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Bill Proposed To End Catholic Confession Exemption For Reporting ChildĀ Abuse
KPIX5 ^ | 02/21/2019 | Jerry Hill (D) -San Mateo,CA

Posted on 02/24/2019 9:32:41 AM PST by dvan

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — State Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) has introduced a bill, SB 360, to end the “penitential communication” exemption to child abuse reporting.

Currently, 43 categories of adults are required to report to the police if they know or “reasonably suspect” a child is “has been the victim of child abuse or neglect.” (Cal. Penal Code 11166(a).)

There is an exception for clergy who gain knowledge of abuse during “penitential communication,” sometimes referred to as “confession.”  (Cal. Penal Code 11166(d).) Hill says “those in the clergy have been able to abuse and get away with it,” because of the exception so his bill would erase it from the law. “This bill will require that everyone has to say something when they see it.”

(Excerpt) Read more at sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: confessionals; priests; sexabuse
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I have a suggestion install video cameras which activate when the kneeler is engaged.
1 posted on 02/24/2019 9:32:41 AM PST by dvan
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To: dvan

What about murder?


2 posted on 02/24/2019 9:37:07 AM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: dvan

Lawyers will still be able to shield their clients. So this is not really about catching perverts.
As despicable as this is the clergy exemption should stay. Freedom of Religion. The tough cases are always the starting point for eroding our rights.


3 posted on 02/24/2019 9:39:36 AM PST by FreedomNotSafety
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To: FreedomNotSafety

So now the same CA democrats who are PROMOTING and legalizing male-child sex normalization going to require the catholic church to break confession secrecy if they suspect priest-child contact?


4 posted on 02/24/2019 9:46:44 AM PST by Robert A Cook PE (The democrats' national goal: One world social-communism under one world religion: Atheistic Islam.)
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To: Robert A Cook PE

The Democrat Sodomite Party.


5 posted on 02/24/2019 9:51:47 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (Every time a lefty cries "racism", a Trump voter gets his wings.)
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To: dvan

It’s a short step from this to outlawing the Catholic faith entirely. Some people seem to be comfortable with that idea.

I think it will spark a civil war.

I wouldn’t be surprised if some leftists want that.


6 posted on 02/24/2019 9:53:58 AM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the peopIe to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: FreedomNotSafety

As despicable as this is the clergy exemption should stay. Freedom of Religion.


Said no child being abused, ever.


7 posted on 02/24/2019 9:57:18 AM PST by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
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To: sparklite2

The beginning. Start with something that will have the “who could be against this” tag. Down the road comes “you must have gay marriage because it’s the law of the land “. The left uses incrementalism like tanks.


8 posted on 02/24/2019 10:03:51 AM PST by gibsonguy
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To: gibsonguy

WWJD?


9 posted on 02/24/2019 10:06:08 AM PST by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
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To: dvan; All
While child abuse needs to be dealt with, are California lawmakers possibly unaware of express constitutional protections, 1st Amendment protections in this example, applied to the states through the 14th Amendment (14A)?
”14th Amendment, Section 1: All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States [emphasis added]; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

10 posted on 02/24/2019 10:06:37 AM PST by Amendment10
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To: FreedomNotSafety

Exceptions are bad things to make laws over.


11 posted on 02/24/2019 10:06:38 AM PST by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: dvan

The slippery slope. Next will be attorney client privilege.


12 posted on 02/24/2019 10:10:10 AM PST by LoveMyFreedom
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To: dvan

I was raised Catholic, and will remain so in my heart,
but I have always agreed with this in principal.

If there is a severe and horrible crime that has been committed, a crime that will continue to endanger more and more people, I think the priest owes it to humanity to tell authorities. I do.

Decades ago, I read a book about Albert DeSalvo; aka The Boston Strangler. Many years before he was finally arrested on those charges, he is said to have confessed to many of the killings. He spoke to a cellmate of the time, not a priest, so the confessions were not deemed appropriate for use in court. But what if he had spoken to a priest, one assigned to speak to prisoners. Should such a priest never have said anything, leaving multiple murder cases forever unsolved?


13 posted on 02/24/2019 10:13:12 AM PST by lee martell
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To: LoveMyFreedom

as well as doctor patient confidentiality


14 posted on 02/24/2019 10:13:23 AM PST by Bob434
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To: FreedomNotSafety
Sorry, what is "despicable" about the idea that clergy shouldn't be an agent of the state, and that communicating with a clergyman in a religious context is protected just as much as communicating with a defense attorney?

If "no establishment of religion" means anything, it ought to protect your right to speak to a minister of your choice without the state horning in on it.

15 posted on 02/24/2019 10:14:04 AM PST by Campion ((marine dad))
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To: NorthMountain
I think it will spark a civil war.

Highly unlikely. If rank and file Catholics weren't stirred to action after decades and decades and decades of priests sexually abusing their congregants (and they weren't), then why would they be willing to take up arms and risk their lives?

16 posted on 02/24/2019 10:19:31 AM PST by Poison Pill
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To: Poison Pill

You never know what will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.


17 posted on 02/24/2019 10:21:46 AM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the peopIe to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: dvan

is this when the priest is confessing or hearing the confession?


18 posted on 02/24/2019 10:24:36 AM PST by morphing libertarian (Use Comey's Report; Indict Hillary now; build Kate's wall. --- Proud Smelly Walmart Deplorable)
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To: Poison Pill

Apples and oranges there. Being betrayed by the behavior of some priests is hardly the same thing as a concerted effort by secular government to stamp out Christianity.


19 posted on 02/24/2019 10:28:38 AM PST by Charles Martel (Progressives are the crab grass in the lawn of life.)
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To: morphing libertarian

Hearing confession. Jose Blow goes into confessional and confesses child abuse. Under proposed bill, Padre is supposed to call the cops.


20 posted on 02/24/2019 10:33:49 AM PST by irishjuggler
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