Pope gives priests permanent faculty to absolve abortion

Mangalore Today News Network

Nov 24, 2016: The Pope said he had to “restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life”.

Pope Francis declared on Monday that all priests would have the right to forgive abortion, making permanent a temporary measure put in place for the Vatican’s jubilee year.

“I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion,” the Pope wrote in an apostolic letter marking the end of the ‘Year of Mercy’.

“The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended,” he wrote.  The Argentine origin Pope, 79 yrs, said he had to “restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life”.

The pope also opposed the death penalty, saying, “There can’t be a true punishment that comes without hope. If a penalty doesn’t have hope, it’s not a Christian penalty, it’s not human.”  He also expressed his unease with life imprisonment, which he called a “sort of hidden death penalty.”

In the Catholic Church, a jubilee — or a holy year — is a religious event that involves the forgiveness of sins, as well as reconciliation. Holy doors were opened at cathedrals around the world during the 12-month jubilee, which called on Catholics to reflect on the theme of mercy.

The previous jubilee was in 2000, under St. John Paul II. The event is usually marked every 25 years but the pope has the power to call an “extraordinary” jubilee.

The Holy Year of Mercy concluded on Nov 20, Sunday, when the pope shut the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.  The pope said although the year has ended, “the doors of mercy of our heart continues to remain open.” The events are noted as significant the world over.