Posted on 02/24/2019 7:11:03 AM PST by marshmallow
A California state lawmaker introduced a proposal on Wednesday that would require clergy to report child abuse or neglect disclosed during confession.
The bill is expected to inspire a moral debate at the Capitol about the right to private penance versus a desire to protect children, and will force legislators to wade into the debate over the intersection of religion and public safety.
“SB 360 is about the safety and protection of children,” said Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), who introduced the proposal. “The law should apply equally to all professionals who have been designated as mandated reporters of these crimes — with no exceptions, period. The exemption for clergy only protects the abuser and places children at further risk.”
Clergy, doctors, psychologists, marriage and family therapists and social workers are among some 46 categories of professionals required to report any suspicion of abuse or neglect to law enforcement.
But state law offers an exemption for any clergy member “who acquires knowledge or a reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect during a penitential communication,” defined as a sacramental confession or other communication made in confidence.
The proposal received swift backlash from the California Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the Catholic Church.
“Inserting government into the Confessional does nothing to protect children and everything to erode the fundamental constitutional rights and liberties we enjoy as Americans,” said Steve Pehanich, director of communications and advocacy for the California Catholic Conference.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
So tell the priest OUTSIDE of confession. Being abused isn't a sin, anyway.
Says you. But you're not Catholic, are you? Your opinion on the topic is irrelevant.
You are correct, my opinion if irrelevant. But the Bible is relevant, and it doesn't support the seal of confession.
Trying to destroy church?
They pass this law and another that protects pedophilia:
“When the law was passed in California, Republicans did attempt to add an amendment specifying that pedophilia is not covered as an orientation, but the Democrats defeated the amendment. What the Democrats either failed to realize or didn’t care about was that, by labeling pedophilia a sexual orientation, discrimination laws apply and pedophiles cannot be barred from jobs such as teaching preschool based solely on their pedophilia.”
Says you. But you don't get to impose your opinions on other Christians, no matter how much you hate their Church. The First Congress was wise enough to ensure that the government would be prohibited to impose religious beliefs on those who disagree with them. It's called Amendment I. Read it.
Wikipedia
Go to the police.
Exactly what the priest should do...Go to the police
And what if it your child being abused?
Is not the priest to be called: “Father”? And what kind of father does not protect his own children?
Oh. Face to face is sitting in a room talking to the priest. Traditionally confession was done with a screen between so the priest could not see the confesser. The Church has gone back to that way of confession
What kind of parent would raise children without informing them of the wickedness of homosexual predators and instruct them to come tell them immediately if they’re even approached? What kind of parent would not report such abuse to the police?
Do you even have children?
Whatever.
The state needs to stay out of the confessional and the Church.
“Some people would gladly give ultimate power over everything to The State, if if it would destroy the Catholic Church.”
Which is from where this idiotic bill is derived
So then I take it you’re OK with a priest not reporting that a child is being abused.
I was sexually abused as a child and told no one until much later in life...If a priest was ever told of this abuse and did nothing, then I pray God will forgive him, because I never would..
Why not?
Shame, fear, etc....If only there were someone..like maybe a priest that my abuser had confessed to, that would have stood up and spoken for me when I couldn’t..
Did you have parents at the time?
I am just starting to get a whole new idea re: “face to face” confession and why the homos brought that change into the Church ....Hmmm.
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