Will God Forgive an Abortion?

by CAPP-USA

Will God Forgive My Abortion?

It is no stretch to think many women, after having an abortion, think to themselves, “Will God forgive me?” or “Will I go to hell?” or “Can I ever forgive myself?”

Does God forgive abortion is a question not lost on the Church.

The Catholic view on abortion is clear: “Abortion is murder…It’s a human life, period.” (Pope Francis)

But less understood is God’s infinite mercy! And how “It is up to us…to give voice to God and to show the face of his mercy“. (Pope Francis)

Do Catholics support abortion? No. Can you be forgiven for an abortion? Absolutely!

“Formal cooperation in an abortion is a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life”. However, “the Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy.” (CCC, 2272)

God’s Infinite Mercy

Pope St. John Paul II said, “I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly, what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.” (Evangelium Vitae, 99)

And, this same advice applies to your aborted child! “To the same Father and his mercy you can with sure hope entrust your child.” (Evangelium Vitae, 99)

After Abortion Care

The Church understands that “Decisions that go against life sometimes arise from difficult or even tragic situations of profound suffering, loneliness, a total lack of economic prospects, depression and anxiety about the future. Such circumstances can mitigate even to a notable degree subjective responsibility and the consequent culpability of those who make these choices which in themselves are evil.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 18)

Understanding this, the Church realizes “It will likewise be necessary…to provide [for] women who having unfortunately already had an abortion are now experiencing the full moral and existential tragedy of it. Many dioceses and volunteer organizations offer psychological and spiritual support for full human recovery. The solidarity of the Christian community cannot dispense with this type of co- responsibility.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

It Is Not Always Easy to Say “Yes” to Life

The Church defends the human dignity of the child and also the mother. Respect for life means “The Church’s pastoral concern will [extend to] those families in particular which are in difficult or irregular situations.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 65) 

“I would also like to mention the situation of families living in dire poverty and great limitations…In such difficult situations of need, the Church must…show them God’s mercy.” (Pope Francis, 49) 

The guilt of abortion should not be borne alone. “Whatever the cause, single parents must receive encouragement and support from other families in the Christian community, and from the parish’s pastoral outreach.” (Pope Francis, 252)

“The Church, our mother, is committed to supporting with all her strength the good and generous presence of fathers in families” (Pope Francis)

So, “For Christians…an urgent and indispensable field for the apostolate and for Gospel witness is always open: to protect life with courage and love in all its stages.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

Remember – You Can Help Others

“[A]s a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone’s right to life”. (Evangelium Vitae, 99) You can join in Pope Francis’ call to women who find themselves in a similar situation to yours:

“With great affection I urge all future mothers: keep happy and let nothing rob you of the interior joy of motherhood…Don’t let fears, worries, other people’s comments or problems lessen your joy at being God’s means of bringing a new life to the world…Try to experience this serene excitement amid all your many concerns, and ask the Lord to preserve your joy.” (Pope Francis, 171)

Dorothy Day

Perhaps the best example of God’s infinite mercy is the Mass celebrated by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York at New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral on December 8, 2021, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Mass was in celebration for Dorothy Day’s cause for canonization advancing to Rome’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Dorothy Day, who had an abortion, is being proposed for sainthood!