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abujagirl
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Pope Francis has given Catholic Priests the permission to forgive women who had abortion.
THE TELEGRAPH reports that Pope Francis decreed that Catholic women who have had abortions can be pardoned by their priests – but only for the duration of a special “year of mercy”, which will last from December until next November.
In a letter to the church, the Pope wrote that women “who bear in their heart the scar of this agonizing and painful decision” deserve the forgiveness of God if they seek it.
''The forgiveness of God cannot be denied to one who has repented, especially when that person approaches the Sacrament of Confession with a sincere heart in order to obtain reconciliation with the Father For this reason too, 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,” the pontiff went on.
''May priests fulfil this great task by expressing words of genuine welcome combined with a reflection that explains the gravity of the sin committed, besides indicating a path of authentic conversion by which to obtain the true and generous forgiveness of the Father who renews all with his presence''.
The Vatican has however, issued a statement saying that the "Forgiveness of the sin of abortion does not condone abortion nor minimise its grave effects''.
Candida Moss, a professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of Notre Dame in the US, said: "Pope Francis’s statement on women who have had abortions does not constitute any kind of doctrinal shift in the Church’s teaching on abortion, but it does serve as a kind of information alert for a group of disenfranchised women who have felt unwelcome by the Church.
THE TELEGRAPH reports that Pope Francis decreed that Catholic women who have had abortions can be pardoned by their priests – but only for the duration of a special “year of mercy”, which will last from December until next November.
In a letter to the church, the Pope wrote that women “who bear in their heart the scar of this agonizing and painful decision” deserve the forgiveness of God if they seek it.
''The forgiveness of God cannot be denied to one who has repented, especially when that person approaches the Sacrament of Confession with a sincere heart in order to obtain reconciliation with the Father For this reason too, 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,” the pontiff went on.
''May priests fulfil this great task by expressing words of genuine welcome combined with a reflection that explains the gravity of the sin committed, besides indicating a path of authentic conversion by which to obtain the true and generous forgiveness of the Father who renews all with his presence''.
The Vatican has however, issued a statement saying that the "Forgiveness of the sin of abortion does not condone abortion nor minimise its grave effects''.
Candida Moss, a professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of Notre Dame in the US, said: "Pope Francis’s statement on women who have had abortions does not constitute any kind of doctrinal shift in the Church’s teaching on abortion, but it does serve as a kind of information alert for a group of disenfranchised women who have felt unwelcome by the Church.
