I've always found this difficult to put in the right words, but I think there's a real diminishing of the feels behind abortion by the pro-choice movement, to their detriment.
Plenty of women have no feels about it, and that's great for them.
But plenty do, and plenty of them are not brainwashed by men. Just because it's easy and accessible doesn't mean it's a slam dunk for all women.
This is partly why contraception education and accessibility is so important, but it's still not 100%.
When I was in that spot, I felt like the pro-choice answer was "you don't have to do this! You can terminate! All taken care of!" When what I really felt was that I had no good choices at all.
Catholics who procure an abortion or assist someone in procuring an abortion are ipso facto excommunicate. There are exactly 12 ways someone can receive that penalty - most of the rest are for heresy, trying to harm the pope, breaking the seal of the confessional, etc.
To have it lifted, normally you have to appeal to your bishop. And I don't believe such things are protected by the seal of the confessional (though I could be wrong).
This would allow a woman to confess to a priest. And be protected by the seal. It's HUGE.
The only thing that would have made this better is if he had done a general absolution.
I've always found this difficult to put in the right words, but I think there's a real diminishing of the feels behind abortion by the pro-choice movement, to their detriment.
Plenty of women have no feels about it, and that's great for them.
But plenty do, and plenty of them are not brainwashed by men. Just because it's easy and accessible doesn't mean it's a slam dunk for all women.
This is partly why contraception education and accessibility is so important, but it's still not 100%.
When I was in that spot, I felt like the pro-choice answer was "you don't have to do this! You can terminate! All taken care of!" When what I really felt was that I had no good choices at all.
There is so much I can't articulate about my feelings about abortion (and I am very much, unquestionably pro-choice), but this comes close. Things like pitying women who believe that abortion is a sin do not help to bridge the gap and really do not show much empathy at all.
The idea that a woman can confess to an abortion and receive forgiveness is so huge I honestly can't wrap my mind around it. I wonder how it will change the perception, not so much for anyone in my generation or older, but for younger and future generations of Catholic women.
I've always found this difficult to put in the right words, but I think there's a real diminishing of the feels behind abortion by the pro-choice movement, to their detriment.
Plenty of women have no feels about it, and that's great for them.
But plenty do, and plenty of them are not brainwashed by men. Just because it's easy and accessible doesn't mean it's a slam dunk for all women.
This is partly why contraception education and accessibility is so important, but it's still not 100%.
When I was in that spot, I felt like the pro-choice answer was "you don't have to do this! You can terminate! All taken care of!" When what I really felt was that I had no good choices at all.
This is a great articulation of how I've been feeling for a while.
I've always found this difficult to put in the right words, but I think there's a real diminishing of the feels behind abortion by the pro-choice movement, to their detriment.
Plenty of women have no feels about it, and that's great for them.
But plenty do, and plenty of them are not brainwashed by men. Just because it's easy and accessible doesn't mean it's a slam dunk for all women.
This is partly why contraception education and accessibility is so important, but it's still not 100%.
When I was in that spot, I felt like the pro-choice answer was "you don't have to do this! You can terminate! All taken care of!" When what I really felt was that I had no good choices at all.
I don't disagree with your general point, but it is not easy and accessible everywhere. Some states (like Texas) have basically enshrined stigma into law with all the restrictions, making it take so long, having few clinics open.... they make it turn into a long, drawn out process.
It's hard for me not think that some of the feels come from that. Obviously how much will vary per woman, but make her feel like a criminal for getting a procedure and don't be surprised when she feels more guilt over it.
I'm not saying that's the only reason; I just think that some of the pressure is internal, sure, but some of it is external, too. And that's really all the pro-choice people can try to effectively address.
Oh no, I totally agree that there are accessibility problems in a lot (most?) of the country, and we should fix that. If it's what you need/want, you should be able to get it. But it wasn't inaccessible for me, and I still had feels and I still didn't want it, and that's true for plenty of women and it's ok.
underwaterrhymes nailed it for me. I'm not catholic but I LOVE this Pope. I actually respect the statements from a Pope for the first time ever - he seems to really have a heart and a lot of empathy.
Post by downtoearth on Sept 1, 2015 14:11:08 GMT -5
I am glad that this pope is here and I hope he makes all the crazies/more fundamental roll-back-from-Vatican-II Catholics to rethink their strict bible ways and potentially embrace less judgement and more forgiveness.
I also can see both sides of being baffled that a woman was made to feel guilty about having an abortion and how a woman can feel terrible that she had an abortion and wanting a priest to help her come to terms. I grew up Catholic and chose to even get confirmed - I have family that are Catholic and have the same degrees as Jesuit Priests, but are women so they are "just teachers." I am also an atheist now - and consciously left the church after seeking out answers that weren't what I wanted. I don't feel weird guilt from my mom, but I also am not Catholic anymore and we all still love each other. All of that to say that there are good things about the Catholic church, and I'd never go back, but I also understand that some people want faith in their lives and it's exciting that Pope Francis is revitalizing and expanding that faith for many.
I seriously dated a guy a few years ago whose family was Roman Catholic. So much that his father was a deacon.
They went to a VERY conservative Roman Catholic church (example: one of the deacons went on and on about birth control being the devil and that's how the conservatives lost the election in 2012. MANY women looked ashamed and uncomfortable. I left the mass after that one). bf wasn't catholic anymore, but we went to mass to appease his parents when he visited.
I often wonder what their thoughts are with this Pope. He's reversed a lot of old-school belief systems and rules. I bet their heads are exploding.
i'm both shocked that an abortion had been an unforgivable offense, but I guess I'm happy to see what a big step this is for the catholics/church
it is not unforgivable. The change is who can offer absolution
just when I'm starting to like the catholic church a bit, I learn more & am completly baffled.
And I just read the 1 year thing....so strange.
This goes against my very protestant upbringing of "god forgives sins" or "jesus died to forgive sins" when people of various positions/levels in the church can forgive certain degrees of sins..
it is not unforgivable. The change is who can offer absolution
just when I'm starting to like the catholic church a bit, I learn more & am completly baffled.
And I just read the 1 year thing....so strange.
This goes against my very protestant upbringing of "god forgives sins" or "jesus died to forgive sins" when people of various positions/levels in the church can forgive certain degrees of sins..
"…22And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23"If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained." John 20:22-23 Doesn't say anything about different levels of priests, but this is the basis for the authority to withhold absolution.