The Catholic Church will not soften its stance against abortion even as Pope Francis has given all priests the power to forgive those who have committed the "grave sin."

 

"Kailangan unawain natin na [ang] abortion ay isa sa pinakagrabeng kasalanan," Father Aris Sison, spokesperson of the Dioece of Cubao, said in an interview on GMA News' "News To Go" on Wednesday morning.

 

Those who commit the act of abortion are automatically excommunicated, which is why normally, only bishops have the power to forgive such act.

 

"Pero in the context of the Jubilee Year of Mercy...binibigyan ni Pope Francis lahat ng pari ng faculty, ng power magpatawad, hindi lamang sa babae, pero lahat ng naging guilty sa kasalanan ng abortion," Sison said.

 

The Jubilee Year of Mercy, or Holy Year, will start on December 8, and end on Nov. 20, 2016. During this period, those who committed the act of abortion may ask for forgiveness from priests.

 

"Yung guilt ng mga taong nagpa-abort, grabe na lamang. Eto ay napakalaking consolation, comfort para dun sa mga nag-abort," he said. "Hindi ito mami-misinterpret na lumuluwag ang posisyon ng simbahan dito, malayo yun."

 

Sison also clarified that Pope Francis' move should also not be "misinterpreted as condoning abortion, definitely not."

 

Not only women are guilty

 

Sison, meanwhile, explained that people who are involved in the act of abortion may also ask for forgiveness.

 

He said that even the doctor, nurse or the person who adviced the woman to commit abortion are also guilty of the act.

 

"Hindi lang naman yung babaeng nagpaabort ang guilty sa kasalanan ng abortion. Yung doktor, yung nurse na tumulong dun, yung nagadvise sakanya para gumawa nun... lahat ng mga taong yun ay guilty dun sa kasalanan ng abortion," Sison said.

 

The forgiveness and succeeding retraction of the member's excommunication is meant to bring the Roman Catholic Church closer to the Holy Father's vision of a more inclusive community, he said.

 

"Ang pinaka-focus nito ay pagkakataon para sa lahat na makatanggap ng awa ng kapatawaran ng Panginoon. Malaking bagay to," he added. —Jessica Bartolome/ALG, GMA News