I wasn't raised in the experience of guilt and so sometimes it's difficult for me to understand someone who asks or requires exculpation for his transgressions. Someone who looks to a higher authority (or group therapy) to exculpate him from his sins or misdeeds.

Oh, I have felt deep regret for certain actions. Alone in the dark I have wished I could change past choices or could go back and do it differently. I have felt the sting of lessons learned too late.

But not guilt. I do not think it's possible to exculpate someone from their guilty feelings, nor remove from them the responsibility for their past actions. Deeds were done (or not done) and all one can do is accept responsibility for what one did or did not do, and determine that if ever there is another situation like it, to act, to decide, differently.

There are no karmic free passes, get-out-of-jail-free cards.