Catholic Priests Forgiving Abortion At World Youth Day Confessionals

Catholic priests have been empowered to forgive the sin of abortion during this week's World Youth Day festivities in Madrid, Spain. Church officials have ordered that any individual at the event who confesses to having had an abortion -- a sin normally punished by excommunication -- will be forgiven and welcomed back into the Church.

According to Reuters, the initiative came from the local archdiocese, led by Madrid's archbishop, Antonio María Rouco Varela.

"This (concession) is to make it easier for the faithful who attend the World Youth Day celebrations to obtain the fruits of divine grace," the archdiocese said in a statement posted online.

Abortion is a controversial issue in Spain as the country's politics become increasingly liberal, despite a strongly Catholic history. In 2009 there were more than 100,000 legal abortions performed in Spain.

Forgiving abortion is not unheard of for the Catholic Church, but normally the power is only given to certain priests within the Church hierarchy.

"Normally, only certain priests have the power to lift such an excommunication, but the local diocese has decided to give all the priests taking confession at the event this power," said the pope's spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, in The Guardian.

With several hundred thousand pilgrims expected in Madrid throughout the six-day event, abortion is not the only topic causing controversy. At least one group has taken the gathering as an opportunity to protest the Church's continued ban on condoms and other contraceptives.

WATCH:

Comments

[Jackie Snyder]

12:24 AM on 09/28/2011

"One cannot really be a Catholic and grown-up." George Orwell.

[AntithiChrist]

08:29 PM on 08/22/2011

So the "sin" of abortion has been "marked down" this week by the virginal guys in those fetching little skirts?

That's just ducky, fellas.

Now when do you forgive them the sin of being female?

[marind]

01:44 PM on 08/20/2011

Oh for Christ sake. This group of nasty old men can absolve a "mortal sin" for a day. What is this? A Pope's Day Special??

Guess what, boys: NO woman needs your "absolution" for an abortion. Keep your purient noses out of everyone's crotch.

[Balloon Twister]

03:14 PM on 08/19/2011

its sad when people who are suppose to be followers of jesus do such things, this practice is so horrible it only gives the forgiven a sense of moral esteem. to read of the jesus that most would hate ,go to
www.bible-truth.com

[Balloon Twister]

03:16 PM on 08/19/2011

www.bible-truths.com

[Timothy Thocher]

02:00 PM on 08/19/2011

I love the picture of mass confessionals. The church saying you are all sinners and need we the special appointees of god to forgive you. I remember a priest giving a dissertation on sin and forgiveness, Sin he said was when we knowingly did something that caused harm to someone else, forgiveness only came when we admit our sin to the victim, and seek their forgiveness. Gods forgiveness only comes after that, not with 10 hail mary's and a rosary

[AntithiChrist]

08:21 PM on 08/22/2011

And what's that guy in the first confess-i-bicle wiping off his pants with the towel?

[TaoShaffer]

11:39 AM on 08/19/2011

The organization of religion turns that organization into a political one instead of a religious one. This is a factor of human behaviour. Anywhere there is a gathering, there is politics. What is especially dangerous is when these groups conspire to attack the rights of others and use shadowy means to do so.

An example of shadowy means is the propping up of intelligent design (creationism) as a science (when it is a pseudo-science) and enabling conditions for people to want to "teach the controversy."

The catholic church is an institution that has eroded away and their feeble acts to bring their sheep back will pay off in the short term. It's important, however, that we continue to have spirited discourse on these topics in order to ensure there is no one prevailing message.

[Brandee Benoy]

04:46 PM on 08/19/2011

Forgiveness is the way of the Church! They are by no means saying it is ok to have an
abortion. How is forgiving some one a form of "shadowy means"? Look out your window for intelligen­t design it is everwhere! You say that "The catholic church is an institutio­n that has eroded away and their feeble acts to bring their sheep back", but that will never happen. Christ is the true and everlasting message!

[TaoShaffer]

12:09 AM on 08/21/2011

Blah, blah, blah.

Come back when you have a coherent argument.

[raker]

07:49 AM on 08/19/2011

Here's a headline: The Whole World Stands Together, Denying Forgiveness to the Catholic Church.

[season555]

11:05 PM on 08/18/2011

Shouldn't people be asking GOD for forgiveness?

Why are these priest doing GOD's job?

[been2there]

04:45 PM on 08/18/2011

An abortion is a tragedy. Even if the parent(s) rejoice at the end of a pregnancy, and darn few do, it is a tragedy. There are, however, worse tragedies--a child's short life made hideous by endless pain, an entire life of disability and barely marginal acceptance, a vulnerable life made awful by abuse of the disabled, families ripped apart by the financial stress of one mouth to many, health destroyed by the stress of a pregnancy, an entire families health harmed by lack of resources, a child unloved and unwanted, a woman made into an incubator, an adult forever burdened by the knowledge that his/her birth pushed the family into despair--yes, there are worse things than death. However bad, and abortion may be the least bad choice available.

Equally to the point, no human has the right to either bind or absolve sin. Yes, I know what Jesus said to the apostles, but that was then, and them; this is here and now, and to modern people. Modern people who have never experienced married life, people who have, in theory, never had sex, and yet still try to call the shots in other people's lives. That is arrogance on the level of a deadly sin!

[TaoShaffer]

11:31 AM on 08/19/2011

I agree with your first paragraph.

The second paragraph seems to be some kind of inane muttering.

"Modern people who have never experience­d married life, people who have, in theory, never had sex, and yet still try to call the shots in other people's lives. That is arrogance on the level of a deadly sin!"

I like that part though. This "sin" thing I'm not too certain about.

[marind]

01:47 PM on 08/20/2011

Agreed. Good post!

[Grada3784]

02:44 PM on 08/18/2011

Marked down from 10 dollars to a low 9.99. This week only. And if you promise to tell a friend, we'll cut 10 Hail Marys from your penance.

With apologies to Ron Popeil.and Montel Williams.

[Alex Dunn]

12:12 PM on 08/18/2011

Excommunication? No, we forgive you. Please come back. Please.

[Stacy M]

10:55 AM on 08/18/2011

There's no logic in this. Catholics have to have special event to forgive abortions to fill their pews.
Apparently it hadn't occurred to them that if they allow contraception they would have to forgive fewer people.

[dengal]

10:57 AM on 08/18/2011

its about recruiting youth - they'll bend the rules if it means more money in the coffures

[Luke Green]

09:31 AM on 08/18/2011

This is horrendous.

[Randybostonterrier]

07:46 AM on 08/18/2011

I grew up being part of the Catholic church. There are plenty compassionate priests out there that service their communities in very honorable ways. About 5% or less of priests act inappropriately by molesting children and a whole group of good priests get stigmatized. It's great foder for the 24 hours news sources on cable and internet.

[Caedwyn]

08:24 AM on 08/18/2011

*Sigh* - you obviously have NOT been paying attention. The scandal is NOT the fact that a small percentage of priests abused, molested and raped children. (It was a lot more than just a small percentage, by the way - check out Ireland)
The scandal IS: the fact that the Heirarchy of the RC Church - *including your current pope!- actively, deliberatly, and continuously COVERED IT UP! They helped these lowlifes avoid jail time, they are STILL hiding and protecting them (Cardinal Law, anyone?) EvenTHAT isn't the worst part - they actively enabled, aided and abetted the continuation of all of the abuse!!!!! For DECADES they simply moved abusing priests from parish to parish, VERY often placing them in positions where they would continue to have access to children. That "whole group of 'good' priests" - they ALLOWED this to continue! They HELPED it continue, along with the Pope! I not only have not heard any of your 'good' priests condemning these actions, but I have heard of several who have DEFENDED IT!! Who have actually tried to blame this scandal on: the media, society at large, and even the victims themselves!! Are you F'in KIDDING me??
THAT is why the RC Church has absolutely NO moral authority or credibility any longer. I am not talking about the religion - I'm talking about the CHURCH - and if you do not realize that those are not only two very different but diametrically OPPOSED things, again - you haven't been paying

[Randybostonterrier]

05:42 AM on 08/19/2011

I'm very aware of whatever happened, however whatever happened to law enforcement outside of religion? If you want to blame anyone blame the police forces for not arresting these men - no matter if they wear the religion cloak or not for not keeping children safe. By the way I can bet you money that most molestations on children are done by trusted family and friends of the family. You have more of a chance of daddy, grandpa, cousin or uncle so and so to molest your kid than a Catholic priest. Perverts are way outside the religious realm. Take the rose colored glasses off.

[marind]

01:52 PM on 08/20/2011

EXACTLY. Every organization has members that do wrong, even evil, things. That's to be expected.

What is NOT to be expected is that the organization will 1) ignore the misconduct 2) cover it up and 3) enable it. THAT is what the RCC has done. For that - among many other things, such as playing patticake with the Nazi's - this organization long ago surrendered any claim to being a moral institution.

I know there are many wonderful priest and nuns. I just wonder how they can continue to be associated with an organization that has repeatedly proved itself to be corrupt, venal, and hypocritical without at least speaking out publicly. Of course, if they did, they'd be crushed - but isn't sacrifice what Christ is all about?

[CubanRN]

04:23 AM on 08/18/2011

Why don't we let people believe whatever they want? While I don't agree with the recent issues related to pedophile from SOME ex-catholic priests, I do belief the catholic church has taken the steps necessary to prevent any more incidents; however, remember that there are also those money hunger opportunistic individuals who will sue frivolously. As a catholic I belief Jesus is the only way and I've never come here to questions other christians beliefs such as Baptist, Pentecostals, etc, whether they belief or speak in tongues or whatever, good for them.

[marind]

01:56 PM on 08/20/2011

You believe "the catholic church has taken the steps necessary to prevent any more incidents"?? When and what would THAT be?

And if the RCC has done so, please note that it did not happen until AFTER it had to pay out $2 BILLION in settlements and judgments. The evidence is that the only voice the RCC hears is $$$$$$$$.

[CubanRN]

09:53 AM on 08/22/2011

The beauty of this is that the Catholic haters are welcome to comment. We forgive you!