Has Pope Francis (temporarily) Made Church Laws on Abortion Less Strict?

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I just read an article on Vice, (which I realize has it’s vices) that stated Pope Francis is offering a one time deal to women who have had abortions. The parameters of this deal were, of course, to confess with a contrite heart, within this year of jubilee; and it may be confessed to a priest.

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

"Pope Francis announced on Tuesday that he would relax the rules on forgiveness for abortions. For one year only, all Catholic priests will have the power to absolve women with a “contrite heart” who have had the procedure done. But many pro-choice organisations—including religious groups—say that the Pope’s offer of clemency does not go far enough.

But the Pope’s change of heart comes with an expiry date. The change in law will only last for the duration of the incoming Jubilee Year, which begins on December 8, 2015 and lasts until November 26, 2016. The year-long religious jubilee allows for special mercies to be doled out to sinners."

It further noted:

“Prior to the announcement, women in many countries could only seek forgiveness from a bishop. According to Catholic teachings, abortion is viewed as such a grave sin that it can lead to automatic excommunication from the church.”

broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/pro-choice-groups-react-to-popes-one-time-only-offer-to-forgive-abortion
 
The law on* forgiveness *for this sin is less strict while abortion remains at the same level of sin.
 
The pastor at the church that I attend addressed this on Sunday. He said that for a number of years that the individual parish priests have had the authority in the diocese to absolve those confessing of having an abortion.
 
Graceful_Lamb said:
The pastor at the church that I attend addressed this on Sunday. He said that for a number of years that the individual parish priests have had the authority in the diocese to absolve those confessing of having an abortion.
Click to expand...
Of what denomination is this pastor?
 
NO - Pope Francis has NOT made Church Laws on Abortion less strict.

What the Pope has done is made it easier for excommunicated Catholics who were excommunicated for Abortion to get access to the Sacrament of Confession, so they can reconcile with the Church.

Normally, it takes a Bishop to hear the Confession of someone who is excommunicated.

However, in the United States, many priests already had the faculties to hear confessions from excommunicated people regarding Abortion delegated to them. But this is not the case in every diocese and happens less often around the world. In some dioceses, it’s only the pastor or the local dean. In other parishes, only a episcopal vicar or only the Bishops.

So if someone was truly contrite and wanting to confess their sin and mistake, before this, it would take a while for them before they could make an appointment with their bishop, especially if they live hundreds of miles away from him and perhaps don’t even have a car (like in very poor counties).

What the Pope has done is essentially allowing people who want to contritely confess their sin of abortion and have not because they cannot meet with their bishop (for whatever reason) a way to have have their confession heard.

This is really about getting people back to confession. That’s why SSPX is also allowed to hear confessions during the Year of Mercy too.

I pray that this helps.

God Bless!
 
Jacob18 said:
I just read an article on Vice, (which I realize has it’s vices) that stated Pope Francis is offering a one time deal to women who have had abortions. The parameters of this deal were, of course, to confess with a contrite heart, within this year of jubilee; and it may be confessed to a priest.

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

"Pope Francis announced on Tuesday that he would relax the rules on forgiveness for abortions. For one year only, all Catholic priests will have the power to absolve women with a “contrite heart” who have had the procedure done. But many pro-choice organisations—including religious groups—say that the Pope’s offer of clemency does not go far enough.

But the Pope’s change of heart comes with an expiry date. The change in law will only last for the duration of the incoming Jubilee Year, which begins on December 8, 2015 and lasts until November 26, 2016. The year-long religious jubilee allows for special mercies to be doled out to sinners."

It further noted:

“Prior to the announcement, women in many countries could only seek forgiveness from a bishop. According to Catholic teachings, abortion is viewed as such a grave sin that it can lead to automatic excommunication from the church.”

broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/pro-choice-groups-react-to-popes-one-time-only-offer-to-forgive-abortion
Click to expand...
No, abortion is still a mortal sin. What Pope Francis has done is to make the procedure for forgiveness a little easier in the rest of the world. Throughout most, if not all, of the United States, nothing is changing.
 
Most diocese had arrangements whereby priests were granted authority to absolve the sin of abortion one way or another. Some had to contact the bishop first, others had to contact the bishop under certain circumstances. But mostly people would not have to wait weeks or travel to the bishop for absolution.

All that the pope has done is remove these bumps in the road so as to make it easier for those confessing this sin. He has certainly not changed the nature of the sin!
 
St_Francis said:
Most diocese had arrangements whereby priests were granted authority to absolve the sin of abortion one way or another. Some had to contact the bishop first, others had to contact the bishop under certain circumstances. But mostly people would not have to wait weeks or travel to the bishop for absolution.

All that the pope has done is remove these bumps in the road so as to make it easier for those confessing this sin. He has certainly not changed the nature of the sin!
Click to expand...
Quite right.

Ed
 
Graceful_Lamb said:
The pastor at the church that I attend addressed this on Sunday. He said that for a number of years that the individual parish priests have had the authority in the diocese to absolve those confessing of having an abortion.
Click to expand...
That’s right.

And, it’s not just applicable to the women who have had an abortion – it’s all those who share in the guilt of this sin as having ‘procured a completed abortion’. All of these might have been subject to the penalty of excommunication, and all of these can have their penalty lifted and be absolved, where the bishop has delegated this authority to his priests.
 
Graceful_Lamb said:
The pastor at the church that I attend addressed this on Sunday. He said that for a number of years that the individual parish priests have had the authority in the diocese to absolve those confessing of having an abortion.
Click to expand...
I heard Cardinal Dolan say this has been the case in the U.S. for 40 years.
 
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