I think the Pope is downgrading the serious nature of abortion by this action. This is where he deserves criticism. In September the Vatican is going to sign a United Nations document that approves of abortion in the name of reproductive rights.
Well, we’ll see about the latter part of your post. I have no use for this Pope but there is no “downgrading” in forgiveness. In Catholicism, all sin can be forgiven. And abortion being murder, it’s a big, mortal sin.
“In September the Vatican is going to sign a United Nations document that approves of abortion in the name of reproductive rights.”
Where did you get this idea?
Hardly. Since abortion is the murder of an innocent, it incurs automatic excommunication. In doing what he did for the Year of Mercy, the Pope has relieved confessors from having to get the excommunication lifted by the local bishop. The Pope hopes that will make it easier for women who repent of their sin to be reconciled to Our Lord and then go forward and live a holy life.