Posted on 09/03/2015 1:38:23 PM PDT by NYer
I had never heard this before, and yet Peters says that "nearly all other experts" would agree with this. I found that astonishing.
Since most ordinary Catholics have no interaction with Canon Law whatsoever --- nor should they ----(unless they're involved in an annulment petition), I think it's of more interest to "experts" than to the ordinary faithful.
I'm not defending my ignorance, which on this subject is high, wide, and deep, but I'm always, always boggled by Canon Law.
I think you are joking. Have you no idea what The Sacrament of Penance is like?
This is a Catholic Caucus thread. Are you a Catholic?
A very interesting article. I didn’t know there was such confusion on the issue. It seems to me though that if there is this much confusion, then Francis’s decision is all the more pastorally generous if not needed. We may (rightly) criticize him for much in these recent days but I think credit should be given where due. Francis did the right thing here, again all the more because of this evident confusion exemplified in this article. Let’s thank God for at least that. Also maybe Francis should continue this practice past the Jubilee year (and make it clear it only applies to women who had an abortion; abortionists should still consider themselves excommunicated)
Isn’t all law ultimately written for consumption by lawyers? *giggles*. Who can ever understand it BUT them?
I think the issue is further muddied here in the States, since for a while now (since JPII I believe) every priest here has already had this faculty. Bottom line nothing is changing here. Just the rest of the world.
My pastor, Fr.Pete, mentioned just this morning in his short sermon, that in the Diocese of Knoxville, ever since it was erected as a Diocese (which was 1989), all priests have had the faculty to absolve a repentant penitent of the sin of abortion.
OK, on that note, as much as Crisis usually makes sense, this guy is way over any normal Catholic's head-including my own. My take, however, is this:
People who have had abortions and not confessed them, may go to any priest and receive absolution, even if the sin had been considered reserved by their local bishop. Not every bishop in the world has been allowing this, so now they need to give their priests permission to absolve this sin. It's an act of mercy in a year of mercy.
Bottom line: if you have a sin on your soul, and you're truly sorry, go to Confession and come back to the Church. Perform whatever penance is given, and stay with the Sacraments. You're still our sister, God loves a penitent heart, and we rejoice at your return!
The author sounds like a canon lawyer addressing a tribunal. A garden-variety Rome Depot Father would suffice! (Sorry, we may be merciful, but Pope-Bots do not apply!) Lol!
I don't know if we're the author's appropriate target audience. I'd like to hear Fr. Trugilio from EWTN, also a canon lawyer explain the "crime" issue. He's good at that (he co-wrote, "Catholicism For Dummies" one of those yellow books intended to simplify things for average people- or real dummies like me!) Again, the author sounds to me as if he's addressing his peers...
I agree with you there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.