Bill Proposed To End Catholic Confession Exemption For Reporting Child Abuse

KPIX5 ^ | 02/21/2019 | Jerry Hill (D) -San Mateo,CA

[Ransomed]

To my understanding evidence or testimony from the confessional was off limits in civil cases, that’s what that case in Louisiana was ultimately about. In other words, if it is proven according to the law that a priest heard of abuse in a confessional setting and didn’t then report it as the law stated he must, can the person being abused then sue the diocese for damages?

Freegards

[sparklite2]

You’re right, of course. All the child knows is that horrible things are happening and no one comes to help.

But do you have a point to make regarding freedom of religion?

Well, not really.  But since you ask ... if Catholicism alone has a confessional seal, this is more about freedom of Catholicism.  At any rate, you are still free to believe anything you want.  But where you actions impinge on others, like any other freedom it proves to be not absolute. I am have freedom of speech, but not to scream in your ear and certainly not the right for my speech to be listened to.  The difference between religious freedom and religious liberty is that the latter seems to mean my power to impose my beliefs onto others.  But I'm getting too far afield.

Or do you just wish to review the horrors of child abuse? Children are also killed with guns. Should we guns be banned along with forced confessions to the government by priests and clergy?

Are you saying you are fine when a murderer's confession is kept confidential and the murderer given spiritual comfort? At what point must religion give way to common decency?

[sparklite2]

I’m guessing you could. You’d be suing for damages to yourself, not a crime against the state. OJ Simpson’s civil trial found him “responsible” for the murders that his criminal trial said he didn’t commit.

As an aside, during the Teapot Dome trials of the 1920s, one defendant was found guilty of accepting a bribe that another defendant was acquitted of paying. LOL

[Ransomed]

How do you prove what was told to a priest in a confessional? Besides a hidden recording of the confession, I’m not sure how it isn’t going to be hearsay no matter what. The priest can’t confirm or deny, he can’t say anything, not even when or if the confession happened. I guess with a mandatory reporter psychiatrist or therapist there would be notes or even dictation, and appointment records on the therapist’s side. But for a confession there would just be a claim that the priest was told something in private, unless the alleged conversation was recorded somehow I guess.

Freegards

[sparklite2]

A priest cannot confirm or deny either what he heard or that a confession even took place? It will be fun watching this play out.

[Ransomed]

Yeah, that’s my understanding. Even if the person confessing wants him to, like “tell my boy friend when I was in for confession and what we talked about concerning my week at the beach” Or “Please tell these state police what I confessed and when, I am a spy for country x.” So they just don’t get into any of it.

Yeah, not sure how it can play out. Seems like there is no way for them to defend against allegations about what they were told in confession. They can’t even deny it.

Freegards

[sparklite2]

Yet, I find this a strong argument ...

“This is a foreign state’s law overriding our civil law, which is there to protect children, it shouldn’t have any say at all.”

[Ransomed]

There are faiths that hold to the confessional seal as Roman Catholics do, but have no allegiance to the Vatican. Like some polish Catholics and old order Catholics. I think the Orthodox also hold to it. Seems like the existence of those factions means that the Vatican being a state isn’t that important to this particular teaching.

I really don’t know if the consideration that has been given to the seal of confession by the justice system in the US is due to simple courtesy, tradition, hearsay arguments, or the 1st amendment.

Freegards

[dvan]

I agree it is the heighth of ignorance. but it just goes to show you what Liberal politicians are capable of doing. Kalifornia or NY doesn’t surprise me in the least.