[Gamecock]

Full title: Pope Francis Allows Priests to Begin Pardoning Women and Doctors Who’ve Performed Abortions, Changing Catholic Practice

[Gamecock]

Am I to understand there was essentially no forgiveness for women who had abortions?

[Mercat]

In before the bash Francis thread.

[Psalm 73]

Only Jesus can forgive sins (based on His atoning death on the cross).

[Buckeye McFrog]

I'm Catholic and was totally unaware of this "only the Pope can forgive an abortion" deal. It is thoroughly unbiblical. The Bible teaches that any sin is forgiven if the sinner accepts Christ, confesses the sin, and truly repents.

I'm willing to bet that the majority of Catholic priests have actually granted absolution after a confession.

[Alex Murphy]

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the president of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation, announced Francis' decision earlier this week, and said: "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"....The Catholic "Holy Year of Mercy" runs from Dec. 8 through Nov. 20, 2016, and will allow specially appointed priests "the authority to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See."

I hear they're also going to be handing out "Buy One Get One Free" coupons for indulgences!

[laotzu]

Roman Catholic priests can begin pardoning..

All this time, I have been asking God for pardon.

That men can now do what was once only the purview of God reflects what a modern new world we live in.

[dowcaet]

Are we sure Pope Francis isn’t a Democrat? All our institutions are being taken over and destroyed by the left. His Holiness is a leftist. As a Catholic that pains me, but he’s doing everything he can to change church doctrines. I wonder if he gets DNC talking point memos every morning.

[ealgeone]

Wow....wasn't aware of this aspect of catholicism. It's like an onion.

If a priest could offer "absolution" to one who "hated his brother", which could be akin to murder, why not for a woman who has made this decision in her life?

Aside from the real life impact, is there a difference, from God's perspective, in the actual murder or the intent to murder?

Jesus said if you lust after a woman in your heart, you've committed adultery. Does not the same thought process apply in this situation?

[Amagi]

This guy is a disaster.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Priests do not “pardon” anyone, they just advise those who seek contrition as to how best to achieve forgiveness all around.

This being said, I am reminded of a story from perhaps 30 years ago in Boston. Some ignorant Catholic girls decided to use abortion as birth control, on the bad logic that abortion was just “a” sin, but that every birth control pill they took was “a” sin as well; so one sin was ‘better’ than many sins.

Just about every serious Catholic was horrified with this idea, but it and a multitude of other very bad ideas were acceptable to the “cultural Catholics” who had no real faith.

[ScottinVA]

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

[HarleyLady27]

Being a Catholic and being 70 years old, I will continue to believe what I was taught by the Nuns in Catholic School....

“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”

If you know your Bible, the Ten Commandments are there for us to live our lives by, as the whole Bible does.

I do NOT believe in “Mans” opinion because he man, God is God and I take my lead from Him and I do NOT believe in this ‘modern day’ thinking...

Thank you, but I'll do an believe in what I was taught...

[zzwhale]

the pope is on dope

[Salman]

Weren’t priests always allowed to pardon sinners of whatever kind (if repentant)?

[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.