absolving

Absolving refers to the act of declaring that someone is no longer guilty of a fault or sin, or freeing them from responsibility. The term derives from Latin absolvere, meaning to set free or to loosen from. In religious usage, absolution is a formal act of forgiveness granted by a religious authority, or by God as understood within a tradition. In Catholicism, absolution is part of the sacrament of reconciliation: after contrition, confession of sins, and satisfaction in the form of penance, a priest grants absolution, announcing that the sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The act removes the guilt before God, though it may leave temporal penalties or consequences to be endured.

In many Protestant traditions, absolution emphasizes God's forgiveness available through faith in Christ, often proclaimed by a minister rather than administered by a priest as a sacramental rite. In liturgical Orthodox practice, forgiveness is likewise pronounced after confession by a priest or bishop. In secular usage, absolution is also used outside religion to describe being cleared of blame or charges, as in a court acquittal, or a formal release from responsibility.

Because meanings vary by tradition, absolution is distinguished from related concepts such as forgiveness (the perceived act in the heart), pardon (an official grant of relief from penalty), and exoneration (formal clearance of liability).