RE: Your doubt that God cares less about our SIN than most people do...

"39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal (Bro Saint Dismas..major Bro..) rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke* 23: 39-43

Let's keep it REAL bro...

Yo?

Luke 23:39-43

New King James Version

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

In verse 41 the so called "good thief" acknowledges his culpability.
In verse 42 the "good thief" requests forgiveness, when asking Jesus to remember him.

Hebrews 10

Christ's Perfect Sacrifice

…16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.” 17 Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18 And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.

The Covenant between The Saviour, and the faithful person cleans the actions of our past enabling the present, and future to reveal Our Father's plan for our life when we freely choose to do all that He asks of us.

Victor Hugo's character, Jean Valjean presents the reader of his classic work "Les Miserables" with the story of a convicted criminal released from prison determined to redeem himself through his assistance of those, who by chance are brought into his orbit to help.

In the Covenant relationship between The Father, and the child of faith there is an awareness that Divine Providence equips each of us with all that we will need to become the outreach of Our Father into lives of those He selects.

In plain language our contrition acknowledging our offence leads us to seek forgiveness, placing us in a position to redeem our selves through acts that witness to our new life in the care of The Saviour.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation provides us with a means to lead us out of our self serving, even self destructive habits into a life where we serve the common good.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.~ Romans 3:23-24

end

No response to date to Alex's post, so does that mean you are satisfied with his response? I was, but just in case you want a bit more, I offer the following.

You asked for a response based in theology. Well, all our theology is based in the Bible and Tradition, and as far as the Bible goes, there are many passages from the Old Testament we could call on that insist on repentance for sin before pardon is given, but to select just one:

Joel 2:13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

Then, right at the start of the Christian era, we have John the Baptist preaching "Do penance."

Matthew 3:1-2 And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

And then, a few others:

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Luke 15:7 I say to you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Take care.