Pope Francis Extends Power To Forgive Abortion To All Catholic Priests November 28, 2016 | No Comments Pope Francis Extends Power To Forgive Abortion To All Catholic Priests 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”. Read more here. Ecumenism, News!, Social Action, Women | Tags: abortion, Catholic Church, Pope Francis, reproductive rights, women's health