Australia church abuse: Priests 'must report' confessions

[Catholic_Lady]

What exactly is your question? If my child, or any child for that matter, told me an adult was molesting them, i'd go to the police regardless of who that adult was. Is that what you were asking?

Yes, that was my question, and I like your answer. I will note that I still think that the RCC is harboring criminals who, since they are in the clergy, get a free pass for their crimes. I don't believe in a higher power, and the criminals should be rooted out and handed over to the secular authorities, and not get some forgiveness inside the organization, which I guess supposedly makes it all better, 'til the criminal offends again.

In case this needs to be said, I do of course condemn the individuals within the Church who have covered up or are currently covering up abuse to prevent scandal. I'm sure any decent Catholic would agree with me there. 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)

---

What exactly is your question? If my child, or any child for that matter, told me an adult was molesting them, i'd go to the police regardless of who that adult was. Is that what you were asking?

fireball is under the impression that there is a church law the forbids anyone from reporting a priest for anything.

Oh. No, that is absolutely not true.

---

Google The R/C church defrocks preists

Again the church does regulat itself.

Thank you Drich

---

If confidentiality is the issue, in principle it would be just as wrong to reveal the child's confession.

So why can't they reveal the priest's as well?

I smell something fishy.

If an underage child goes in there and confesses having had sex with any adult, I assume the priest doing the confession would inform the child that she/he is an innocent victim in this case, and would do whatever was necessary in his power to persuade the child to meet with him outside the confessional immediately where they can gather more detail without the seal of confidentiality. Seems like the most logical thing for any decent person to do in this case.