A Statement from Bishop Provost

On September 1, 2015, His Holiness, Pope Francis announced that all priests during the Year of Mercy would have the faculty to forgive the sin of abortion. At the conclusion of the Year of Mercy on the Feast of Christ the King, November 20, 2016, Pope Francis announced that all of the priests of the world would retain this faculty indefinitely. The Diocese of Lake Charles wants to assure the Christian faithful that all priests serving in the Diocese of Lake Charles have had for many years the faculty to forgive the sin of abortion and to lift the canonical penalty if incurred. It is common practice in the United States for Ordinaries to grant this faculty.
Therefore, the faithful who have procured abortions and have obtained forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation do not need to re-confess their sin.

Let us pray that all people who have suffered from abortion may know the healing mercy of Jesus Christ.