Australia church abuse: Priests 'must report' confessions

[vorlon13]

Apologies if this has already been addressed.

I don't get the whole thing of confession from the word go. If god is what the catholics say it is and they sin, shouldn't god know it anyway? What the hell do they need to tell a priest for. Can't god direct them in their own penance, act of contrition or absolution? What, only priests can know the mind of god? Sounds like a psychological manipulation tool used by the church. Keep the parishioners dependent and get the money. 

And why does the box make it special? If they confess in the box and then repeat themselves outside the box to the priest, what they say is no longer considered confidential? What the hell is the difference?

Is the box required though ??

In Godfather III (or was it II ?) Michael confessed to a cardinal (IIRC) and they just use chairs in a garden at the Vatican.  Among other things, Michael confessed to killing his own brother . . . . 

A powerful scene, but perhaps some movie making liberties were taken ??

[vorlon13]

BTW, there is Scriptural justification for this practice, right?

Someone please post chapter and verse, please.

Thank you.

[Succubus]

Yes, God can do all those things without us going to confession. If we feel remorse for something we have done, God forgives even without us having to say/do anything...

This Christian concept of forgiveness doesn’t concern me, what I'm looking for is justice.

[vorlon13]

Contrition and repentance, would seem to me to be characterized universally by a cessation of whatever offensive behavior led up to that.

So, for instance, if the Catholic Church, with the voice of the current Pope, announces contrition for past child sexual abuse at the hands of their priests, we might expect . . .


well, I'll let the rest of you complete the thought, and then contemplate whether or not we are there.

[Ravenshire]

The whole issue is nuttery from the start. To confess to a 'priest' that relay to a 'god' the repentance that can never be used to give justice to the victym?

Ha. how many priests confessed to eachother kid-diddling? We will never know.

I don't wonder if they confess. I wonder if they talk shit in the locker room.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Oh, hey, Drich is defending the indefensible again. Color me surprised.

---

There could be such a church law.  Church law doesn't mean shit.

Fuck 'em.

They sure seem to behave as if there's such a law.

I'll believe the earnestness of the Church when they start handing over suspects instead of reassigning them. Until then I see their hierarchy as accessories after the fact.

For all their preachments, they've yet to do penance for the sin of hiding molesters from justice. They've paid lip service while still shuttling miscreants to and fro.

[Ravenshire]

As far as confession goes though, I do think it should remain confidential, but that the priest taking confessions should do everything in his power to try to convince the confessee to either turn himself in, or meet with him outside of the confessional so that he can then go to the police with the information. (which I assume is already what they are instructed to do in these cases)

Do you really believe any but the smallest minority, if any at all, would say "Sure, Father. Let's take a walk down to the cop shop so I can confess to a crime that will not only get me landed in prison for years, but will also make me a social pariah for decades, if not the rest of my life, after that."

If you do, I've got some property for sale you'll probably be interested in. They're great investments.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Exactly. In civil society, civil law should take precedence over religious practices. If you want to have vegetarian Fridays, more power to you. If you want to molest children, your collar should not be a shield.

[brewer]

Apologies if this has already been addressed.

I don't get the whole thing of confession from the word go. If god is what the catholics say it is and they sin, shouldn't god know it anyway? What the hell do they need to tell a priest for. Can't god direct them in their own penance, act of contrition or absolution? What, only priests can know the mind of god? Sounds like a psychological manipulation tool used by the church. Keep the parishioners dependent and get the money. 

And why does the box make it special? If they confess in the box and then repeat themselves outside the box to the priest, what they say is no longer considered confidential? What the hell is the difference?

Is the box required though ??

In Godfather III (or was it II ?) Michael confessed to a cardinal (IIRC) and they just use chairs in a garden at the Vatican.  Among other things, Michael confessed to killing his own brother . . . . 

A powerful scene, but perhaps some movie making liberties were taken ??

C_L brought up the importance of the box.

---

FYI, and we don't pay to go to confession lol.

Priests don't get paid or given room and board? Don't be naive, catholics pay to go to confession.

[Homeless Nutter]

Are you so foolish to think that only priest commit crimes and confess to other priests? I know you've probably baked most of your brain cells but if you think real hard you might see a broader application that could have very deep and long reaching implications for everyone of that religion.

Tough sh*t. They're free to change their religion any time they like. There are - like - thousands of them to choose from.

If Government can undermine a sacrament or interfere with how religion works then you've just given up a core right to believe what you want. [...]

You can believe whatever the f*ck you want. But there's no such thing as "a core right to do whatever you want, as long as you say god told you it's ok".

If your religion works by breaking secular law - you're going to have to suck it up and adapt. Just like christians had to at some point "give up their core right" to forcibly baptize entire nations, or to publicly murder dissidents, heretics, homosexuals and "witches", or to castrate boys in order for the church choirs to have a fuller sound, without involving anyone with a vagina. Society moves on and dumb, superstitious c*nts are going to have to be dragged into the 21st century eventually. You'll get over it...

So then what happens when soceity swings and these laws are implace and your morality is now what is on the chopping block?

If I find, that my morality is sheltering child-rapists - I'll do the chopping myself. You see - I'm not a slave to some invisible wizard, who'd require me to live my life by the standards of bronze age goat-herders.

Look, numb-nuts - if doctors in most modern countries are required to report child abuse, along with many other crimes, despite doctor-patient confidentiality, then so can the f*cking priests.

Not everyone in the church is a pedophile,

Possibly, but most churches have a vested interest in - and a documented history of - covering up sex-crimes committed by their clergy, on the account of protecting "good name" of the religious institution being more of a priority, than protecting kids a**es from getting raped... And all of that is funded and tolerated by the gullible morons, for whom a fantasy of ever-lasting life is more important than safety of their children, or justice.

and if you remember a little while back pope what's his face defrock like 400 priests world wide, which is all but painting a scarlet A on their faces for society to seek their vengeance... [...]

That's why they should be in prison. I don't give a f*ck if the pope stripped them naked and gave them a spanking - if they committed a crime, they should have been turned over to the police and the justice system, along with whatever evidence the church has against them.

But I guess dumb c*nts think their sky-cake salesmen should be exempt from the law.