Absolvição

Absolvição is a term that appears in various contexts, primarily legal and religious, referring to the act of being freed from blame, guilt, or obligation. In a legal setting, absolvição signifies a formal acquittal of a defendant in a criminal trial. This means the court has determined that there is insufficient evidence to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, or that the prosecution has failed to establish all the necessary elements of the crime. A legal absolvição can result from a jury's verdict or a judge's decision. It is a pronouncement of innocence in the eyes of the law, though it does not necessarily mean the person did not commit the act in question, only that guilt could not be proven to the legal standard.

In a religious context, particularly within Christianity, absolvição refers to the remission of sins. This is often conferred through the sacrament of reconciliation or confession, where a priest, acting in the person of Christ, grants forgiveness for sins confessed by a penitent. This form of absolvição is seen as a spiritual cleansing and a restoration of the individual's relationship with God. The specific theological understanding and practice of absolvição can vary between different Christian denominations. Beyond these primary meanings, the concept of absolvição can also be understood more broadly as a release from any kind of debt, punishment, or burden, whether personal, social, or moral.