Pope Francis indefinitely extends the right of priests to pardon abortion

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Pope Francis closes the Holy Door to mark the closing of the Catholic Jubilee year of mercy at the in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:09am, 22 Nov 2016Updated: 3:09am, 22 Nov 2016

Pope Francis on Monday indefinitely extended a provision that makes it easier for Catholics to seek a pardon for abortion, while insisting that the practise remains a “grave sin” for the Catholic Church.

Only bishops and selected prelates could issue absolutions for abortion, but during the Jubilee of Mercy, a Catholic festival that started on November 8, 2015, and ended Sunday, ordinary priests were also authorised to deal with such cases.

Francis made that change permanent.

“I henceforth grant to all priests … the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion. The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended,” he said in an Apostolic Letter.

The pope added: “I wish to restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life. 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.”

Pope Francis is framed by a Chinese flag as he greets faithful at the end of a Mass on the occasion of the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Photo: AP

The decision is another example of Francis’ readiness to apply flexibility when it comes to rules. He has often said that he prefers mercy to doctrinarian rigidity, a stance that has put him at loggerheads with conservatives.