Leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis on Monday
empowered all Roman Catholic priests to forgive abortion, a right previously
reserved for bishops or special confessors.
The Pope who has demanded more inclusiveness and forgiveness
in the Roman Catholic Church made the announcement in a document known as an
“apostolic letter” after Sunday’s close of the Church’s “Holy Year of Mercy.”
Recall that Pope Francis had on several occasions called on
the church to apologize to gay people and embrace them
The Pope said, “That abortion is a grave sin, since it puts
an end to an innocent life” but “there is no sin that God’s mercy cannot reach
and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with
(God).”
He had already temporarily allowed all priests to give what
is called “sacramental absolution” for abortion during the Holy Year, from
December 8 to November 20, but Monday’s letter suggested that the change would
last for at least the rest of his papacy.
He added, “I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of
their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of
procured abortion.
“The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the
duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended.”
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