Pope and abortion

Latest: Summer date for abortion unrealistic, says Owen
Dec 31, 2017

Update 1.38pm: A former Fine Gael Justice Minister has said that Pope Francis' visit next August might not be the only reason for delaying the abortion referendum.

The Taoiseach has previously said he would prefer if the country voted on the 8th Amendment in May or June.

However, Nora Owen has said that the preparation alone required for the referendum makes this timeline unrealistic. "I think that Pope or no Pope, you're probably looking at a longer date than May and June, and you can't push it into July or August," she said.

Continued at source: http://www.eveningecho.ie/oneaday/Latest-Summer-date-for-abortion-unrealistic-says-Owen-68620353-a57a-46e0-8dae-695def051789-ds

Mon Nov 21, 2016 | 10:53am EST
Reuters

By Philip Pullella | VATICAN CITY

Pope Francis on Monday extended indefinitely to all Roman Catholic priests the power to forgive abortion, a right previously reserved for bishops or special confessors in most parts of the world.

Francis, who has made a more inclusive and forgiving Roman Catholic Church a characteristic of his papacy, made the announcement in a document known as an "apostolic letter" after Sunday's close of the Church's "Holy Year of Mercy".

He said he wanted to "restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life" but "there is no sin that God’s mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with (God)".

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Source: Reuters

Ireland: Latest: Summer date for abortion unrealistic, says Owen

Pope extends power to forgive abortion to all Roman Catholic priests