BY LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
While local religious leaders were struck by President Clinton's request for forgiveness at a national prayer breakfast Friday at the White House, many remain disappointed in the president's misdeeds and lies to his family and the American people.
"It's not just a case of forgiving what he's done. I think we all can do that," said Rabbi Arthur Flicker, president of the Cincinnati Board of Rabbis. "It's a case of regaining our trust, which is going to be hard to do."
"I hope that I will be able to forgive him," added Rabbi Julie Schwartz, who teaches pastoral counseling at Hebrew Union College. "But I will not forget this."
Father Tom Sacksteder of Mary Queen of Heaven Church in Erlanger said the president seems to be going "down the correct path in seeking repentance and also understanding what the whole process of repentance means."
But that process will take a while, he said.
"It's a situation that he's fallen into the gap that so many people do when they fail to see a connection between their faith journey and living their religion," Father Sacksteder said. Rabbi Schwartz and other religious leaders locally said the best course for Mr. Clinton to take is to be as completely honest with the American people.
"In order to be ultimately forgiven, he must be completely honest with all of us in ways that are ultimately painful and unpleasant," Rabbi Schwartz said. "Unfortunately, he has to suffer through the pain and the embarrassment, and he has to do it graciously."
Truth and healing
As distasteful as the disclosure of the president's misdeeds has been, the Rev. Rousseau O'Neal agreed that Mr. Clinton should "let the river of truth flow."
The Rev. Mr. O'Neal, pastor of Rockdale Baptist Church in Avondale, said his congregation has prayed regularly for the president and all the elected officials who must deal with his problems, and they will continue to do just that.
"We will continue to intercede on his behalf for the healing of himself and the healing of his family," he said. "Anyone could kick someone when they're down, but it takes faithful followers of Christ to help a person up."
While the secular consequences of Mr. Clinton's actions remain to be determined, some local clergy hold out hope that he can become a better person.
"It seems to me that he has been moving through a genuine and very painful process of repentance and growth," added the Rev. Sam Roberson, general presbyter of the Presbytery of Cincinnati. "One would hope, regardless of his presidency, there might be the capacity for him to be a moral person."
Added the Rev. Roberson: "He's kind of having to learn to walk the talk."
