Posted on 07/08/2014 2:14:18 PM PDT by NYer
Ping!
Assume that the priest will say no, even if he is held in comtempt. He will not condemm himself.
Nothing in the bible says you need to go through a middle man. Just go straight to the head honcho. He’s listening.
Ok Jesus
“The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.”
One need not agree with any or all aspects of Roman Catholic theology, to recognize their right to exercise their religion free of interference by the State.
Priests have been martyred rather than break the seal of Confession. This aint’ no episode of SVU.
Certainly would solve the problem. A priest should never, ever keep a secret when it involves an innocent child. Nor anyone for that matter. Disturbing. More like harboring criminals, IMO.
Nobody is free to exercise his religion when the state can show a compelling interest. That’s the Federal case law concerning the First Amendment, and it has been for many years. Clearly LA believes there is a compelling interest to requiring this testimony, or else like many other states, they would have a shield law. They don’t, so the priest will have to accept whatever penalty goes with the exercise of his religion in the face of a compelling interest.
"All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.
-Benito Mussolini
Looks like that's where we're headed, with some "Christians" cheering the State every step of the way.
We don't let Mormons or Muslims practice polygamy in the US, even though it's very much accepted in their belief system; we don't let whack-jobs ritually kill animals or take drugs in the name of their "religion."
Refusing to give priests carte blanche to protect child molesters isn't creeping fascism or socialism. It's the rule of law and -- surprise, surprise -- it ALWAYS has been.
LOL
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
That has been the law of this country since 1791. I suggest that the State must obey the law, and that Americans must insist that it obey the law even with respect to those with whom we disagree.
The alternative, ultimately, is tyranny.
I refer you again to Mussolini, whose ideology parallels yours.
The alternative, ultimately, is allowing any nutjob with a collar or a turban to claim that his religion exempts him from the law. It doesn't. It never has. Stop cutting and pasting from the Bill of Rights and learn what it actually means instead.
Really? According to my Bible, in the Book of John 20:22-23, it clearly states:
"And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained."
The text even makes clear how Confession is to be conducted. Christ's representative, the priest, must decide whether to forgive or retain. Therefore, the penitent must confess each and every serious sin, that is anything which separates him from Christ. If the priest judges he is truly sorry, He must absolve since Christ's Passion merited forgiveness for every repentant sinner. Only if the person shows no willingness to give up sin does the priest retain, that is withhold absolution, as we "do not give what is holy to dogs" (Mt 7:6).
In one form or another the Sacrament of Penance has been in continuous practice in the Church. Its existence in all the Churches of the First Millenium, even those separated from Rome, shows its apostolicity.
Which is not what is happening in this case anyway -- the confession in question is the confession of the victim, not the perp -- so you're way off base.
The sanctity of confession is understood and upheld for every Christian denomination. You may recall the OJ incident with Rosie Grier, who is an ordained minister.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.