Pope Francis is indefinitely extending Catholic priests' power to forgive the "grave sin" of abortions, the Vatican announced in a letter released on Monday, November 21. The announcement continues an authorization that was initially granted last year for the duration of the Year of Mercy.
"I wish to restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life," the pope, 79, wrote in a letter signed on Sunday, November 20, the final day of the Year of Mercy. "In the same way, however, I can and must state that there is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father. May every priest, therefore, be a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation."
The Roman Catholic Church has held that abortion is a "moral evil" for centuries. Under canon law, any Catholic woman who gets an abortion incurs automatic excommunication. Forgiveness may only be granted by a bishop.
Pope Francis' September 2015 decision to absolve abortions followed that of the late Pope John Paul II, who granted priests the same power in 2000.
"We are extremely ecstatic that the pope is recognizing that the decision women have made has harmed them in so many ways, and they want to be reunited with the Church," Katie D'Annunzio of Rachel's Vineyard, an organization that offers retreats for women who have had abortions, told CNN. "The Church has had the ability to forgive these women, but many of these women had difficulty forgiving themselves. This outreach by the pope is saying, 'Don't isolate yourselves, come back to the church.'"
Since Pope Francis was elected in March 2013, he has led a more forgiving and welcoming approach to the papacy than his predecessors. He has shown support for taking action on climate change, and has called for the church to accept gay people and divorced Catholics.
