interesting...
I wasn’t aware there was ANY sin practically that God wouldn’t forgive.
So... basically... what this is stating is that prior to this decision.. if a woman who had an abortion and felt horrible about it and sought forgiveness for the evil thing she had done... she was DENIED forgiveness by the catholic church???
I can’t imagine such a thing!
If you read it, the Pope is giving permission to a SCHISMATIC group. It’s not a new thing for the Church’s priests to forgive abortion, murder or any other sin. This is not that difficult.
You cannot imagine it because it is not so.
Abortion, the murder of an innocent, is such a heinous sin against God that it is a 'reserved sin', one which automatically incurs excommunication. This may only be removed by the local bishop. Normally a priest has to first go to the bishop before absolution can be given.
What the Pope has done for the Year of Mercy is to allow regular priests to give absolution without a trip to the bishop.
I’m Catholic and this article is beyond confusing. First, any sin can be confessed if it is done so with true intent/understanding of the sin and the need to repent. ANY sin. ALL sin. In no time that I know of... did a priest refuse a confession or of some “secret” list that is a lifetime sin. I have known women who have had abortions, and later realized what they truly did... and confessed. Both times, the women were given absolution.