US cardinal welcomes Pope’s initiative on absolution of abortions
September 03, 2015
Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has welcomed Pope Francis’s decision to grant all priests the faculty to absolve penitents of the sin of abortion during the Year of Mercy.
Under current canon law, abortion is a “reserved” sin, and can be absolved only by the diocesan bishop or priests to whom the bishop delegates that authority.
“Recognizing the seriousness of the sin of abortion and the implications this can have for those involved, Pope Francis is making particular outreach to women, noting that many women were under great pressure and felt that they had no choice,” Cardinal O’Malley said in a statement.
“For many years in the United States, including in the Archdiocese of Boston, diocesan bishops have granted their priests the faculty to absolve the sin of abortion. As part of the outreach of the Year of Mercy, the Holy Father will now grant all priests worldwide the faculty.”
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Further information:
- Cardinal O’Malley Welcomes Pope’s Year Of Mercy Plan For Post-Abortion Healing (USCCB)
- Pope Francis: SSPX priests will licitly and validly absolve sins during Jubilee of Mercy (CWN, 9/1)
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Posted by: unum -
Sep. 04, 2015 10:00 AM ET USA
Welcoming those who are carrying the burden of an abortion or abortions to the healing of confession and absolution was a needed clarification by Pope Francis on behalf of the Church. Many feel that they will experience condemnation from the Church because of its unyielding teaching on the evil of abortion. The Holy Father is indeed "teaching as Jesus did".
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Posted by: feedback -
Sep. 03, 2015 8:18 AM ET USA
None of this changes the gravity of the sin of abortion, and the sin of the legislators who continue to keep abortions legal still remains. US priests already had the faculty to absolve the sin of abortion for many years, and so the statement does not tell anything new to "welcome" for American Catholics.
