How about lawyers? If a lawyer learns his client committed a crime should he report what he found out to authorities?
That, I think, gets to the heart of the matter.
Priests are NOT part of the justice system. Not Earthly justice, anyway. Priests are specifically ordered not to reveal what is confessed to them.
Lawyers, on the other hand, ARE part of the justice system. I say, if a lawyer knows (is told) that his client committed a crime, he should be required to go straight to the judge and say, “Your Honor, my client is guilty as hell.”
Or, perhaps, we can keep things the way they are.
“The attorney–client privilege is one of the oldest recognized privileges for confidential communications.[2] The United States Supreme Court has stated that by assuring confidentiality, the privilege encourages clients to make “full and frank” disclosures to their attorneys, who are then better able to provide candid advice and effective representation.[3]”
Some things are excluded...
From Wiki
Excellent post. The sanctity of The Church nor the sanctity of lawyer client privilege most not be broken. If the priest or lawyer violates this sacred and legal trust, he is a bad man just as bad if not worse than his confessor or client. When the santity of confession in the church is gone or that of the legal system their will no be no justice in or out of court.
Sadly both my church and the legal profession are corrupt today. I am not optimistic.