Pope ruling lets priests forgive abortion
VATICAN CITY: The Pope has granted all priests the right to forgive abortion, rendering permanent a temporary measure he introduced for his holy year of mercy, which ended on Sunday.
‘‘I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion,’’ he wrote in an apostolic letter published yesterday, which highlighted his push for a more forgiving church.
According to the Catholic Church, the sin of abortion incurs excommunication for the mother and the person who performs the abortion.
Previously, in some parts of the world only bishops or a special confessor have been allowed to give absolution and rescind the excommunication.
The Pope changed the rules at the start of his holy year last December.
‘‘The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the extraordinary holy year, is hereby extended,’’ he said.
In his letter the Pope said he wished to ‘‘restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life’’.
However, he added: ‘‘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].’’
At a press conference at the Vatican, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, a Holy See official, said that the Pope’s decision covered all those involved in an abortion.
‘‘Thus from the women to the nurse to the doctor and whoever supports this procedure,’’ he said.
Before the start of the holy year, the Pope said that he was ‘‘well aware of the pressure’’ that led women to have abortions.
‘‘I know that it is an existential and moral ordeal. I have met so many women who bear in their heart the scar of this agonising and painful decision,’’ he said at the time.
Robert Mickens, editor-in-chief at the Global Pulse website, said: ‘‘Absolving abortion was formerly limited to bishops because it was such a serious sin, however most bishops have already given that faculty to priests - Francis is now making it universal.’’
The Pope ended his holy year by closing a door at Saint Peter’s basilica through which pilgrims have passed to receive indulgences for their sins.
He chose to make mercy the theme of the year, just as he has emphasised the power of mercy throughout his papacy.
‘‘The Pope has said many times that there is no sin that cannot be forgiven and no law can trump God’s mercy,’’ Mickens said.
He said that ‘‘a tiny minority’’ could be upset by the Pope’s decision to allow priests to continue to forgive abortions.
‘‘However, it is important to note the Pope is saying you can have absolution if you repent - it is dependent on this and he is very clear about that,’’ he added. - The Times