I think here Thom has written about the effects that devout religious parents have on their children. In the Catholic Church, at least, every one is told they are born with original sin. So in this song, it seems like a boy is praying for forgiveness because someone has ingrained in him the idea that, even if you're an innocent child, every human is inherently evil. Of course, this can really fuck with a kid's mind and I think that's what is being pointed out in this song.
I think here Thom has written about the effects that devout religious parents have on their children. In the Catholic Church, at least, every one is told they are born with original sin. So in this song, it seems like a boy is praying for forgiveness because someone has ingrained in him the idea that, even if you're an innocent child, every human is inherently evil. Of course, this can really fuck with a kid's mind and I think that's what is being pointed out in this song.