Francis grants Catholic priests the power to forgive abortion

After his1998 priestly ordination, he served in various pastoral roles around the archdiocese, including at St. Thecla Parish in Clinton Township and at St. Gerard, Immaculate Heart of Mary, and Presentation-Our Lady of Victory parishes in Detroit.

In the letter, Pope Francis also asked dioceses that have not yet done so to consider joining the “24 Hours for the Lord” initiative.

The fifth commandment says “thou shall not kill”, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church ruled that an embryo should be considered as a person from the moment it was conceived.

Pope Francis’ decision to extend priests’ ability to forgive abortion in the confessional will have virtually no effect on American Catholics. “These pioneers of instruction”, Pope Francis continued, “fully understood this work of mercy, and found a way of life that was able to transform society itself”. The Holy Year, which began on December 8, 2015, ended on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, the day he signed the letter. “The door to God’s mercy never closes”.

As part of that effort Francis also used the letter to extend indefinitely the ability of any priest to absolve the sin of abortion – a sin that carries a penalty of automatic excommunication and had previously been reserved to bishops or specially designated priests to deal with. Yet, given that Catholics still delivered for the Republican Party in the recent presidential election, this gesture from a Pope who has urged mercy for refugees and the poor could be interpreted as saying that abortion – while still a serious and grave matter – is not the only issue Catholics should be caring about. In every parish he has served, from Alaska to MA to Georgia, his ministry has always included this authority, even under very conservative bishops. Prior to this, women had to make direct appeals to bishops in order to receive forgiveness for abortions.

On Saturday, during a service that elevated 17 new cardinals, including three Americans, the pope exhorted the church to reject “the virus of polarization and animosity” and the temptation to “demonize” those who are different.

The letter, entitled Misericordia et Misera (“Mercy and Misery”), was signed by Francis at the end of a mass closing the jubilee.

“Both of these new bishops bring a rich set of gifts and talents to the roles they will play in leading our community in our mission to share the Good News of Jesus”, he said.

This includes, to Pope Francis and now the church, abortion. “May this action of Pope Francis provide a path forward for those who are struggling with finding healing and forgiveness”. “Don’t you ever have doubts?” the pope said.

“The beauty of the family endures unchanged, despite so many problems and alternative proposals”, he said.

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Critics have said his emphasis on mercy reduces the gravity of perceived sins, but the pope said rigidly sticking to “the level of the law is equivalent to thwarting faith and divine mercy”.