When a person who has been deprived of his administrative
rights applies for reinstatement, various factors have to be considered by your
National Spiritual Assembly before reaching any decision. The person should
express regret for the action which has resulted in sanctions being imposed on
him. An admission of guilt may be perceived as a sign of true repentance.
Although there is no way to be absolutely sure of the feelings of the believer,
the House of Justice suggests that one can judge to a certain extent the
believer's sincerity by his outward expression of repentance i.e. the actions
of the believer during the period he has been under sanction. In other words,
if your National Assembly is convinced that during this period the person has
not done anything to harm the Faith, has made evident his profound regret at
the action he performed, and provided that other factors in his case do not
indicate anything to the contrary, you may recommend to the House of Justice
that the individual be reinstated.
(From a letter dated 3 July 1985 written on
behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly)
