Welcome for initiative allowing priests to absolve sin of abortion

Pope Francis’ move to allow priests to absolve the sin of abortion during the forthcoming Year of Mercy is being broadly welcomed in Africa, write Fredrick Nzwili and Munyaradzi Makoni.

In a letter last week to Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation, the Pope ruled that all priests will be authorised to grant absolution for the sin, without a special dispensation from their bishop.

Speaking to The Tablet, Kenyan Bishop Anthony Muheria of Kitui said: “On our part we will seek to facilitate as far as possible God’s merciful action through many more hours dedicated to confessions.”

In South Africa, as in the UK, bishops already allow priests to give absolution for the sin. “Since South Africa legalised abortion on demand, bishops gave permission for priests to forgive anyone who confesses abortion,” said Fr Russell Pollitt, director of the Jesuit Institute of South Africa. “I think this is typical of the Francis papacy.”