The Archdiocese of Barcelona in Spain confirmed April 18 that Father
Manuel Pousa was not automatically excommunicated after admitting to
paying for two abortions.
Investigators concluded “with due certitude” that Fr. Pousa did not
incur excommunication established by canon 1398 of the Code of Canon
Law, reported the archdiocese.
Canon 1398 of the Code of Canon Law states: “A person who actually
procures an abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.”
The archdiocesan statement explained that the priest was not
excommunicated “because he did not concur in the intention of the
offense and was not principally complicit in the abortions that had
already been decided and carried out by two girls in a very precarious
economic situation.”
Although the priest admitted to paying for the abortions years ago, a
new book brought the incident to light again – as well as his blessings
of same-sex civil unions, support of "voluntary” celibacy and the
ordination of women.
Monday’s statement by the archdiocese quoted a declaration by the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued on Oct. 15, 2009,
which said, “(t)his dicastery, after having examined the answers that
have been submitted, concludes that the Rev. Pousa does not seem to have
incurred any canonical penalty.”
For this reason, the archdiocese said, Cardinal Martinez Sistach of
Barcelona “has declared that the aforementioned priest has not incurred a
latae sententiae censure.”
The archdiocese ended the statement by reiterating that Fr. Pousa’s
work “in benefit of the poor and marginalized of society is carried out
in accord with the teachings of the Church, with her social doctrine and
with respect for every human life from conception to natural death.”