[xenophiles]

What is the point of this?

Suppose it passes, which seems unlikely. And suppose it withstands Constitutional challenges, which seems uncertain. And suppose priests are actually willing to violate the confessional in order to comply with secular law, which I suppose some might be. So now there's an exception to the seal, and a disclaimer hanging outside the booth: "IF YOU TELL ME ABOUT CHILD ABUSE I WILL REPORT IT TO THE POLICE".

What idiotic legislator thinks that someone unwilling to go to the police will enter the booth and talk about child abuse?

(Or maybe I should ask, "how many idiotic voters will vote for a self-serving hypocrite who pushes for this law?")

[Campion]

Something that makes it even more stupid and worthless is that penitents always have the option to confess anonymously, behind the priest's back, or behind a screen. And a Catholic is basically free to confess to any priest who has permission to hear confessions, so there's no guarantee that particular priest has heard a particular penitent before, or knows him, or will ever hear him again.

So, given that, what does the nincompoop legislator think is going to happen? A priest is required by law to call up the police and say "Someone confessed abusing a child. I don't know who the person is, but if I heard his voice again, I might recognize it. Or maybe not." And the police are supposed to do what with that information, exactly? (The priest, meanwhile, if the Church law is enforced, has ended his active ministry.)