Pre-emptive Absolution

From Srafopedia

Pre-emptive absolution is, as the name suggests, the act of absolving a sinner from guilt over a sin they are about to commit. For instance, Father Gomez does "pre-emptive penance" so that he may be granted pre-emptive absolution of the deaths of Will and Lyra at his hands - as he has already prayed for forgiveness for the crime, he will be forgiven for it when it has been committed. This is not a viewpoint singular to Lyra's World - in our own world, pre-emptive absolution has been granted by heads of the church even as recently as John Paul II (the late pope). It is also not confined to mere murder either - pre-emptive absolution can be called upon for any sin within the pages of the Bible, though many modern Christians believe that it is a deplorable, morally wrong and sinful concept in itself.