If this Pope keeps it up I may actually start going to Mass again.

I have to admit, as a rational man, I like this Pope.

I like some things this pope has done. This is not one of them. I would argue that this development isn't even rational.

Even as well intentioned as this development is, it still belies the larger issue of women's rights in the world. His statement is predicated on the false assumption that a woman who has an abortion has something to be sorry for.

" His statement is predicated on the false assumption that a woman who has an abortion has something to be sorry for."

I get your point, but I also think that many women who have had abortions also carry guilt and regret, especially if they are Catholic. While you and I might not see the need for it, I'm sure this is helpful in alleviating some grief.

Actually, very few women carry guilt and/or regret. I'm not surprised the Catholics believe it to be so, though.

Many carry guilt but know their families would have suffered even more if they brought the pregnancy to full term; and that guilt would be greater in those who do choose abortion.

It's called being stuck between a rock and a hard place. There are grey areas in ethics, and it's best to back off and honor civil liberties, when that is the case.

This has been studied more than once. Few carry guilt. The vast majority feel relief; however, the antis sometimes have a negative impact on them women at a time that they're vulnerable.

"Actually, very few women carry guilt and/or regret. I'm not surprised the Catholics believe it to be so, though."

I think you're wrong. It's a very difficult decision. Guilt and remorse are abundant.....it's just the way we are.

Well, as a recovery Catholic, I can attest that we are prone to feel excessive guilt about virtually anything.

But, when you are pregnant and you don't want to be or know you are in no position to be and you clearly see with eyes wide open what the future trajectory looks like with the ripples from that stone, it's a special feeling of trapped. Of course the predominant feeling is generally one of relief - followed perhaps by a host of other feelings that vary by individual and circumstance, including sadness and regret, anger at self or others, hope for the future. Or not.

Actually, you're wrong. It's been studied, studied, and studied. Women feel relief. Do you claim to know more than they?

You have a link to one of these studies?

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No and yes.

"Actually, very few women carry guilt and/or regret."

Do you actually know any women? Many of the women I know carry un-necessary guilt over stuff that had nothing to do with them ...

Actually, I do. I've even gone with friends. It's generally a relief thing -- a huge weight is lifted off of them. I know it goes against conservative views of women, but it is what it is.

http://journals.plos.org/pl...

Do you have a source for this claim, or is it just "what you think?"

This is readily available.
http://time.com/3956781/wom...

How many studies do you want before you determine that you know less than women who have been through it?

http://journals.plos.org/pl...

The results were inconclusive.

I didn't get the ballot to nominate you to speak for all women.

Yeah, I'm not so sure.

I will defer to the woman who have been surveyed.

"Although the most acute judges of the witches and even the witches themselves, were convinced of the guilt of witchery, the guilt nevertheless was nonexistent. It is thus with all guilt." (Nietzsche)

But Nietzche is . . . Nietzche. (And, he couldn't get pregnant.)

Uh, okay.

Presumably, the woman who had an abortion is sorry to have had to undergo the procedure........unless, of course, she uses abortion as birth control.

Using abortion is a myth promulgated by the Reich Wing. Abortion is more expensive and more difficult to obtain that contraception. The only reason it would be used in place of contraception is because the Reich Wing is also determined to prevent women from accessing contraception.

"Reich Wing" huh. I guess I'll use monosyllabic words to compensate for your ignorance. Abortion has been used by the ignorant, and the destitute and the underage.

The Roman Catholic Church didn't give a rat's rear about abortion until the Industrial Revolution. Women started working outside the home & not producing as many Catholic babies, thus drying up the revenue stream. Not as many Catholics means less money for the Church.

Everything the RCC does has a financial angle. EVERYTHING.

Evangelicals didn't care, either. They supported abortion rights until around the 80s. I guess they just wanted to be more conservative than the Catlicks.

YES! There are wealthy women who have had abortions yet who may be willing to contribute to the RCC if only the Church was more "forgiving"...I agree.

While we all want to eat our cake, and have it too, let's not forget this is the Pope. Pope of the Catholic Church. This is a nice development.

No. It's predicated on the church's normally denying mass to women who have done what doctrine deems a sin. He's relaxing the rules a bit to see how it plays.

"this is an abomination, forgiveness and mercy have no place in religion"

And TAXCPA, you have no understanding of what mercy means, let alone what environment it belongs in.

He is a breath of fresh air.

He spent decades in Argentina,
covering up the sexual abuse of children.
He is not a good man.

I didn't say he was a saint. Compared to previous Popes he is a breath of fresh air.

This isn't really much of a shift from usual practice. In the Catholic Church, the authority to forgive the sin of abortion is reserved to the bishop of the diocese, and in most dioceses in the US, bishops allow priests under their charge to offer forgiveness to any who come to the Sacrament of Confession. What the pope has done is bypassed the bishops and given priests everywhere the faculty to offer reconciliation.

What's the bigger story in Catholic circles? In this same statement, Pope Francis has also extended permission to priests to offer confession who are in somewhat irregular communion. Read more about it here:

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2015...

It's always easier to breathe when you're exposed to a baby rape culture.

A few months of happy talk does not change the Rape history of the RCC church.
He is not good, it is not good.
Nothing has changed just more stale air, not fresh.

He is just the next one in line to spread this propaganda, wake up sheeple

how is this a breath of fresh air? where in the bible does it say Jesus died so that the priest could decide who is forgiven and who is not? we are all forgiven for past, present, and future sin- so long as we repent. To Jesus, not to the priest. it is not his forgiveness to "allow"

I don't intend to debate you, but please take a look at John 20:21-23 and study how this has been interpreted throughout history:
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” ~ John 20:21-23 (RSV)

That was said to the 12. There is no biblical basis beyond that, especially not to an earthly institution, no matter how it might (or might not) strive to do good in the world. There is no biblical basis for this institutional power.

Whoops! Simultaneous postings.

John 20:23 - "If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Open a different window.

I am not a Catholic. I don't use this window. I am pleased for forward thinking Catholics, especially for the NCWR nuns who do such hard political work to help the poor and disenfranchised.
I dig those nuns. This victory, basically, is theirs.

Yes he is a rational MAN! Why is it woman's sin in the first place?