Pope to allow absolution of abortion during Holy Year

Uhh must have spaketh unto the lard…
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Pope Francis has decreed that priests may absolve women of the “sin of a procured abortion” during Holy Year next year.

In Catholic teaching, it is normally only bishops or the Pope himself who may absolve the faithful of the sin of abortion, which leads to excommunication from the Church.

In keeping with his ministry of mercy, however, Pope Francis has extended his powers of forgiveness to those “missionaries of mercy” priests who will visit Catholic dioceses and parishes during Holy Year.

The announcement of the new measure was made in the Vatican this week by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the president of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation and the Pope’s point man on the organisation of Holy Year.

“The missionaries of mercy are priests sent out by the Holy Father at the beginning of Lent. The Pope is sending them out [to dioceses and parishes] as a tangible sign of how a priest should be a man of pardon, close to everyone…”
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