Posted on 09/01/2015 3:53:50 AM PDT by NYer
Huge news. This was under embargo till noon, Rome time, which must be honored. [UPDATE: The Bollettino is now available HERE]
The Year of Mercy begins 8 December 2015 until 20 November 2016.
It is about to be announced that the Holy Father has sent a letter to Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization about the upcoming Extraordinary Year of Mercy.
In this letter the Pope says that he is granting to all priests the faculty to absolve from the sin of abortion. He writes: “I have decided, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to concede to all priests for the Jubilee Year the discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it.” Interesting way to word it.
He also says that the faithful may go to … well… read it yourself. Here is a screenshot from the doc:
This is HUGE news.
Let’s examine this.
First, note the language. This letter says that he hopes that the SSPX will be reconciled. He says that he hears good things about the priests of the SSPX. But he says that the faithful may approach the priests of the SSPX for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) and that they shall validly and licitly receive absolution. He doesn’t say that he is granting the priests the faculty to receive sacramental confessions. He places the emphasis on the faithful. In effect, the priests are being given the faculty to hear confessions, but there is a different emphasis. I have the sense that it is the need of the faithful who otherwise might not go to a non-SSPX priest that the Holy Father is stressing. Think about the case of a person who is dying and there is, say, an ex-priest -a guy who was “laicized” because he committed certain crimes, present, the Church’s laws says that in the circumstances of the person’s danger of death any validly ordained priest automatically has the faculty validly to absolve. The need of the dying person is of such overwhelming importance that the law itself grants the ex-priest (or suspended priest, etc.) the faculty. The stress is on the need of the dying person, not on the priest. I think this is an analogous situation.
Along with this, the fact of Pope Francis’ move, together with the wording, confirms what I have been saying all along about the priests of the SSPX: they do not and have not had the faculty validly to absolve sins! The fact that this is being granted for the Year of Mercy bears out what I have been saying.
That said, if the Holy Father is willing to go this far with the priests of the SSPX, is it hard to imagine that this merciful concession might not be extended beyond the Year of Mercy? I would like to think so!
Next, this concession also underscores a point I have been making all along. If only Nixon could go to China, perhaps Pope Francis is the Pope who will reconcile the SSPX!
Additionally, this could irritate some bishops in, say, France… Germany…. And even though this may not be well received in certain circles, the Pope is doing it anyway.
Moreover, earlier in his pontificate, this Pope was pretty hard on priests. He seemed to be bashing them on a daily basis. This move to grant all priests in the world the faculty to lift the censure which results from procuring an abortion is a sign of his confidence in priests… for a change.
I take heart from this bold move – which makes so much sense (to me at least) – in favor of the access the faithful will have to sacrament of penance. I hope that it will also spark a wider discussion on the positive things that will come from the reconciliation of the SSPX. I hope that discussion takes place even among the SSPXers themselves.
May all the followers of the SSPX , please God, look at this move with joy and with gratitude for the concern the Pope is showing to them.
And… to everyone… GO TO CONFESSION!
But… remember, the Year of Mercy hasn’t started yet and the SSPX does not yet have their faculty. GO TO CONFESSION with priest with faculties!
UPDATE 1020 UTC:
The Fishwrap has posted on this now. They get it wrong, of course. They openly call the SSPXers “schismatic”.
Ping!
Uhhhh, can you translate this into English? I thought in the Catholic Church a priest can absolve ANY sin.
The SSPX is a schismatic (but not heretical) group. They have rejected Rome and they did not have the apostolic connection (connection back to Peter).
This partially reconnects them back to the apostles and the right to forgive sins as granted by Jesus.
Since they have conceded that right to the Greeks and Russians, this stands to reason.
Technically they are out of communion with the Church of Rome. But that does not break the line of succession.
I’ll confess my transgressions to God and seek forgiveness from Him, not Man
Ok. Now I get it. Thank you.
A given “average” priest does not have the ability to forgive the sin of abortion. That is usually reserved for a priest or priest the Pope has specially chosen in the past to do so (because the sin is considered to cause excommunication automatically, and excommunication can only be lifted by the Pope or a priest of his choosing)
For the Jubilee year Francis has “chosen” all priests to perform this act so once it takes effect (Dec 8 2015) all priests will be able to forgive the sin of abortion. (Note, for a while now, all priests in the U.S. were able to do so; as of 12/8, all priests around the world will be able to do so)
Also this article speaks about the Pope allowing SSPX priests to licitly forgive sins. Before this (before 12/8) they have always had the “valid” ability to do so but could never “licitly” do so (the article is a bit off in this regard, SSPX priests could always celebrate the Sacraments “validly” just not “licitly”) meaning they (and any pennitant who knowingly went to them for Confession) were actually breaking the (Canon) law by celebrating confession. So they were actually sinning if they knew what they were doing was wrong and did it anyway (except in the case of urgent need like imminent death). Now (as of 12/8) they will no longer be under such rule and will be able to freely celebrate that sacrament without fear of breaking the law (Canon Law).
You sound like a doll whose string has been pulled.
> You sound like a doll whose string has been pulled.
Its called paying attention and doing research
No. It’s called automatic recorded response. The dolls used to say “mommy.” Digital technology has given the newer dolls numerous things to “say” but they are still mechanical responses to outside stimuli with no contemplation or consciousness behind them.
I think you’re either deceived or in denial about your Pope.
And again we see the utter reliance upon catholic Mary in this statement. No mention of the True Savior whose name is above all names and the only one who can forgive ALL sin.
I would rather go to Christ for confession and absolution. He is the only One that can absolve.
And with every absolution from a priest, you get a free decoder ring! Be the first one on your block!
Because their sacraments are pretty much the same as the Catholics.
From the Protestant tradition.
“Only Nixon could go to China.”
Either you get it or you don’t.
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