Ok, let’s follow that thought exercise:
First a disclaimer, I’m Protestant and a Deacon in my church. However, in that capacity I often have conversations (confessions) with the church membership. Many that touch on legal and very sensitive issues. As a church leader, I am expected to have guidance and advice and most of all - to not share what has been spoken in confidence to me. I do not share it with other deacons or the pastor, not even my wife or anyone else unless the member says it is ok for me to share the details. But back to our thought exercise.
So the state first forces the reporting of Pedophiles (for the children). Then it is murder, then it is domestic abuse, then it is tax cheats, then it is cases of fraud, then theft and then ....
Well you get the point. So at some point in time, the person decides to not FULLY confess because their words could be used against them. This is in direct contravention of the scriptures which tell us to confess our sins one to another. The state is then using intimidation to censer a persons’ faith and the free exercise of their religion.
Next the person decide that confession is just not worth the risk, and then they decide that they don’t need to come to church at all. The state’s use of intimidation is now forcing the person away from a possible resource to come clean or to get help.
This is nothing more than a DIRECT attack on the Christian community and an attempt to make irrelevant one of the direct commandments from the New Testament.
Hear, hear! Wonderfully put.
It would never go that far. The first exemption to the seal would end Confession. Then the state would maybe think it has to decreeenact a law that required frequent confession. It would then be another in a series of absurd laws that would serve to put the government right inside the Parish to regulate every facet of religion. Religion would then split into the Government church and the underground Church.
Ok, lets follow that thought exercise:
Well said. The Church is a social organization and authority structure independent of, older than, and not entirely subject to the State. Tyrants cannot tolerate such.
Instead of the state forcing it, why doesn’t the church just do the right thing, and say it’s ok? Why does the church fight this? They certainly don’t support pedophiles and I’m sure they think it’s illegal.