A bishop has the answer -- forgiveness (10)
I believe the answer is:
absolution
'forgiveness' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'a bishop has the answer' is the wordplay.
'bishop' becomes 'b' (abbreviation used in chess).
'has' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'the answer' becomes 'solution' ('solution' can be a synonym of 'answer'**).
'a'+'b'+'solution'='ABSOLUTION'
(Other definitions for absolution that I've seen before include "Release from guilt" , "discharge" , "acquittal" , "Forgiveness" , "pardon" .)