Edward Peters, a canon lawyer at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, said Francis' statement seems to assume that the "sin" of abortion and the "crime" of abortion are treated equally under church law.

CNN: Pope: All priests can forgive those who've had abortions

He said the diocesan college he attended in the United States -- a type of minor seminary -- was designed to prepare students for their commitments at major seminaries if they decided to continue their studies.

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