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 ...

[Antoninus]

Ah, I remember you now.

You are a garden variety lying bigot.

Feel free to continue posting, though. You make yourself more and more obvious and odious with each comment.

[Campion]

The MAJORITY, 73%, were under the age of 14.

No, read it again. 73% of all of the abuse victims (not the 81% who were boys, but all victims) were 14 or younger, not "under the age of 14".

It should be emphasized that that's just one study. It's not an exhaustive tally.

Because gay rape isn’t as bad as pedophilia rape?

No, because truth is important.

[nina0113]

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?

No. He also wouldn't pat the guy on the shoulder and say, "There, there, I know you're really sorry, go in peace". He would rip the penitent a new one and tell him he had to go to the police himself. Remember, the penitent is at Confession in the first place because he knows he's done wrong and he wants to make it right with God. The priest is going to tell him he also has to make it right secularly.

You're not actually absolved until you complete your penance - the one time I couldn't do mine immediately (I went to Confession at lunchtime and had to go back to work) the priest told me to do it before I went to bed. Believe me, it was like a sack of cement across my shoulders all afternoon.

[TSgt]

Thank you for answering.

Though we disagree, you at least answered my question unlike others who attack my perceived faith and military service.

[Campion]

Priests who confess child molestation to other priests are protected.

Anyone who confesses anything in the sacrament of confession is protected against having their identity revealed by the priest. They can confess from behind a screen to a priest they don't know, if they wish.

[Antoninus]

Not only are you wrong, your defense is disgusting.

I defended no one.

There is only one defender of pedophiles on this thread--YOU. You defended Harvey Milk.

My comment was that 80% of victims where post-pubescent boys according to the Jay Report.

51% were between 11 and 14
27% were between 15 and 17

51% + 27% = 78%

If you really want to get down and dirty into the minutiae of how many of that 51% in the middle were physically "post-pubescent" be my guest. But I'm wagering that the vast majority were closer to 14 than to 11.

[TSgt]

Pot meet kettle

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2493559/posts?page=11#11

[TSgt]

There is only one defender of pedophiles on this thread--YOU. You defended Harvey Milk.

My words were that he had more integrity than the RCC not that his actions were defensible. Go reread the post and confess to your priest for bearing false witness "good Christian."

[TSgt]

If you really want to get down and dirty into the minutiae of how many of that 51% in the middle were physically "post-pubescent" be my guest. But I'm wagering that the vast majority were closer to 14 than to 11.

I'm not the one attempting to cover up child rape by calling it consensual homosexual sex so I don't need to parse the numbers.

[Antoninus]

Though we disagree, you at least answered my question unlike others who attack my perceived faith and military service.

Stop whining. The purpose of those questions is to discover your motive for introducing the subject of homosexual child rape into a thread that is about the seal of confession.

It's pretty clear that you enjoy rubbing this issue into Catholics' faces. It's also clear, given your excusing Harvey Milk, that you have no actual interest in protecting children from sex abuse.

[Antoninus]

My words were that he had more integrity than the RCC not that his actions were defensible.

LOL. Nice try.

You want to talk about integrity? How about admitting that you don't give a flying fig about homosexual child rape, except to the extent that it allows you to beat up on the Catholic Church?

[murron]

I may be wrong, but the response that others do it as well is not meant to exonerate those in the Church who are perpetrating these autrocities. But what is disgusting is that the media is trying to portray the Church as the ONLY religion that is guilty of these sins, which is not the case. It's certainly not an excuse, but it's not isolated just to the Catholic Church.

[TSgt]

Are you going to present a logical defense or not?

All child rape is wrong, I’m sorry you don’t feel the same way.

[ArrogantBustard]

BS

Not.

I'd suggest that you refrain from pontificating on topics of which you know nothing.

[ArrogantBustard]

I believe that we’ve seen this guy before, under a different name.

[ArrogantBustard]

Priests who confess child molestation to other priests are require to turn themselves over to the police. A confessor can withhold absolution. This clearly is above your paygrade.

[TSgt]

I may be wrong, but the response that others do it as well is not meant to exonerate those in the Church who are perpetrating these autrocities. But what is disgusting is that the media is trying to portray the Church as the ONLY religion that is guilty of these sins, which is not the case. It's certainly not an excuse, but it's not isolated just to the Catholic Church.

Then stop using the excuse. The articles posted by Irisshlass are evidence that the media doesn't ignore abuse in other faiths. The cases and cover-ups in the RCC are systemic.

[ArrogantBustard]

Did you formerly use the name “MikeWUSAF”?

[murron]

I will use this as an excuse. The level of media coverage to the Catholic Church in comparison to other denominations is overwhelming heavy towards the Church. It’s wrong no matter who is doing it. But why such an unbalance in coverage?

[Angry_White_Man_Syndrome]

Yes, a small number. A much smaller number then say the public schools or the population at large. But that is right, you have an agenda.