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September 1, 2015
Our Holy Father Pope Francis has issued a letter pertaining to the upcoming Holy Year of Mercy which begins December 8, 2015 and ends November 20, 2016. In this letter, the Pope extends universally to all priests during the Holy Year the faculty or power to absolve in the Sacrament of Penance / Reconciliation those who confess the sin of abortion with true contrition and to lift the penalty of excommunication attached to it, without first having to obtain permission of the Diocesan Bishop.
Why is this news? Canon Law states that “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs an automatic excommunication (c. 1398).” This law pertains to all who deliberately procure an abortion or who deliberately cooperate or assist in its procurement. The Church considers abortion so serious a sin that it attaches a penalty of automatic excommunication to its procurement. There are two realities involved: (1) the sin of abortion itself and (2) the penalty of automatic excommunication attached to it. Abortion as described here is considered a “reserved sin;” that is, its absolution (the sin) and the lifting of its attached penalty (the automatic excommunication) requires the permission of the bishop, requested by the confessor confidentially as “a case or instance” without ever revealing the identity of the penitent involved. The confessor asks the penitent to return to confession (unless it presents a genuine hardship, burden or impossibility) after his receiving permission from the bishop to absolve the sin and lift the penalty and he imparts absolution (of the sin) and remission (of the penalty).
Pope Francis has eliminated the need for recourse to the bishop during the Holy Year of Mercy ordinarily attached to the procurement of abortion. All priests, therefore, may absolve the sin and lift the penalty of those confessing the sin with true contrition without first requesting the permission of the bishop.
In the Diocese of Trenton, some years ago, as permitted by Canon Law, Bishop John Reiss extended that same faculty to all priest confessors in the Diocese of Trenton without restricting it to any period of time. That permission was never withdrawn and is still in force. The Holy Father’s extension of this provision does not represent anything new or not already in practice in the Diocese of Trenton.
As far as indulgences for observance of the Holy Year of Mercy, I will publish specific guidelines after consultation with the pastors and priests of the parishes of the Diocese of Trenton. In all cases of indulgences, the usual conditions remain in force.
Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M.
Bishop of Trenton