text: I understand getting the bishop's permission is not the case in the United States.  Even so, last year when the announcement was made publicly, there were American women calling churches and other Catholic organizations asking If it was true that abortions could be forgiven.  It shocked me that some  American women would think that there was no forgiveness for them.   Thank God for Pope Francis for making this pubic declaration last year and again now.  Obviously a lot of people needed to hear it.    
  
  In other parts of the world, the situation must be much worse.  With less media exposure, less education and less respect for women,  some women who had had abortions must have felt abandoned even by God.
  
  God bless Pope Francis!