I just noticed the CNN headline for this:
"Pope: Abortion is forgivable."
Like that's some new innovative Catholic doctrine that abortion can be forgiven.
If you are truly sorry then any sin can be forgiven.
For any sin to be forgiven, the penitent must receive the grace of God, respond in a contrite way, beg God for forgiveness, and then respond properly to those graces by (1) going to confession, (2) having true contrition; (3) resolving never to commit that sin or any sin in the future; and (4) resolving to fulfill the penance given.
Furthermore, the person who committed that sin cannot assume that he will be truly sorry after committing that sin. That would be manifesting a spirit of arrogance and pride. Instead of justifying the evil deed and thinking that the grace of true contrition and absolution would be automatically granted after committing such a foul deed, one should ardently pray and resist any temptations to commit any sins whatsoever whether venial or mortal.
St. Thomas Aquinas states somewhere that one in a state of continuous venial sins is left in a weakened state that could predispose him to commit a mortal sin. Therefore, it is imperative to resist all sins and to flee from all near occasions of sin.
In addition, we sinners must be willing to forgive others, for unless we forgive, we cannot be forgiven. To the measure that we are willing to forgive and love our enemies, to that degree will our sins be forgiven.
Our Father, Who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the Evil One.Let us pray for each other that we may be saved.