I am not Catholic. I am beginning to wonder about Pope Francis. Well, not really beginning to wonder, I’ve wondered for a while. But this new revelation takes the cake in my humble opinion.
The pope has given Catholic priests permission to absolve women of
the sin of Abortion. This seriously makes me fear for the oldest continuous Western cultural institution. Church doctrine sees abortion as Murder. Is that still true? Catholic readers, kindly enlighten me.
Calling-all-RushBabes 
Pope Francis announces all priests can forgive women who’ve had abortions, so what about…???????
Posted on September 2, 2015
The news report below states that, beginning in December, Catholic priests all over the world will have the “power” to forgive a woman for the “mortal” sin of having an abortion. Evidently priests in the United States and some other countries already have that “power.” Interesting.
So, an ex-Catholic saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ like myself must ask the OBVIOUS questions:
* How can Catholics intellectually accept that women living in countries where abortion was unforgivable and who aborted their babies were damned to hell while American women who had an abortion were able to have their “mortal” sin forgiven?
* This new policy takes effect in December. Will citizens of countries where abortion was unforgivable and who aborted a baby but died prior to the policy change remain in hell or will the pope grant them a “Get Out of Jail Free” card in December?
* If an American woman traveled to a country where abortion was unforgivable for an abortion and returned to the US was she able to have her overseas abortion forgiven by an American priest ?
* Could a citizen of a country where abortion was unforgivable abort her child in her own country and travel to the US to have her “mortal” sin forgiven by an American priest?
Oy vey! Call the canon lawyers!
Abortion is the murder of an innocent life and is a tragic sin. Many people look down in judgement on a woman who has aborted a child. But we are ALL sinners and none of us can stand before a Holy God based on our unholy merits. The Lord told the self-righteous Pharisees that just being unreasonably angry with someone was equivalent to murder (Matthew 5:21-22).
The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to pay the penalty for our sin. Pray to the Lord and accept Him as your Savior. Confessing sins to a sinful man and trying again and again to obey your way into Heaven is a futile endeavor. Jesus came to save humble sinners who have no plea of their own. He didn’t come to save the religious self-righteous because they are convinced THEY don’t need a Savior.
“I have not come to call the (self) righteous, but sinners to repentance.” – Luke 5:32
All sins can be forgiven, if you truly repent. There may be things that have to be done in addition to try to make things right, but I’m digressing.
What he’s done– for one year only– is make it so that women who “procured” an abortion are able to have their automatic excommunication lifted by a priest, rather than the bishop.
It seems to me he’s doing something sensible, trying to strike a balance between saving the souls of these women, and preventing possible abuse of the sacrament of reconciliation. (It’s not unheard of for abortion to be very, very popular with abusers– sort of like birth control is.)
I think it’s bigger news that he said that, for the same time, the sacrament of reconciliation by the order of an until-recently-excommunicated-themselves order are going to be licit.
Short answer, yes, still Catholic. A readable review of the relevant Canon Law, as well as its relation to the Year of Mercy, is available at http://wp.me/pZTQW-17m
Thank you all for the great comments. Education for me, and I am always open to education. Foxfier, there is an interesting discussion going on at Ricochet about this. I do know that there are many American Catholics who think that Church doctrine does not apply to them, and are agitating to change things like the opposition to homosexual “marriage”, and contraception. I just hope that this development does not convince them that they are on the right path.
Here’s a decent story on it:
http://cnstopstories.com/2015/09/01/for-year-of-mercy-pope-extends-possibilities-for-absolution/
Thanks, Mrs. Foxfier. I would be honored if you’d read my Medieval Music post and let me know what you think. The medieval Church was a force for great good in the world.
I’ll pin it– I don’t know much about music, and things are a little crazy. Okanogan is burning again.
I’m done with Ricochet. Not going to actually cancel, just fail to renew.
The rules are simply not being enforced the way they use to be, and I’m sick of the folks responsible for enforcing them whine when they’re called on it.
I wish you would stay, but I understand if you don’t.
“Anonymous” was me.
Nuts. This is Percival. I’m showing up as”Anonymous.”
Someone replies. ;D
Eh, wordpress. It happens.
Sorry, guys, but I just can’t bring myself to pay someone to do moderation and then actually providing the service any better than ‘labor of love’ places.
Heck, on the technology side, it’s better.
But I’ll stop complaining, now. At least about that.
RB, as usual the lamestream media gets it really wrong: This permission to absolve is part of the upcoming Jubilee Year of MERCY. Those inclined for it will seek it; those who aren’t will not…
Hugs, Percival. Sorry for what WordPress does sometimes. And I want Foxfier to stay, too. And we all miss Nanda. But I especially appreciate both their comments on things Catholic. Live and Learn.