Pope on Abortion: Francis Relaxes Forgiveness Rules

September 2, 2015

(BBC) – Pope Francis is making it easier for women and doctors to seek forgiveness for abortion, by allowing all priests to forgive it. In Catholicism, abortion is viewed as such a grave sin that it can punished with excommunication. In most countries, only a bishop can approve forgiveness for abortion. They would then delegate an expert priest to hear the confession. The change is only for the coming Jubilee Year, beginning in December.