Wait...so abortion requires a bishop's Penance?

[Ziggamafu]

Wow. Based on the response to the excommunication latae-whatever, there must be hundreds (if not thousands) of women (and men who contributed) who got abortions and then confessed, thinking they were recconciled. I mean, this sounds like a SERIOUS deal!!!! How come it's not blasted on Catholic radio and EWTN?!! And where is the complete list of sins that do this to you? Because I was just confirmed and after twenty or so years of sin, I could be screwed without knowing it for not being reconciled with a bishop!

Oh, and could you answer my last one about confession, too?

[Pontifex]

In most Dioceses in the United States the ability to lift the excommunication from a person is delegated to the Priests in a diocese. For the priests that do not have this delegation, they know it, and I am sure they act accordingly.
(hopefully)