Why can't forgiveness for the sin of abortion be available to all?

[catharina]

From what I have read, it isn’t that priests in Spain haven’t been given the ability to lift the excommunications, it’s that most of the priests hearing Confessions at WYD are not local. They can’t exercise that privalege outside of their own diocese without the host bishop’s authority. Basically, the Pope just granted a blanket authority for the priests ast WYD to shortcut the paperwork process.

Chances are, most of those priests have the authority already in their home diocese.

Grace, the forgiveness IS available to all who bring it to the Sacrament of Confession. The extra thing needed is to lift the excommunication attached to having procurred an abortion. In virtually every parish, there is one priest who has been given the authority to lift that as well.

Bravo!

:clapping::clapping::clapping:

 

[revert_jen]

Second, the issues of “forgiveness” and “excommunication” are two very separate questions. Priest can always absolve the sin, but in Spain they usually cannot lift the excommunication without going through their bishop.

Is that 100% accurate? (leaving aside the question of what the normal position is in Madrid, because I don’t know either way) If you are excommunicated, you are not eligible for the sacraments, including Penance, isn’t that right? I would think the priest would have to wait to absolve you after the excommunication was lifted.

I’m not sure about this at all, but this is how I thought it was.

(Of course in those areas where the priest can lift the excommunication, it doesn’t make any practical difference whether my thoughts are correct or not.)

–Jen

 

[MarkThompson]

Is that 100% accurate? (leaving aside the question of what the normal position is in Madrid, because I don’t know either way) If you are excommunicated, you are not eligible for the sacraments, including Penance, isn’t that right? I would think the priest would have to wait to absolve you after the excommunication was lifted.

I’m not sure about this at all, but this is how I thought it was.

(Of course in those areas where the priest can lift the excommunication, it doesn’t make any practical difference whether my thoughts are correct or not.)

–Jen

I should have been clearer: priests can always forgive the sin, but it is not permitted, in the case of an excommunicated person, except in danger of death.

 

[Sarahforgiven]

Thanks all for the clarification on the difference between excommunication/ forgiveness. I do appreciate it. I may have just misread the facts. Thanks so much! But I do have another question. What if the individual is not Catholic and does not have the ability to “Confess”? I struggle with this thought. Thanks. Once again I do not wish to “stir the pot”, I just have some questions. Maybe they should be saved for when I begin RCIA, but I figure I can get some answers through venues such as this. Thanks so much!

You might ask your RCIA leaders more about confession. For RCIA participants with valid baptism, confession has to be done before receiving confirmation & Eucharist. I went through RCIA last year & was baptized Catholic as an infant, but not raised Catholic.
After appropriate preparation, you can go to confession.
There may be both baptized & unbaptized in your class. If person has never been baptized it was my understanding, that they do not go to confession before the other sacraments because all if the sins are wiped away by the baptism. All of my class had been baptized. We were free to schedule our first confession any time after the class on confession. I think I went 4 times prior to the Easter Vigil. It was great:thumbsup:

 

[revert_jen]

I should have been clearer: priests can always forgive the sin, but it is not permitted, in the case of an excommunicated person, except in danger of death.

Thanks, I understand it better now. I thought it was impossible, rather than not allowed. Big difference in effects!

–Jen

 

[Jim_Roberts]

I just have a quick question. I’m currently a protestant who will start RCIA in 2 weeks. I have been attending Holy Mass for about 5 months now and am very excited to start the class. I just read an article that the Pope had extended forgiveness for the sin of abortion, through confession, only to those in Madrid during World Youth Day. My question is: Why can’t those who have sinned and had an abortion or those men who have sinned and encouraged abortion find forgiveness and reconciliation the world over? I am pro-life and my heart breaks for those coutless souls lost in the modern holocaust that is abortion. My heart also breaks for those who are truly sorry for their sin and who seek forgiveness? Why can’t they find it in the Catholic Church? I do not wish to stir the pot, just get some clarification. I was always taught growing up that everyone can receive forgiveness for their sins, no matter how grave. I just feel that if a heart and soul is truly sorry and seeks communion with the church and genuine forgiveness, why can’t they be forgiven? Didn’t Christ die to extend forgiveness to all? Thanks!
Here’s a link to the article

######################################################################
Yoy would have to promise that you wouold not have any more abortions–this is like killing the child.

A priest CAN FORGIVE ANY SIN EXCEPT THAT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU

jr

religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/18/authority-to-absolve-sin-of-abortion-extended-for-papal-visit/?hpt=hp_c2

Keep the faith, always.

graceandfaith