Idukki: The Syro-Malabar Church has welcomed the new decision by Pope Francis to extend the power of forgiving abortion to the Catholic priests as well.
The Church, which considers abortion as a major sin, does not allow its clergy to forgive it as part of routine confessions.
But Pope Francis, as part of the Catholic Church’s observance of the year of mercy which ended on November 20, changed the earlier rule and gave permission to all priests to forgive abortion during confession.
Earlier, this power was restricted to only bishops or specially allowed persons by them. On Sunday, Pope Francis extended the power of forgiveness in the case of abortion to the priests.
“In the Catholic Church, the priests are not entitled to relieve some sins, for example, a clergyman having physical relationship with a woman and then absolving her of that sin. The Church has always considered abortion a grave sin since it destroys an innocent life,” said Fr Jose Kottayil, former secretary, KCBC family commission.
Source: The Times of India