Pope says priests can absolve faithful of abortion sin

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - Pope Francis is applying his vision of a merciful church to women who have had abortions, saying Tuesday he realizes some feel they had no choice and making their path toward forgiveness simpler.

In a letter published by the Holy See, Francis said he was allowing all rank-and-file priests to grant absolution during the Year of Mercy he has proclaimed, which runs Dec. 8, 2015 until Nov. 20, 2016.

Graziano Marcheschi, the Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Saint Xavier University Chicago, joined us LIVE on GDC to talk more about the issue.