How does Richard's mother punish him for what he's done to the kitten is the punishment effective is it fair

During the evening, she orders him to bury and pray for the cat. Richard, disgusted and afraid, is able to bury the cat but runs away when his mother forces him to ask for the Lord's forgiveness. I think mother's request was not unfair considering mother's religious and moral background. It was certainly better than any violent punishment his father ever gave him.