested in power? On money? I don’t wish him ill will, but I’m hesitant to believe,” one wrote. “Damn nice wake up. It took 35 years. You need an ounce of redemption. The money you made must be donated,” another chimed in.
