Pope Francis Allows Priests to Begin Pardoning Women and Doctors Who've Performed Abortions

Christian Post ^ | May 7, 2015 | Stoyan Zaimov

[FourtySeven]

What needs to happen is a very public call from the pulpits for repentance and Confession --- not just for this sin but for all sins. There needs to be a big push in the parishes for things like 24-hour Confession events where the whole parish would be strongly urged to renew their hearts through Reconciliation.

I'm hopeful that this is part of Francis' plan for the jubilee year. Perhaps such a push the days leading up to Lent next year would be appropriate.

[FR_addict]

“If you want forgiveness of a sin, you go to confession, then you ask The Lord to take away your sin, and refrain from doing it again”

It does seem like the rules changed. Supposedly, what someone says in confessional is a secret which the priest cannot reveal. Now we find out a young girl was supposed to go to a bishop to get her absolution. Seems to me anyone who sees her going to confess to a bishop would know “what” a young girl was confessing.

We've had all the stories about priests keeping secret murders committed. Wouldn't the same rules apply to a murderer? Why would they be allowed to go to a local priest, but not a girl who aborted her baby?

I'm definitely against abortion, but I was quite surprised to hear that the Catholic Church treated this sin differently.

[FR_addict]

“Abortion is singled out for excommunication because secular law does not condemn or punish it at all.”

OK. And murder has a secular punishment, but if a murderer is not caught, he is not punished. It seems like the Church is mixing the secular with the spiritual. One shouldn't affect the other.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I’m not sure of the overall relevance of Canon Law to laypeople who, by and large, don’t know anything about it whatsoever. It’s like getting moral admonitions from a disc that doesn’t fit into your computer: it’s a dead letter to most.

[redleghunter]

Here is a good explanation from Wikipedia (Apostolic Penitentiary): “Normally confessions of sins are handled at the local level by priests and their bishops and are not heard by the tribunal. The work of the Apolostic Penitentiary involves sins, such as defiling the Eucharist, which are reserved to the Holy See. ... Other sins that are handled by the Penitentiary include a priest breaking the seal of the confessional by revealing the nature of the sin and the person who sought penance, or a priest who has sex with someone and then offered forgiveness for the act. These sins bring automatic excommunication from the Church. Once the excommunication is lifted, then absolution can be granted. A fourth type of case that comes to the tribunal involves a man who has contributed towards facilitating an abortion, such as by paying for it, or directly so by performing one, who then seeks to become a priest or deacon.”

Did your source say anything about pro-abortion Catholic politicians who have a record of voting for abortion 'rights' and voting against Life bills? Who BTW still receive communion?

[redleghunter]

In any case, whether one has been excommunicated or not, the sin of abortion must be confessed as the taking of innocent human life (5th Commandment).

That would be the 6th commandment. Why some folks keep missing #2 is amazing. (see Exodus 20).

[Mrs. Don-o]

"It seems like the Church is mixing the secular with the spiritual. One shouldn't affect the other."

Sure it should. When a particular moral evil is justified in the eyes of civil law and secular society at large, this just when the Church should double down on it. Otherwise there's no voice out there at all that's telling the moral truth.

And it's not just a matter of "the clergy" or "the Vatican" or "Canon Law." We all have a job to do here as teachers within our own circle. We're all guilty of the pattern of silence that allows our society (or even or own kids) to continue drifting to their own destruction.

[redleghunter]

Catholics understand that only God can forgive sins.

Is this definition correct with regards to 'absolution?'

Absolution is the remission of sin, or of the punishment due to sin, granted by the Church. (For remission of punishment due to sin, see CENSURE, EXCOMMUNICATION, INDULGENCE.)

Absolution proper is that act of the priest whereby, in the Sacrament of Penance, he frees man from sin. It presupposes on the part of the penitent, contrition, confession, and promise at least of satisfaction; on the part of the minister, valid reception of the Order of Priesthood and jurisdiction, granted by competent authority, over the person receiving the sacrament.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01061a.htm

[redleghunter]

Perhaps such a push the days leading up to Lent next year would be appropriate.

Nothing like delayed absolution...

[mlizzy]

This article is not written well. If a PRIEST is involved with abortion, HE must go to the Pope [or possibly a bishop; can't remember] for forgiveness.

If a woman is involved with abortion, she must go to her diocesan priest and ASK for a priest/bishop who is qualified [appointed] to forgive this sin.

[escapefromboston]

haha, being a protestant

good joke, chum.

[SpirituTuo]

If a person is in a state of grave sin, such as pro-abortion politicians, then they shouldn’t present themselves for communion. They are condemning themselves.

I can’t say it better the Cardinal Raymond Burke: https://www.ewtn.com/library/CANONLAW/burkcompol.htm

In short, bishops need to tell their priests to not give Holy Communion to politicians who are obstinate sinners, particularly in matters of their public support for abortion, etc.

BTW, Your comments are somewhat off topic. While it involves abortion, your questions really involve scandal, and obedience to the Code of Canon Law.

[FourtySeven]

There’s nothing preventing any Catholic from going to Confession at any time. So there’s no “delayed absolution”.

[SpirituTuo]

While it is true God is the ultimate forgiver of sins, he gave Peter and all priests after him the ability to bind and loose on earth. It is a delegated authority. (Matthew 18:18, John 20:22-23, 2 Corinthians 5:18)

1495 Only priests who have received the faculty of absolving from the authority of the Church can forgive sins in the name of Christ.

For a thorough understanding, please read this section of the Catechism, with footnotes: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a4.htm

[cothrige]

Catholics understand that only God can forgive sins.

Actually, Jesus would disagree with you on that one.

When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

We see more evidence of this fact in the healing of the paralytic as recorded at Matthew 9.1-8. There, after Christ demonstrates his power to forgive sins (which the Jews called blasphemy) we read how "the multitude seeing it, feared, and glorified God that gave such power to men."

[redleghunter]

BTW, Your comments are somewhat off topic. While it involves abortion, your questions really involve scandal, and obedience to the Code of Canon Law.

I believe what I stated was within the subject.

[redleghunter]

Then why wait until 2016 Lent? Send out the sanctioned priests now.

[redleghunter]

So the comment from the Catholic I posed the question to was incorrect?

[redleghunter]

Matthew 18:

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.(NKJV)

Context above is for sins against a brother or brethren. No mention of grave sins. No mention of sins against God.

John 20:22-23 once again not specified levels of offenses or sin. Matthew 18 clarifies this passage in John 20.

2 Corinthians 5:

16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.(NKJV)

Reconciliation is not absolution or remission of sins. The ministry Paul speaks of is the Gospel.

But there’s more to chapter 5:

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.(NKJV)

Imploring is a key word above. No mention of a confessional; no mention of Paul providing absolution.

This is what happens when people read back medieval church practices into scriptures. It is clearly eisegesis.

[cothrige]

OK, but does “go and sin no more” still apply, or do these abortionists simply get a blanket pardon for all future abortions too?

Interesting question. But, how is it any different than what non-Catholics do when they confess their sins directly to God? Do they get a blanket pardon? It seems mighty easy to just sin like crazy and then pray a quick "Sorry about that" and then go sin some more.