AOL: …In Church teaching, abortion is such a grave sin that those who procure or perform it incur an automatic excommunication. Usually only designated clergy and missionaries can formally forgive abortions.
But from Dec.8 to Nov. 26, during an extraordinary Holy Year or “Jubilee” on the theme of mercy announced by Pope Francis in March, all priests will be able to do so, he said in a letter published on Tuesday by the Vatican…
Francis is the first non-European pope in 1,300 years and has also marked himself out for his tolerance regarding taboo topics. In a remark that has become emblematic of his papacy, he asked “who am I to judge?” with regard to a gay person who seeks God… (more)
