WHAT'S
RIGHT WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH #168
Dear
Pro Life Coordinators and Friends,
There
has been some confusion generated in the media yesterday
regarding the letter of Pope Francis http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2015/documents/papa-franc
and specifically the section that pertains to those who have undergone
an
abortion. Pope Francis states that “I
have decided, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to concede to
all
priests for the Jubilee Year the discretion to absolve of the sin of
abortion
those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek
forgiveness for
it.”
None of us is
surprised that the media can be misleading and lacking in providing the
accurate truth on Church teaching.
Many
who have suffered are reaching out and calling/emailing
seeking the truth and since this has gotten lots of news coverage let
us use
this as an opportunity for good to proclaim and reclaim the real
fullness and beauty of the truth regarding God’s mercy and especially
as
demonstrated in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I urge you to
pass this
information along to others and specifically to give it to your priests
and
encourage them, if they can, to include this in their preaching.
Here
is Cardinal Dolan’s statement
from yesterday http://cardinaldolan.org/index.php/sharing-the-lords-mercy-and-forgiveness/
and it is important to note that:
Here
in the Archdiocese of New York, our
priests have already had this faculty for close to three
decades. My beloved predecessor, Cardinal O’Connor, wisely
granted this
ability to our priests, and Cardinal Egan continued the practice, as
have I,
with the profound hope that any woman who has had an abortion, or
anyone else
who was involved in the process, will know that they can never be cut
off from
God’s love and mercy.
And
Cardinal O’Malley statement
http://usccb.org/news/2015/15-124.cfm
likewise demonstrates that “For many years in the
United
States, including in the Archdiocese of Boston, diocesan bishops have
granted
their priests the faculty to absolve the sin of abortion. As part of
the
outreach of the Year of Mercy, the Holy Father will now grant all
priests
worldwide the faculty “to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have
procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it." His
words acknowledge the reality of God’s abiding mercy in the Sacrament
of
Penance, and that God welcomes all with open arms.”
Please
let everyone know there is Hope and Healing available from
abortion.
For
more info see here for upcoming retreats:
http://www.sistersoflife.org/hope-and-healing-after-abortion
and http://postabortionhelp.org/pah/womens-witnesses/womens-retreats-2/
and a retreat for Men http://postabortionhelp.org/pah/for-men-2/mens-day-of-prayer-healing/
O
give thanks to the Lord for He is good for His Mercy endures
forever!
Sr. Lucy
Marie
Respect
Life Coordinator
Archdiocese
of New York
1011
First Ave, 7th
floor
New York,
NY 10022
646-794-3192
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