How does this square with:
a) The Roman Church's theology of the sacraments, priesthood, and mortal sin? That is if abortion is a mortal sin, then would not the old rules condemn the repentant abortionist/abortion-seeker to hell? Or at least makes it more likely that they will go to hell?
b) The quasi-universalism I've been hearing from some Catholics?
Really not that much was changed. Participating in an abortion is one of eight sins which results in an automatic latae sententiae excommunication, something which is an additional penalty on top of being in a state of mortal sin. Excommunications can generally only be lifted by bishops, but bishops have the power to selectively devolve this ability to the priests below them. This devolution for abortion was the standard in the United States, but not in other parts of the world. For the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis devolved this power to all priests; all the pronouncement today did was make this devolution permanent and universal.
Not sure what you mean by part b.
Thanks for the explanation.
B isn't a coherent group, so much as a variety of opinions I've heard expressed by some Catholics that could be construed as universalism. Mea culpa if that isn't an actual faction among some (very progressive) Catholics.
