Spanish priest who paid for abortions escapes excommunication
April 20, 2011
The Archdiocese of Barcelona has announced that no disciplinary action will be taken against a priest who reported that he had provided payments for two abortions.
Father Manel Pousa—who has also reported that he blessed homosexual unions, and endorses the argument for the ordination of women—said that he paid for abortions because he was convinced the women would have aborted their children in any case, and he wanted it to be done safely.
Although the ordinary penalty for direct involvement in an abortion is excommunication, the Barcelona archdiocese has announced that Father Pousa was not guilty of “principal complicity,” and thus escaped that sanction. The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith affirmed that judgment, the archdiocese said.
Father Pousa remains an active pastor. The archdiocese said that Cardinal Luis Martinez Sistach has the pastor’s work with the poor must “always be done in accordance with the teachings of the Church.”
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Priest who paid for young girls’ abortions acquitted by bishop (LifeSite News)
- Excommunication looms for Spanish priest involved in abortion (CWN, 3/16)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: Obregon -
Apr. 21, 2011 1:04 AM ET USA
Wow! I did not know any abortions were particularly "safe" for any unborn child! Since when is the butchery of a child in her mother's womb "safe?" When I read things like this I'm convinced there are Catholics truly confused about their faith and sense of logic!
-
Posted by: -
Apr. 20, 2011 11:29 PM ET USA
This is just shocking. What's especially shocking to me is that the first thing I thught of was "How many priests and nuns in the US are giving each other high fives at this news?
-
Posted by: Chestertonian -
Apr. 20, 2011 10:49 PM ET USA
Abortion is not safe for the mother either, and anyone who believes that hasn't talked to post-abortive women or the families of those who died from so-called "safe, legal" abortions. Numerous studies have shown a strong correlation between abortion and breast cancer, and every abortion increases the likelihood of both physical and emotional/psychological trauma. Pousa has sold the archdiocese a bill of goods.
-
Posted by: Caritas -
Apr. 20, 2011 8:56 PM ET USA
The decision should surprise no one after all the Bishop apparently looks the other way when Fr. Pousa blesses homosexual unions.
-
Posted by: -
Apr. 20, 2011 8:38 PM ET USA
Is there anything that Catholics can do that will remove them from the Church? Is anybody getting the idea that passes to heaven are free?
-
Posted by: lauriem5377 -
Apr. 20, 2011 6:31 PM ET USA
The abortions he paid for weren't particularly safe for the babies.
-
Posted by: Hal -
Apr. 20, 2011 6:06 PM ET USA
Well, OK. I'm speechless.
