Pope Francis News: Catholic Church Softens Stance On Abortion; Priests Told To Forgive The Grave Sin Indefinitely

Pope Francis had indefinitely extended the powers of priests to forgive women who had abortions, as a continuation of a temporary measure he implemented for the Vatican's "Year of Mercy" or Jubilee year. The pontiff announced his decision in an apostolic letter released Monday. The move continues a special dispensation granted in 2015.

The CNN quoted Pope Francis that he "wish to restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life." The Argentine pope states that "there is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father."

According to The Guardian, the absolution for an abortion was started by Pope Francis on December 8, 2015 and ended on Sunday. The British newspaper believes that the pope wants to further apply his vision of a merciful church to women who underwent abortion. It considers the pope's move as an antagonizing and painful decision.

The apostolic letter released by Pope Francis explains the rationale behind his decision.

"Lest any obstacle arise between the request for reconciliation and God's forgiveness, I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion," he wrote.

Pope Francis is credited for making the Roman Catholic Church more inclusive and forgiving just like his stance on abortion. This is an insignia of his papacy, which aims to bring back some members who had been disengaged by the Church's previous scandals.

Few months ago, the Pope said it is wrong to equate Islam with violence. He also urged Christians to apologize to gay people for marginalizing them. He called members of the Catholic Church to embrace transsexuals and homosexuals.