Some experts in the Catholic canon law expressed confusion about the practical effects of the Pope's announcement.
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But Peters said priests have been empowered to forgive the sin, which most often applies to women who have an abortion, since 1983, when the code of canon law was revised.
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Under the Catholic Church's governing code, Canon Law, the only conditions for the validity of such a resignation are that it be made freely and be properly published.
As an academic with deep knowledge of theology and canon law, the pope is probably not thrilled about the fact that some Mexicans put images of the dark-skinned representation of the Virgin Mary right next to that of Christ.
Under the Roman Catholic Church's canon law, it is technically possible for a pope to resign, but no pope has ever left office voluntarily in modern times.
He told the BBC that he fully upheld the Church's position that the sexual abuse of children was a crime that should be dealt with "according to the requirements of civil criminal law and canon law".
" They become part of Catholic canon law on December 8, the beginning of Francis' declared "Year of Mercy.
Monsignor Dooley, who said he studied canon law with Dr Brady, defended the cardinal's silence in 1975, and added that he would not necessarily refer sex crimes against children to police today if passed information confidentially.
It would be an unconstitutional "entanglement" problem (violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment) if a secular court had to get into the business of deciding what Jewish law or Catholic canon was and what it said about a given dispute.
All religious organisations will be able to opt in to holding ceremonies - but the Church of England and the Church in Wales would first need to agree to change canon law.
All religious organisations will be able to opt in to holding ceremonies, but the Church of England and the Church in Wales would first need to agree to change canon law.
The bill is set to specifically exclude the Church of England and Church in Wales to avoid a clash between Canon Law - which defines marriage as that between a man and a woman - and UK civil law.
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When Crowley made it known beforehand that she regarded those rules as general guidelines rather than canon law, she was immediately embroiled in controversy, with the co-chairman of the Commission On Presidential Debates publicly admonishing her on her contemplated waywardness.
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"The act of renouncing is a very rare occurrence, " said Dario Morelli, a canon law Ph.
The British parliament is expected to consider legislation allowing same-sex marriage, but the Church of England and the Church in Wales would be prohibited from performing wedding ceremonies as long as it remains against canon law.
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