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Every sin, including in fact any kind of murder whether you do it with a bomb, abortion or a baseball bat, can be absolved by sacramental Confession, if it is accompanied by true contrition and a sincere turning away from this sin.

So it has always been, and so it always will be.

The big thing with abortion (and a few other serious sins) is that it entails automatic excommunication. This does NOT mean "you are unforgivable and you are going to hell. " You have to have the excommunication lifted by someone who is authorized to do so In every diocese this means the bishop and any priest the bishop gives faculties to do so.

(As far as I know, in my diocese --- the Diocese of Knoxville --- every pastor has this faculty.)

The purpose of this is two-fold: to impress upon one's mind and heart the true seriousness of this sin--- to choose abortion is a rejection of life, which means you've cut yourself off from God, the Source of life---- and to make sure the penitent goes to an experienced priest who can adequately counsel a post-abortion penitent. Such priests would also refer her to one of the post-abortion healing ministries, such as Project Rachel.

So +Francis has decided to extend to faculty to lift excommunication, to all priests, for the duration of the Jubilee Year. It doesn't surprise me, and I think it's a good thing. It gets the word out about the availability of sacramental Confession, and I think it may help some women who have suffered for years with the burden of guilt for what they've done.

Nevertheless, much of the mainstream media reporting on this has been garbage.

Which also doesn't surprise me.

Does it surprise you?