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Will Australian Priests be Forced to Violate the Seal of Confession?
Canon Law Made Easy ^ | April 18, 2013 | Cathy Caridi, J.C.L.

Posted on 04/18/2013 7:20:30 AM PDT by Weiss White

Q: I know that priests aren’t allowed to reveal what people tell them in confession. But what happens in places where reporting sexual abuse of children is mandated by law? They’re talking about making it a legal requirement now in Australia, just like they did in Ireland. Will priests really have to go to jail, rather than reveal the identity of a penitent to the police? –Lauren

A: Readers from “down under” are no doubt keenly aware that last fall, Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the formation of a federal Royal Commission to investigate child sexual abuse. One stated purpose of the commission was to examine the role of religious institutions in covering up abuse of children by the clergy.

(Excerpt) Read more at canonlawmadeeasy.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Religion & Politics; Theology
KEYWORDS: australia; blogspam; canonlaw; catholic; checkoutmyblog; comeseemyblog; didjareadmyblog; ihaveablog; iminteresting; listentome; lookatme; payattentiontome; pimpmyblog; readme; readmyblog; readmyramblings; sealofconfession; trollingforhits
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1 posted on 04/18/2013 7:20:30 AM PDT by Weiss White
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To: Weiss White
How about an anonymous tip??

Always felt that part of the penance where a crime has been committed is to "turn yourself in".

The seal of confession: In our little Catholic neighborhood, it meant he wouldn't tell mom.

2 posted on 04/18/2013 7:29:18 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Weiss White

Full marks to Canon Lawyer Cathy Caridi. My goodness, it’s refreshing to see a person with such an excellent command of facts and reason.


3 posted on 04/18/2013 7:33:25 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Dies irae, Dies illa, / Solvet saeclum in favilla / Teste David et Sybilla.)
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To: Weiss White
Just remember the words of one of our greatest politicians, HilLIARy Rodham Clinton: "I don't recall.."

(or my favorite non-denial denial: "I dont think there is any evidence of that")

4 posted on 04/18/2013 7:36:06 AM PDT by Mr. K (There are lies, damned lies, statistics, and democrat talking points.)
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To: Sacajaweau

As Caridi said, the priest can make absolution contingent upon the offender turning himself in to the authorities. And no, no “anonymous tips.” That is exactly what is known as “breaking the seal.”


5 posted on 04/18/2013 7:36:13 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Dies irae, Dies illa, / Solvet saeclum in favilla / Teste David et Sybilla.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o
All those pervs that were priests were protected through their own rules. Not only that...they paid the victims off contingent on "shut your mouth". Disgusting...

Of course, the attorney/client privilege is sort of the same....except that person is out in the open and there's two sides to his story.

Sorry...The seal of confession is good for no one.

6 posted on 04/18/2013 7:42:19 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Weiss White
Good luck with that.
7 posted on 04/18/2013 7:45:45 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("Deficit spending is simply a scheme for the confiscation of wealth." --Alan Greenspan)
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To: Sacajaweau

Part of the Christian ethic for getting forgiveness from God has always involved taking responsibility and making amends for the wrong done.


8 posted on 04/18/2013 7:49:07 AM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults)
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To: Weiss White

What was the outcome in Ireland?


9 posted on 04/18/2013 7:58:48 AM PDT by stuartcr ("I have habits that are older than the people telling me they're bad for me.")
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To: Weiss White

I will probably get flamed for this response but people come at this from the wrong angle. If a person can confess to a Priest with annonimity there is far more chance he will do so and therefore be in the position at least to be counselled and helped. That help may/should, in child abuse cases be to escort the perp (of their own free will) to Law enforcement or there can be no absolution.

Take the seal away and do you really think these people will then approach a Priest - the sin will remain unconfessed the person will more than likely go on offending and more kids will be hurt.

Mel


10 posted on 04/18/2013 8:05:01 AM PDT by melsec (Once a Jolly Swagman camped by a Billabong....)
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To: melsec

Anyone recall having to identify yourself before going in to a Confessional?


11 posted on 04/18/2013 8:15:20 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Weiss White

The logical solution would be to do away with confession. It’s not in the bible and no one else has a middleman. Christians just go straight to the source, why can’t Catholics?


12 posted on 04/18/2013 9:10:14 AM PDT by AlaskaErik (I served and protected my country for 31 years. Progressives spent that time trying to destroy it.)
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To: Jonty30

Well....They paid off the victims on the condition of silence and the priests stayed. So much for ethics. You just can’t make excuses. They should have been turned over to the authorities.


13 posted on 04/18/2013 9:20:03 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: AlaskaErik
The logical solution would be to do away with confession. It’s not in the bible and no one else has a middleman. Christians just go straight to the source, why can’t Catholics?

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.

14 posted on 04/18/2013 9:50:14 AM PDT by Al Hitan (Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.)
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To: Weiss White

Government prosecutor....”tell me who has confessed sexual abuse to you”....Priest responds: “first,people don’t identify themselves to me by name.That is by design.Second,I can’t see their faces.That,too,is by design.Third,many people...out of shame or embarrassment...disguise their voices.So even if I *wanted* to help you I couldn’t.”


15 posted on 04/18/2013 9:52:37 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Leno Was Right,They *Are* Undocumented Democrats!)
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To: Weiss White

Government prosecutor....”tell me who has confessed sexual abuse to you”....Priest responds: “first,people don’t identify themselves to me by name.That is by design.Second,I can’t see their faces.That,too,is by design.Third,many people...out of shame or embarrassment...disguise their voices.So even if I *wanted* to help you I couldn’t.”


16 posted on 04/18/2013 9:52:43 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Leno Was Right,They *Are* Undocumented Democrats!)
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To: Sacajaweau
"Sorry...the seal of confession is good for no one."

Sac, think how this would play out in real life.

If the perp is not repentant, he would never mention it is a confession.

If the perp IS repentant, he would go to confession and the confessor would say, "I will not absolve you unless you turn yourself in to the authorities."

If he does, well and good.

If he doesn't, what is the priest supposed to do? It's likely he wouldn't even know who was confessing to him. Most confessions aren't face to face.

So the priest is supposed to ring up the cops and say what? "Somebody --- I don't know who--- said he sexually molested children, but I don't know exactly what he did, or to whom, or where, or how long ago."

And that benefits whom?

17 posted on 04/18/2013 10:40:49 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Dies irae, Dies illa, / Solvet saeclum in favilla / Teste David et Sybilla.)
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To: massgopguy

If you are a regular the Preist will know who you are but I suppose they may not have to admit it to anyone else!

Mel


18 posted on 04/18/2013 11:50:05 AM PDT by melsec (Once a Jolly Swagman camped by a Billabong....)
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To: AlaskaErik; Weiss White
Alaska: "Christians just go straight to the source, why can’t Catholics?"

Someone has evidently misinformed you. Catholics go "straight to the source" too. Every day. Who told you we can't? (Seriously. I am interested in knowing who has misled you with this elementary misinformation.)

19 posted on 04/18/2013 12:08:57 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Dies irae, Dies illa, / Solvet saeclum in favilla / Teste David et Sybilla.)
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To: Weiss White

First they came for the Catholics...


20 posted on 04/18/2013 1:22:28 PM PDT by DouglasKC
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