ROME – One day after taping a video session with three US communities set to air Friday and described by those who’ve seen it as a “home run,” Pope Francis executed a daring pastoral double play on Tuesday, reaching out to two constituencies long alienated from the official structures of the Catholic Church.

In a concession that applies to a special “Year of Mercy” set to run from Dec. 8, 2015, to Nov. 20, 2016, Francis has decreed that any Catholic priest can grant forgiveness to someone who “procures” an abortion without need of special permission from a bishop.

While the reference in a papal letter released on Tuesday is primarily to women who have had abortions, the move could be read to apply equally to other parties, such as doctors who perform abortions and anyone else involved.

The pontiff also decided that any Catholic who confesses his or her sins during the year to a priest of the Society of St. Pius X, a traditionalist breakaway group not approved by Rome, will nevertheless be considered licitly forgiven.

Read the article “Pope Extends Olive Branch on Abortion, Traditionalist Dissent” on cruxnow.com.