Priests welcome pope’s letter to forgive abortion

Priests have welcomed a letter from Pope Francis which allows them discretion to formally forgive women who have had abortions.

In the letter published by the Vatican yesterday, Pope Francis said that from December 8 to November 26 next year, the Holy Year, which has a theme of mercy, all priests would be able to grant forgiveness on abortion.

It marks a break from the Vatican’s position on the issue up to now and was welcomed by the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) here — a group whose co-founder, Fr Tony Flannery, has effectively been ‘silenced’ by elements of the hierarchy in Rome.