amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

amyorama · 05-17-2006, 08:54 AM

if she has had an abortion.

I hope I offend no one by saying this, but I believe Jesus would have turned no one away.

Can anyone explain this to me?

Barb · 05-17-2006, 10:26 AM

I don't know but I had an abortion at age 19 and I was baptised and confirmed into the Catholic faith when I was 24. No one asked me if I'd had an abortion.
I went thru 2 years of the conversion program and was baptised, confirmed adn accepted communion for the first time. I left the CAtholic church soon after (for many reasons) but no one asked me if I'd had an abortion. And they all knew I'd been divorced - I actually had my first marriage annulled thru the Catholic church during my time in the conversion program.

I

amyorama · 05-17-2006, 11:59 AM

Thanks for sharing Barb.

I had an abortion, too when I was 15.

I thought in the Catholic Catechism it states that a woman can't become or remain Catholic if she has an abortion, not to limit the scope of God's mercy, but moreso to...I am not articulate...but to send the message that the Catholic church is very pro-life. (Gotta feeling I messed up on that sentence, lol.)

Thanks again, Barb!

jeni · 05-17-2006, 02:36 PM

I don't think that is a true statement.

maryalene · 05-17-2006, 03:43 PM

No that is absolutely untrue. Abortion is a mortal sin. A person in a state of mortal sin has separated themselves from God and cannot receive the sacrament of the Eucharist but they remain a Catholic. If a person is sorry for their sin and receives the Sacrament of Reconciliation, then they return to a state of grace and can participate in all sacraments again. The Church is full of sinners, and it doesn't turn someone away because of their sin. However, we do believe that the Eucharist is something only to be received when you are in a state of grace.

Barb · 05-17-2006, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maryalene

If a person is sorry for their sin and receives the Sacrament of Reconciliation, then they return to a state of grace and can participate in all sacraments again.

yes. Thats what I remember

amyorama · 05-17-2006, 06:20 PM

I'm sorry I can't edit the title but here was why I was confused:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_cs...p3s2c2a5.htm#I

2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,"77 "by the very commission of the offense,"78 and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law.79 The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.

The woman will just be excommunicated?

amyorama · 05-17-2006, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maryalene

No that is absolutely untrue. Abortion is a mortal sin. A person in a state of mortal sin has separated themselves from God and cannot receive the sacrament of the Eucharist but they remain a Catholic. If a person is sorry for their sin and receives the Sacrament of Reconciliation, then they return to a state of grace and can participate in all sacraments again. The Church is full of sinners, and it doesn't turn someone away because of their sin. However, we do believe that the Eucharist is something only to be received when you are in a state of grace.

Thank you so much for clarifying that for me and I apologize that my choice of words in the title was wrong.