Did Priest Break Seal Of Confession?

National Catholic Register ^ | 4/22/10 | Patrick Archbold

[marcbold]

In all the media hype surrounding the sex abuse scandal, haters of the Church have wondered if that scandal could destroy the Church and the priesthood. The short answer is no, but a scandal like this one could. (Not destroy permanently, of course. Nothing could do that.)

Father David Verhasselt, a priest in the parish of St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in the diocese of Milwaukee, has been placed on administrative leave because he is under investigation for breaking the seal of confession.

The charge is so serious that Archbishop Jerome Listecki has even barred Fr. Verhasselt from visiting the church.

According to local news in Milwaukee ...

[Irisshlass]

I didn't validate that..the numbers do, it is a fact, like or not. Examples? No these are actual cases. Sorry yes abusers have gone to Prison within the CC. I posted Baptist and Methodist cases if you had read them. So the agenda here is you and other anti-catholic posters will continually post articles on the sexual misconduct within the Catholic Church and other denominations are given a free pass.

[TSgt]

If “the Church” is doing all of these awesome things:

1. Why aren’t they communicating it instead of crying victim?
2. Why are pedophile protectors still in leadership positions?

[TSgt]

So the agenda here is you and other anti-catholic posters will continually post articles on the sexual misconduct within the Catholic Church and other denominations are given a free pass.

NYer, a Catholic FReeper, is one of the most frequent posters of articles pertaining to sexual misconduct within the Catholic Church. They post it, start the thread with an excuse and then subsequently complain when someone disagrees.

The terms "anti-Catholic" or "Catholic bashers" is becoming as legitimate as calling someone a racist. You use it as a last defense and it simply doesn't mean anything anymore.

[Irisshlass]

You asked me if I was an anti-Protestant..did you not?

[ArrogantBustard]

You pick up your Czech in the Czech Republic.

[laotzu]

the Church is ordained by Christ

Ordained to do this?!! God created children in His image.

The 'ordained' are less important than His creation.

[TSgt]

I need to create an animated gif for threads like these that says "that's anti-Catholic" akin to:

[ArrogantBustard]

No, it is an utterly FALSE remark, and brings shame and disgrace (the shame and disgrace of a purveyor of falsehood) upon the one who made it.

It also brings shame and disgrace upon those who defend it.

Falsehood is falsehood, even when it is falsehood about someone or something that you hate.

[ArrogantBustard]

. Why aren’t they communicating it instead of crying victim?

Question assumes falsehoods. The Church is communicating these things in diocesan newspapers, parish bulletins, and independent Catholic periodicals.

The leftist secular press ignores it.

If you're depending on the leftist secular press for your news, you're doomed to ignorance and falsehood.

[TSgt]

Have you thought about logically and factually defending your position instead of screaming Lies! Falsehoods! etc...

What exactly is a lie or falsehood and why?

[ArrogantBustard]

If your post number two refers to the Catholic Church, it is false and ignorant.

If it refers to any other entity ... I'm not sure that it makes much sense.

Quit depending on the leftist secular press for your information.

[Angry_White_Man_Syndrome]

If you do not understand that there is evil in this world that is bent on the destruction of the Church, then you cannot understand that these acts are a direct attack on the Church. I am not sure why so many on Free Republic seem to want to destroy the Church for the sins of a small number of it's leaders.

Do you also wish to destroy the United States due to the state of the leadership of Carter and Obama?

[TSgt]

diocesan newspapers, parish bulletins, and independent Catholic periodicals

BS

A priest recently wrote a detailed article that appeared on major media sites essentially saying, "other churches rape children too so stop picking on us."

If the RCC is crying victim to the media they might want to use the same forum to detail what they are doing to prevent future abuse.

[TSgt]

I am not sure why so many on Free Republic seem to want to destroy the Church for the sins of a small number of it's leaders.

Small number? Surely you jest...

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Rape children all you want and cover it up, just don’t break the seal of confession."

To whom do you attribute this statement?

[TSgt]

Simple question:

If a priest rapes a child and confesses it to another priest during confession, would that priest to whom it was confessed notify the police about said child rape?

YES or NO

[Campion]

Almost 80% were UNDER the age of 14

The John Jay study said that 73% were 14 or younger, but 78% were over the age of 10. 81% were boys. That's a whole lot of adolescent boys in there. Those are the numbers, at least in the most reputable study.

And it's not an "excuse" or a "justification" at all. Nobody is saying that that makes it right.

However, it does mean that those who support the homosexual abuse of adolescents are hypocrites when they do their little righteous outrage act against the church. They don't object to the act on principle. They object to it because it serves their agenda. You probably know who I'm talking about.

[Campion]

Small number? Surely you jest

In percentage terms? 4% in the US.

[Irisshlass]

Point it back..you use the anti rehehoric when I posted cases that were not Catholic and you don’t like it. Stop projecting on to me your actual malicious intention which is a very dangerous defense mechanism.

[Mrs. Don-o]

1. It happened a long time ago.
2. They aren’t pedophiles, they are homosexuals
3. Other people do it, we don’t do it as much
4. It was the psychiatrists fault
5. It was the bishops fault
6. The “victims” are just out for money
7. It’s a great conspiracy against the RCC by the homosexual media

Each of those statements is true in some or many cases. Is that truth worth mentioning?

None of these facts "excuses" child abuse. Are you insinuating that somebody says that Points 1-7 "excuse" child abuse? If so, do the right thing: name names, and stop merely insinuating.