Pope extends power to forgive abortion to all Roman Catholic priests

Pope extends power to forgive abortion to all Roman Catholic priests

Pope Francis on Monday extended indefinitely to all Roman Catholic priests the power to forgive abortion, a right previously reserved for bishops or special confessors in most parts of the world.

Francis, who has made a more inclusive and forgiving Roman Catholic Church a characteristic of his papacy, made the announcement in a document known as an "apostolic letter" after Sunday's close of the Church's "Holy Year of Mercy."

He said he wanted to "restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life" but "there is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with (God)."

I'm surprised to have not seen this posted yet.

Amazing change for the Catholic Church.

Even when I see Roman Catholic priests these days I can't help but see them as part of some crazy cult, it makes me laugh.
What are they wearing? What year is this? Extending powers to forgive sins?
I'm getting to old for this...

a reply to: loam

I'm surprised no one has commented yet. You would think Catholics would be up in arms over this.

a reply to: loam

strictly my opinion, but as an ex-catholic, this just irritates me. First off, the crime of abortion is not an earthly crime. It was decided in the supreme court and the people have spoken. The situation will be between the person who has the abortion and God. it's nobody else's business. And since the Pope isn't God, nor are his priests, they have no right to claim anything on his behalf.

To feel that abortion is murder is a normal feeling. To also understand that we as humans don't have the right to interfere with decisions between a person and God seems equally important. But to marginalize this as thinking a guy with a white collar can make it alright and it's not a big deal is equally as wrong. It's a huge deal and the people who are having abortions need to know that, and more importantly, understand that. (IMHO)

a reply to: network dude

well, ya see, here's the thing....
there was a young 9 year old girl in brazil that was found to be carrying twins.
the mother, along with the girls medical caregivers fought like heck to get permission for an abortion, saying that there was a very good chance that a pregnancy at such a young age would have killed her.
well, they finally got the abortion and the girl was saved.
but here's the thing..
the girls mother, the doctors and nurses.... they all were excommunicated from the catholic church, God, I guess just doesn't forgive when it comes to saving a young girls life by not forcing her to carry twins to term...
but the piece of crap that molested this little girl and endangered her by molesting her in the first place??
na, that wasn't as bad of a sin, that was forgivable....

in other words... it's a greater sin to save a life via abortion than it is to rape little girls and endanger the life to begin with!!
ya, that's a nice message for the catholic church to be putting out!!!

I just find it funny that the Pope thinks he alone has the power to give permission to forgive. No one has exclusive rights to such a power.

This is such a confusing concept to me. Only God can forgive sins. How can one man grant another man the power to do something only God can do?

And... in His mercy and grace, God does forgive.

Still with the crooked cross eh popey Joe.

I mean if the pope says it's okay then hey it must be awesome, right?

This guy is the biggest joke to ever 'grace' the Catholic church (I don't like the RCC at the best of times) I honestly believe he's an infiltrator, there to set the church back many years and eradicate any progress and respect it had garnered itself. This is just as abominable as the selling of indulgences.

When Christ does return the FIRST institution that's going up in smoke is the RCC.

a reply to: loam

I guess the pope gets his messages from Supreme Court rulings.

SMH

My Grandmother... Was A Devout Catholic. 82 Years. Never Aborted. 16 Children. 1 Husband.
I Have Chosen To Remain Roman-Catholic Only For Her. Its A Traditional Thing....
I Have, Despite My Objections, Had My Only Son... Aborted!
I Read OP... And Think... There Are Many Happy Catholics Today....

If, Without Offense, I Could Say Something About That... It'd Prolly Be: "What Have I Done!?!"

Well isn't that special....truth is the power to forgive or be forgiven belongs to everyone.

a reply to: loam

Oh catholic church....always telling people what is a sin and passing judgement on others. You are human beings,and not God. You cannot speak for God legitimately.

Its rich hearing this from a organization so corrupted by greed,and pedos. Hypocrite!... the catholic church be your name. Only God can forgive your sins not a man in a confessional.

a reply to: lauraeleven

human forgiveness is different than Gods though. but you are correct.

what makes abortion a greater sin than molesting little boys????

I really don't have much against any religion, but sometimes, their logic simply escapes me!!!
as far as forgiveness goes, their unwillingness to forgive some because of an abortion without regard to the why behind the abortion just might be their downfall in God's eyes, since we are supposed for be forgiven...ya know, forgive me of my sins, as I forgive others theirs or something like that...

originally posted by: dawnstar
a reply to: network dude

well, ya see, here's the thing....
there was a young 9 year old girl in brazil that was found to be carrying twins.
the mother, along with the girls medical caregivers fought like heck to get permission for an abortion, saying that there was a very good chance that a pregnancy at such a young age would have killed her.
well, they finally got the abortion and the girl was saved.
but here's the thing..
the girls mother, the doctors and nurses.... they all were excommunicated from the catholic church, God, I guess just doesn't forgive when it comes to saving a young girls life by not forcing her to carry twins to term...
but the piece of crap that molested this little girl and endangered her by molesting her in the first place??
na, that wasn't as bad of a sin, that was forgivable....

in other words... it's a greater sin to save a life via abortion than it is to rape little girls and endanger the life to begin with!!
ya, that's a nice message for the catholic church to be putting out!!!

So the girl lived, that's good. The church again overstepped it'b bounds, well, that's bad, but then now the family doesn't need a priests approval to speak with God. I'd call that a win-win. Perhaps you failed to comprehend my position on this.

originally posted by: dawnstar
a reply to: network dude

well, ya see, here's the thing....
there was a young 9 year old girl in brazil that was found to be carrying twins.
the mother, along with the girls medical caregivers fought like heck to get permission for an abortion, saying that there was a very good chance that a pregnancy at such a young age would have killed her.
well, they finally got the abortion and the girl was saved.
but here's the thing..
the girls mother, the doctors and nurses.... they all were excommunicated from the catholic church, God, I guess just doesn't forgive when it comes to saving a young girls life by not forcing her to carry twins to term...
but the piece of crap that molested this little girl and endangered her by molesting her in the first place??
na, that wasn't as bad of a sin, that was forgivable....

in other words... it's a greater sin to save a life via abortion than it is to rape little girls and endanger the life to begin with!!
ya, that's a nice message for the catholic church to be putting out!!!

Well put!! I don't even understand where the whole anti abortion Christian obsession came from. According to the Bible I should have been ripped from the womb and murdered because my parents weren't married when I was conceived. Don't believe me Christians? Well how's about you actually read that "Good" book you say you belive in. Yaweh ordered the deaths of many many innocent children in the Old Testament. Fact.

Plus, I don't feel comfortable taking advice from an institution that promoted a Zyclon B, chlorine gas salesman (JP 2nd) and makes him the HEAD of the organization, no thanks.

a reply to: loam
This is hilarious given the fact that the Bible never says there is soul-life in the womb. The hebrew word for fetus is Golem (Psalm 139:16). It means body without soul, like a zombie. So what exactly do the priests think they are forgiving? Certainly not murder...

originally posted by: FauxMulder
I just find it funny that the Pope thinks he alone has the power to give permission to forgive. No one has exclusive rights to such a power.

According to the Catholic church, the pope does have that power.

originally posted by: VegHead
This is such a confusing concept to me. Only God can forgive sins. How can one man grant another man the power to do something only God can do?

And... in His mercy and grace, God does forgive.

Gee, I guess He was kidding when He taught us this part of His prayer, "and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."
IMHO, we do have the power to forgive sins.