Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Posted on 05/07/2025 7:41:51 PM PDT by george76
We previously discussed the legislation passed by Washington State democrats that requires priests to violate the sanctity of the confessional to report child abuse. I described the law as “blatantly unconstitutional” in eviscerating the right to the free exercise of religion. The state is moving to create an effective system of sacramental snitches and the Catholic Church is declaring “enough.” It has announced that any priest who complies with the law will be promptly excommunicated.
We previously discussed the proposed legislation that would target priests who learn of any “reasonable” basis to believe that a child “has suffered abuse or neglect.” Despite objections from many of us that the law is unconstitutional and a denial of religious liberty, Democrat Gov. Bob Ferguson signed it into law last week.
The legislation amended the state law that currently applies to law enforcement, teachers, medical professionals or child care providers to report cases of child abuse or neglect. Clergy was added to the list. The sponsors also exempted clergy from the exception afforded to lawyers and others who obtain information “solely as a result of a privileged communication.”
The law applies to any “ordained minister, priest, rabbi, imam, elder, or similarly situated religious or spiritual leader of any church, religious denomination, religious body, spiritual community, or sect, or person performing official duties that are recognized as the duties of a member of the clergy.”
The government and Democratic sponsors were told that canon law imposes a “sacramental seal” over the confessional. Under Canon 983.1, “it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.”
In 1813 in New York, the clergy-penitent privilege faced an early challenge in People v. Philips. In that case, Fr. Anthony Kohlmann learned in the confessional about two people who had stolen jewelry and convinced them to turn over stolen goods to him. He then returned the goods to the victims. However, after the thieves were later arrested, state prosecutors sought to force Fr. Kohlmann to testify. The court, however, ruled that he was constitutionally exempt.
Putting aside the unconstitutionality, it is a law ripe for abuse. The state would be using the church as an agent to compel confessions on the threat of damnation and then turn over the evidence to the police. Worse yet, if the priest does not give a type of ministerial Miranda, the confessant may not realize the danger. However, it is rather hard for a priest to say that a person must confess their sin while reminding them of the right to remain silent.
The Catholic Church announced that priests will be excommunicated if they follow a new law. They must choose between their faith and the risk of being criminally charged:
“Catholic clergy may not violate the seal of confession — or they will be excommunicated from the Church. All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred, secure, confidential and protected by the law of the Church.”
The Democrats effectively declared war on religion, and particularly the Catholic faith, with this abusive law. The matter is now set for a showdown in the federal courts and, hopefully, an expedited process for judicial review and appeals.
Washington has been one of the most aggressive states in litigating against religious rights, including its long litigation in the Masterpiece Cake Shop case.
In Washington, the governor and the Democrats have added to the four stages of the confession. Examination, confession, absolution, and penance may now be followed by incarceration.
The bill will go into effect on July 26 and make Washington just one of a relatively small number states that do not offer exemptions on such reporting for the confessional.
John Paul II stated that “Confession is an act of honesty and courage – an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God.” It now appears that it will demand greater courage in Washington where both priest and penitent are expected to submit to the authority of the state.
In the synoptic gospels, Jesus declared “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” This is not one of those things to be rendered to the modern demigods of Olympia.
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Are shrinks held to the same requirement?
As it should be.
IIRC violating the Seal of the Confessional can only be absolved by the highest eschelon of the Vatican.
Parallel penalties in Orthodox Christianity and the higher Anglicans.
But they won’t excommunicate politicians who claim to be Catholic, but support abortion.
As in totalitarian countries, the priests were also supposed to disclose political dissidents. How many of the priests in China have been coerced with laws like these?
Start with abuse confessions and the rest follows.
What - they don’t want priests ratting out the others in their coven?
Or lawyers?
/sarc
There are saints (e.g. Saint John Nepomucen), who went to their death, after tortures, to keep the sanctity of the confessional.
So, in other words, you think the State should have the power, under penalty of imprisonment, to compel clergy to act as police agents rather than as agents of Christ. How very Soviet of you! The KGB would be so proud!
Indeed.
The State has mistaken itself for God.
Has any of these types of modern mandatory reporting laws for priests hearing confessions ever been prosecuted anywhere? All I ever see are stories about how places enacted these things or almost enacted them but nothing after that. It makes me think it’s a performative thing.
Heck, I’ve never seen any articles with people who support them explain how they are supposed to work in practice. Like how is the prosecution supposed to work? Priests can’t even confirm or deny they ever heard a particular confession from someone, much less what was said in it. They can’t say anything. There’s no records like in medicine or psychology, so what is supposed to happen next? Is it just to open up a civil case for damages or what?
FReegards
Matthew 18:6. To cover up a crime is the same as conspiracy to commit one. Also, it leads to more and more abuse. If your denomination condones that, shame on them.
Mark 12:17 The laws of society are under the authority of Caesar the State. Otherwise you are promoting anarchy.
The State has mistaken itself for God. The Peoples’ Republic of China, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Third Reich, the Peoples’ Democratic Republic of Korea, the Democratic Republic of Germany, and similar states merely took (take) that mistake to its logical conclusion.
I get it: you have a huge, long-standing beef with The Church ... you’ve made that clear many times on this forum. That doesn’t excuse your current practice of siding with a (wannabe) totalitarian State. You’re taking up with some truly foul company here.
I'm not the one covering for child abuse.
You’re the one bowing down in worship before Government Almighty. You’re committing one of the most common, and worst, forms of modern idolatry.
A Catholic accusing another of idolatry is almost amusing. You worship your denomination with its sordid history. We will all be judged individually and not by denomination. I'll be on record against child abuse, child abusers and cover-ups of child abusers. Let God judge me for that.
You blather and drivel, but your idolatry of the State remains. Repent, while you still can.
The confessional is between the confessor, the priest and god.
Any intervention by the state in that chain is just wrong and an attack on The Church. It is that simple. Without the ABSOLUTE sanctity of privacy in the confessional it is a worthless act between the confessor, priest and GOD. If one destroys this sanctity the church will be destroyed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.