If you have made mistakes in your life, but you admit to them — which is to confess — and then you repent — which is to figure out what you did wrong and decide to do better in the future — and you do that properly, no matter how far you have strayed, you can be set back on the proper path. This is one of the ideas on which our culture is based. That can be very hard if you did something really wrong. And deciding not to abide by the dictates of your own conscience interferes with the process of redemption. 

But if you confess and repent properly, you can be forgiven, and you can then move ahead. We should hope that is true because there is not anyone anywhere who has not done many dark things. If it were the case that we were done when we made a mistake, then the jig would be up for everyone. 

You need justice because you cannot get away with everything, or perhaps even anything. And you need mercy too. Mercy works in the same manner. It is a practice which, for example, you apply to your children. The basic rule is: Try to do better, and you are still welcome, fundamentally. That is a really good rule.