Australia church abuse: Priests 'must report' confessions

[Fireball]

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

Drich is wrong.

[Catholic_Lady]

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

Drich is wrong.

Ok. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[Minimalist]

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

Fuck 'em.

[The Industrial Atheist]

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)

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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.

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Google The R/C church defrocks preists

Again the church does regulat itself.

Thank you Drich

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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.

By all means contact the police as well as social workers. Get the child the help and support they need.

But if you can break confidentiality for that (someone said they would on page 1) Also break it when a pedophile priest confesses to these crimes.

It is of roughly equal importance to stop the abuse by prosecuting them as it is to provide the victims support.

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By the way, what is the code to quote part of something? I've tried before and got it wrong, I think.

[Catholic_Lady]

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.

By all means contact the police as well as social workers. Get the child the help and support they need.

But if you can break confidentiality for that (someone said they would on page 1) Also break it when a pedophile priest confesses to these crimes.

It is of roughly equal importance to stop the abuse by prosecuting them as it is to provide the victims support.

It isn't breaking confidentiality if the priest convinces the person to meet with him outside the confessional to talk about this. Because they are no longer officially in confession, it's just a counseling session at that point. But yes, they should try to do this for both the victim and the criminal. I'm not sure if they have official instructions on what to do in these cases, I'm just saying this seems like the right way to go. I'll play around on google and see if I can find if there are official instructions.

[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?

[Catholic_Lady]

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?

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. 

Going to confession is simply a way to make the experience of forgiveness a more physical, human thing. Especially if you did something you feel very bad about, unloading to a priest and having him pray over you can feel extremely relieving, and just makes the whole thing feel more official and more real.   

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

[The Valkyrie]

Melbourne Archbishop would rather go to jail than comply with the law:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...confession

In that case I hope the prisoners make you walk funny, you arrogant prick!

[Succubus]

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.

Regarding the highlight. This exactly what went on, the rapist bastard would convince the kid it was their fault. And as for the other, never make assumptions regarding the machinations of the catholic church. They've been hoodwinking people for seventeen hundred years. This child rape scandal is no great crisis for the church. They'll walk, they always have, and always will.





Catholic Bishop: When Priests Sexually Abuse Children, It’s Partly the Kids’ Fault

NY Bishop Rape Shames Abuse Victims: Boys Are ‘Culpable’ For Their Actions At 7 Years Old.

“The boy is culpable,” Cunningham said Oct. 14, 2011, according to a transcript of the deposition.

Q. Archbishop, you knew it was a crime for an adult to engage in sex with a kid [in the 1970s]?
A. I’m not sure whether I knew it was a crime or not. I understand today it’s a crime.
Q. When did you first discern that it was a crime for an adult to engage in sex with a kid?
A. I don’t remember.
Q. When did you first discern that it was a crime for a priest to engage in sex with a kid who he had under his control?
A. I don’t remember that either.
Q. Do you have any doubt in your mind that you knew that in the ’70s?
A. I don’t remember if I did or didn’t.

“Before God and his people I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness,”

Said pope Francis.
 
No Frankie baby, when you shoot yourself through the head on live television and every last one of your motherfucking Cardinals hang themselves from the balcony of St Peters square. Then you will be making some progress.

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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?

It's almost as though this whole story of Christianity is made up nonsense.

[Catholic_Lady]

That's really terrible what that man said.