"You certainly cannot," Gabriel said shocked, unaware that the other man was joking. "It is a sin to cause harm to other like that, unless in self-defense." 

There was a long way to go. He had never denied anyone absolution before and felt dizzy with what he was about to say next. 

"I cannot absolve you now. These are grave sins and yet you seem only partly sorry, because it will hurt the woman you say you love, and reluctant to renounce them. God cannot forgive you if you are not truly repenting of your sins, and I would make a mockery of this sacrament if I were to speak the words of absolution.

"Go home. Put your gun away. Get yourself a Bible and start reading..." he thought for a moment. "Read Matthew chapters five to seven. Read it slowly, read it again and again. It will tell you what the Kingdom of God is about in a nutshell, and you will see how different it is from the way you think of your sins now. You may come and speak to me in the confessional if you have questions or things to get of your mind and do not want me to know your identity. Come to Mass on Sundays. But do not come forward to receive Communion until you have been absolved. And as for the woman who bears your child, get rid of your gun before you tell her. Do not give the devil weapons against you, for he is cunning and may prey on you when you least expect it."