[Gamecock]

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

[pbear8]

That would be an incorrect understanding.

Since abortion is the deliberate murder of an innocent life, it is a 'reserved sin', one so grave that the local bishop must absolve it. Usually the bishop grants the regular parish priest the ability to absolve this sin. What the Pope has done is to give that power to regular priests without having to go to the bishop first.

All sins which are confessed and for which there is true contrition and firm purpose of amendment are forgiven by Our Merciful Savior.

[EBH]

There is forgiveness, a woman just needs to find the nearest confessional.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/cw/post.php?id=66

[Mrs. Don-o]

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

No, Gamecock, that is a misunderstanding.

A person guilty of the sin of abortion (women over 18 years of age, and all accomplices such as boyfriends/husbands, doctors, clinic managers, etc.) incurred automatic exommunication which means they were barred from any sacrament unless they had the excommunication lifted by the Bishop or by some diocesan priest appointed by the Bishop for this purpose.

So if a repentent person guilty of this sin went to confession to their regular pastor, say, the pastor would have to redirect her to the designated confessor OR this pastor would have to request faculties from the Bishop to do this.

The purpose of this was the underline the severity of the offense, and also ("medicinally") to make sure she got counseling and support from a priest who was specially experienced or trained in guiding this kind of penitent.

I very much doubt that most American Catholic girls/women even ralize that abortion entails automatic excommunication. It would be interesting to know, but how you would find out would be difficult.

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.

We all need this.