The outpouring over the Prime Minister’s ‘mea culpa’ for the home insulation debacle (does no-one in government anticipate the effects of the doctrine of sin?) is particularly noteworthy during Lent. The question being asked: Is the Prime Minister’s apology sincere or calculated political ‘spin’?

Sadly, ‘spin’ seems to be the conclusion from the media articles that I have read. See Culpa won’t cut it, and Does mea culpa cover it? and Labor figures perplexed by Rudd’s mea culpa which concludes,

Whatever the rights or wrongs of Mr Rudd’s public sackcloth and ashes tour, some commentators have started talking about what the Government has done, rather than what is left undone.

How hard it is to separate sincerity from spin in public life. Neither is it easy in the relationships in our private life. The diversity of reactions to the Prime Minister’s apology is not dissimilar to the reactions to Tiger Woods’ apology, see Lent: Tiger Woods and Mary MacKillop.

The challenge in restoring a relationship is to be truly sorry/remorseful, to restore that which is possible and to change the unacceptable behaviour. See Putting apology into practice.

The starting point for true restoration of relationship lies in our heartfelt lament before our Creator, as expressed during this season of Lent in A Prayer Book for Australia, Broughton Books, 1995, page 451, in the prayer which we pray on Ash Wednesday and during Lent,

Almighty and everlasting God,

you hate nothing that you have made,

and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent:

create and make in us new and contrite hearts,

that we, worthily lamenting our sins,

and acknowledging our wretchedness,

may obtain of you, the God of all mercy,

perfect remission and forgiveness;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.