On Not Being Forgiven

A nicely-written essay at Patheos, by a blogger named M. Horatius Piscinus. I don't understand the quotation marks in the first sentence to be scare quotes. I understand them to be functioning according to the original purpose of quotation marks--to mark off another person's speech.

This is the best part at the beginning:

As Cultores Deorum Romanorum, we are not forgiven. We are responsible for all of the actions we take and all of the words we speak aloud. We are responsible for not taking action when we ought, and for words left unspoken when we should. We can try to make amends. We can try to correct wrong. We may ever afterwards do right. But we are always responsible for our words and deeds. This is required by Virtus of all those who worship the Goddesses and Gods.

This is the best part at the end:

With clear judgment we do not shrink from doing what ought to be done. Acting rightly, we are not swayed by the censure of others, but remain steadfast in our resolve to do right. At the end of each day we examine the actions we took, judging what were done rightly, what were amiss, what was left undone, faulting the wrong we do and rejoicing in the right. Each day brings new adventures, new challenges, and more decisions to make.