Pope Francis Forgives Women Who've had Abortions--Rebecca Brandt 4th period

Pope Francis recently announced that all priests around the world will forgive the sin of abortion. The policy only applies to the Year of Mercy, which is from December 8th to November 20, 2016. This period is when believers receive indulgences for their sins. The pope defends the women who have had abortions, saying that they have no other option. The Catholic Canon law says that anyone who has an abortion is excommunicated because of the crime. The pope's new proposal has priests forgive the sin of abortion ever since 1983, which was the year that the code of canon law was revised. The pope is treating abortion as more of a forgivable sin rather than a crime. The pope is empowering Catholic clergy to be more merciful in the enforcement of church rules. Some think that this may even lead to a similar approach to divorced and remarried Catholics.

Although I do not exactly encourage abortion, I think the pope's new rule is for the better. Many women have no choice but to have an abortion and should be able to be forgiven for it. If a woman has an abortion because she knows that if the baby is born, it will not be safe or have a good life, then she would be able to be forgiven for it. This article shows how religion has changed over time. It is becoming less strict and more fair for everyone. In the New World, for example the Massachusetts Bay Colony, if you didn't follow the strict set of rules that came with the religion, you were imprisoned or banished. Today however, more and more sins are being forgiven.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/01/europe/pope-francis-abortion/index.html