Local praise for pope's tone on abortion

In expanding the Catholic clergy's ability to forgive women who have had an abortion, Pope Francis this week earned praise from both sides of one of the United States' most polarizing social issues.

In a letter Tuesday, the pope said rank-and-file clergy can grant absolution to those who repent with "contrite" hearts during the Holy Year of Mercy, also known as a Jubilee year.

Previously, such forgiveness required the approval of a diocese. Bishops in Philadelphia, Camden, New York, and elsewhere have long allowed their priests to grant absolution for abortions, but many other dioceses did not.

Pro-choice and antiabortion leaders from across the Philadelphia area praised the pope's stance as opening up a more understanding dialogue.

"It's a silent suffering that very few people talk about," said Theresa Karminski Burke, a King of Prussia-based therapist who runs retreats for families grieving after abortions. "Somewhere between condemnation and condoning is the gift of compassion. That's what Pope Francis wants us to hear."

Michael J. McMonagle, who leads the Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania, said the pope was in keeping with church doctrine, which calls abortion a grave mortal sin for which women, providers, and supporters could be automatically excommunicated.

"The Catholic Church has always been in the business of forgiveness," McMonagle said. "But it's predicated on repentance."

In his letter, Francis referred to the social and personal realities that can lead to abortion, saying some women have obtained them "as if not realizing the extreme harm that such an act entails," while others "believe that they have no other option."

"I know that it is an existential and moral ordeal. I have met so many women who bear in their heart the scar of this agonizing and painful decision," Francis wrote. "The forgiveness of God cannot be denied to one who has repented."

Some pro-choice groups praised the pope for softening the church's tone but said women should not be shamed or condemned for choosing to end a pregnancy.

Joanne Thomas, executive director of Options for Women in Cherry Hill, said pregnancy already comes with a host of internal conflicts.

"Whether guilt is placed upon them deliberately or whether it's just a natural thing, there is a lot of guilt there," Thomas said. "Knowing that they can be loved and forgiven is a really important thing."

Nick Gibboni, chairman of Catholic Professionals of Greater Philadelphia, said that message of acceptance might bring some disenfranchised Catholics back into the church.

"I think it will help to hopefully bring some people back who might be hurting a lot," Gibboni said, adding that he had worked with women who feel so ashamed of having abortions that they believe they can no longer pray. "I hope that a message like this would say to that person, 'Yes, the church wants me.' "

Kathleen Gibbons Schuck, a member of the group Roman Catholic Womenpriests-USA, said Francis missed an opportunity with this Jubilee to also offer forgiveness to gays and lesbians, divorcees, and other groups that feel disenfranchised.

"My personal thought is that it doesn't really go far enough," she said. "Let's go back. Let's free all the people, not just a small subset of them," said Schuck, whose Montgomery County ministry is not recognized by the diocese because the Catholic Church does not allow female or married priests.

Susan Schewel, executive director of the Women's Medical Fund, a Philadelphia group that helps women find and fund abortions, hoped that the pope's announcement would mean a shift away from religious political activism.

"The church and other religious organizations as well have tried to impose their faith beliefs on the political process. I'm hoping that Pope Francis is trying to move the Catholic Church away from that," Schewel said.

As for individual Catholic women, Schewel said, "They're already using their own moral compass to make this decision. . . . Just like all American women, there's a range of belief."