Pope: Priests Can Forgive Abortions

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Since a priest can always forgive sins, this forgiveness, it seems, according to this article. refers to lifting the excommunication a Catholic incurs who has an abortion or collaborates in one. (However, they are excommunicated only if they are aware of the penalty is excommunication and if other conditions are met). Priests will be able to give this forgiveness for one year, starting December 8, this article explains. Priests themselves have in the past not able to lift an excommunication by their own power; the bishop has the authority to do this.
see www.guampdn.com/story/news/2015/09/27/pope-priests-can-forgive-abortions/72368350/
For those who would like to know more about this, such excommunication for abortion is discussed in an EWTN explanation at ewtn.com/expert/answers/abortio2.htm
 
mdgspencer said:
Since a priest can always forgive sins
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Not true. There are a few technical considerations that must be understood here. The one that you’re discussing is addressed in the Catechism at #1463: “Certain particularly grave sins incur excommunication, the most severe ecclesiastical penalty, which impedes the reception of the sacraments and the exercise of certain ecclesiastical acts, and for which absolution consequently cannot be granted, according to canon law, except by the Pope, the bishop of the place or priests authorized by them.” So, unless a pope or bishop gives authorization to a priest, then that priest is unable to absolve the sin that triggered the excommunication.
, this forgiveness, it seems, according to this article. refers to lifting the excommunication a Catholic incurs who has an abortion or collaborates in one.
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Well, it really refers to the absolution – but, you’re correct in that excommunication is what’s in play here.
Priests will be able to give this forgiveness for one year, starting December 8,
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… that is, if their bishop hasn’t already granted them that faculty. 😉
 
It is important to know that priests in the United States (and in various other countries, including mine) have received for years the delegation to lift the bond of excommunication regarding abortion. This is a personal concession by the Ordinary, which is within his power, according to canon law.

When a priest is ordained, he receives a grant of faculties. He knows the extent and the limits of those faculties.

If a penitent has confessed abortion and the priest has absolved the penitent, the penitent should properly presume that the confessor was able to do this precisely because he possessed the delegated faculty to absolve without any need for recourse to the bishop.

This special concession for the Year of Mercy by the Pope is favor of those segments of the Church where the delegation of this faculty to priests to lift the excommunication for abortion is not the norm.
 
Don_Ruggero said:
When a priest is ordained, he receives a grant of faculties. He knows the extent and the limits of those faculties.

If a penitent has confessed abortion and the priest has absolved the penitent, the penitent should properly presume that the confessor was able to do this precisely because he possessed the delegated faculty to absolve without any need for recourse to the bishop.
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Yes, but what if the confessor was not able to do this? Is the penitent forgiven, or do they remain in a state of mortal sin because they were deceived? And how can a confession retain its anonymous character if forgiveness needs to be kicked up a level in the hierarchy?

This story is a wee bit of a shocker.
 
Paganus said:
Yes, but what if the confessor was not able to do this? Is the penitent forgiven, or do they remain in a state of mortal sin because they were deceived?
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You’re talking about a priest who knew he was unable to lift the sanction and absolve, but deliberately deceived penitent(s) and said the prayers of absolution anyway?
And how can a confession retain its anonymous character if forgiveness needs to be kicked up a level in the hierarchy?
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Because it’s done anonymously. A confessor would contact his ordinary and assert only that there is a penitent who appears to have incurred excommunication. The confessor would request delegation to lift the sanction and absolve, and the ordinary would grant it. No confidentiality would be breached.
This story is a wee bit of a shocker.
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Only when it’s misunderstood… 😉
 
Reflecting on the fruits of the extraordinary jubilee year of mercy, Pope Francis has issued *Misericordia et Misera, *an apostolic letter on mercy.

More…
 
OurLadyDaughter said:
cnn.com/2016/11/21/europe/pope-francis-absolve-abortion/index.html

I am very confused by this story. Why is it necessary to grant special permission to forgive this sin? I thought that as long as a confession was valid, there was no sin which is already outside the reach of God’s mercy? If this is not the case, which other sins must have this extraordinary dispensation? :confused:
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Subscribing as I don’t understand this either. Why does this need an extraordinary dispensation? Does murder?
 
By Canon Law, the bishop or his designee would be the only person who could absolve the sin of abortion. In the US the bishops frequently allowed all their priests to absolve the sin. Remember, a person who procures a successful abortion incurs an automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication. With this the person who comes to a priest and has a contrite confession is forgiven.

It is a big deal that it is lifted indefinitely.
 
Ah, okay-- thank you. That makes sense. Do you happen to know if other sins are included in this, such as murder/rape etc? Is it all mortal sins, or just abortion? I appreciate your quick answer earlier! I hate being confused, especially on such important matters. God bless 🙂
 
gilliam said:
By Canon Law, the bishop or his designee would be the only person who could absolve the sin of abortion. In the US the bishops frequently allowed all their priests to absolve the sin. Remember, a person who procures a successful abortion incurs an automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication. With this the person who comes to a priest and has a contrite confession is forgiven.

It is a big deal that it is lifted indefinitely.
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Hmm. I have a slightly different understanding: that there’s no impediment to priests absolving the sin, but only to lifting the ex-communication. However this faculty has been granted to priests in the U.S. by their bishops for some time.
 
I thought this was helpful, although I too am still confused if a priest can absolve just the sin but not the excommunication without the bishop’s permission:

“(The confessor) will say whether he has the faculty from the bishop to absolve from this excommunication or whether he even needs to. If he does not, he will privately and secretly obtain absolution from the bishop or send the person to a confessor who has that power.”

ewtn.com/expert/answers/abortio2.htm

This more specifically discusses the process, at least in this diocese:

catholicherald.com/Faith/Your_Faith/Straight_Answers/Straight_Answers__Automatic_Excommunication_for_Those_Who_Procure_Abortion/
 
OurLadyDaughter said:
cnn.com/2016/11/21/europe/pope-francis-absolve-abortion/index.html

I am very confused by this story. Why is it necessary to grant special permission to forgive this sin? I thought that as long as a confession was valid, there was no sin which is already outside the reach of God’s mercy? If this is not the case, which other sins must have this extraordinary dispensation? :confused:
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Hello,

Frankly, you are right to be confused. The language is not legally precise and gives rise to uncertainty such as yours. People might say “who cares about legal technicalities” but crime and punishment always include legal technicalities. Anyway…

The intended effect of the Pope’s statement is that all priests (with a ministry) now have the faculty to remit the penalty of excommunication that can be incurred by committing the crime of abortion. Forgiveness of sin is a different matter and you are correct that a priest can grant absolution for any and all sins (with one exception for a mutual sin against the 6th Commandment). This is the case for the Latin Church. The Eastern Catholic Churches do indeed have the notion of “reserved sins” but I don’t think we need to get into that.

Dan
 
Havard said:
Hmm. I have a slightly different understanding: that there’s no impediment to priests absolving the sin, but only to lifting the ex-communication. However this faculty has been granted to priests in the U.S. by their bishops for some time.
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Outside of danger of death, absolution cannot be granted until the excommunication has been lifted.

The excommunicant, by definition, is generally barred from receiving the Sacraments. That includes Sacramental Absolution.

Therefore, the priest cannot absolve while the excommunication is in place.
 
Oh, I think I get it now. By granting permission to lift the excommunication, then, the priest can also then grant absolution, because the person is then free to receive the sacraments. Thank you.

Loooooots of misunderstanding and “just go straight to God” already happening on social media because of this. It’s a complicated issue that I clearly needed help on, so those who aren’t even Catholic are understandably reporting on this incorrectly. MSM is garbling the story a great deal.
 
Brendan said:
Outside of danger of death, absolution cannot be granted until the excommunication has been lifted.

The excommunicant, by definition, is generally barred from receiving the Sacraments. That includes Sacramental Absolution.

Therefore, the priest cannot absolve while the excommunication is in place.
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Ah, thanks Brendan.
 
I find it interesting that he has indefinitely extended faculties to absolve sins to the SSPX “until further provisions are made”. Given his recent statements about the rigidity of those who attend the Tridentine Mass, I am curious what pastoral provisions he envisions. It makes me wonder if there might be further changes to the canons in these areas on the horizon.
 
Usige said:
I find it interesting that he has indefinitely extended faculties to absolve sins to the SSPX “until further provisions are made”. Given his recent statements about the rigidity of those who attend the Tridentine Mass, I am curious what pastoral provisions he envisions. It makes me wonder if there might be further changes to the canons in these areas on the horizon.
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I cannot fathom how attendance at the EF Mass (which differs in particulars from the Tridentine Mass) could be construed as ‘rigid’. At least for this Catholic, who was raised during the pre-Vatican II era, this is just not understandable. Perhaps clarification is necessary.
 
gilliam said:
. Remember, a person who procures a successful abortion incurs an automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication.
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Here in lies what might be the biggest, most common, and arguably the most dangerous misconception on abortion and automatic excommunication.

It is true, only provided the abortion is a mortal sin.

However, a condition such as “a person who procures” can many times inaccurately and unfairly place the sin of abortion on the woman, instead of the instigators and providers.

There are countless instances where the woman is forced to abort under duress. Such instances negate deliberate consent, required to make any act a mortal sin.

There are also many instances where young pregnant girls have abortions performed without even having knowledge of what is happening to them. These instances negate full knowledge.

Even though the Year of Mercy ended yesterday, we should still remember of goodness of mercy, and not, even with best intentions, place undo guilt on others.

Pax et bonum.
 
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