California Confession Bill amended, but still would require priests to violate seal

[Michie]

*You are in the Catholic forum*

The bill, as amended, would require priests to report to law enforcement knowledge or suspicion of child abuse gained from hearing the sacramental confessions of other priests and co-workers.

Continued below.
California Confession Bill Amended, But Still Would Require Priests to Violate Seal

 

[~Anastasia~]

This is going to be sticky no matter how it is approached.

Does Catholic theology allow the priest to withhold absolution unless/until the person turns themselves in or otherwise takes action to prevent any abuse from occurring (if it is only at the level of temptation and not having been acted on)?

 

[Michie]

The only thing I know is one must be truly sorry and acually repents with the full intention of not committing that same sin again. Otherwise, if that person is insincere the confession holds no value. I'm going to say no as far as absolution upon a condition of turning one's self in. @Davidnic would know more about this than I.

This is going to be sticky no matter how it is approached.

Does Catholic theology allow the priest to withhold absolution unless/until the person turns themselves in or otherwise takes action to prevent any abuse from occurring (if it is only at the level of temptation and not having been acted on)?

 

[Michie]

*dp*

 

[Davidnic]

The priest can't make conditions on absolution. But he can withhold absolution if he deems that the person is not truly repentant and just trying to use confession as a rubber stamp.

The problem is many priests and parishes do not really have robust confession schedules or really delve in as spiritual fathers and in-depth confessors to people.

Where I live I make the habit of going to the same priest. So any repetitive sins are addressed in the context of improving overall spiritual health.

But when you can kind of... Let me delicately phrase this.... Treat confession like a drive-thru window, a priest is less equipped to judge whether contrition is real. And it presents a real problem in cases like this.

This might explain what can be done: ASK FATHER: During confession can a priest require a criminal to turn herself in? | Catholic News Live

But the overall cavalier attitude many have to confession if they care at all, is a problem. Because it creates a kind of revolving door.

 

[~Anastasia~]

The priest can't make conditions on absolution. But he can withhold absolution if he deems that the person is not truly repentant and just trying to use confession as a rubber stamp.

The problem is many priests and parishes do not really have robust confession schedules or really delve in as spiritual fathers and in-depth confessors to people.

Where I live I make the habit of going to the same priest. So any repetitive sins are addressed in the context of improving overall spiritual health.

But when you can kind of... Let me delicately phrase this.... Treat confession like a drive-thru window, a priest is less equipped to judge whether contrition is real. And it presents a real problem in cases like this.

This might explain what can be done: ASK FATHER: During confession can a priest require a criminal to turn herself in? | Catholic News Live

But the overall cavalier attitude many have to confession if they care at all, is a problem. Because it creates a kind of revolving door.

Thank you.

There are really so many aspects to consider. I'm glad the article also mentioned the detriment of a person who might lose their faith in the Sacrament. (I mention it only because it might be easily overlooked in favor of other much larger concerns - of which there are many.)

 

[Michie]

California Advances Confession Bill to Violate Sacramental Seal

 

[~Anastasia~]

Hmmm.

But what this boils down to, in terms of canon law, is that a priest must choose between obeying canon law and secular law. Am I missing anything with that?

If the priest is Catholic (or Anglican, or what have you) ... I suppose their ecclesiastical authority could amend their faith to make it the right thing for the priest to comply with secular law. I suspect this would be much easier for some bodies than others. But if the ecclesiastical authority does not change Canon law (I'm not sure if that's even possible for Orthodox, though when absolutely necessary there can be relaxations) ... then the priest is essentially having to choose between the Church and the secular government, aren't they?

 

[Rhamiel]

I feel like we live in a mixed up world

We should execute rapists and child molesters
But instead of that we send them to unsafe prisons where “prison justice” ends with many of them being raped by other inmates or killed

While I am pro capital punishment I believe in due process and I firmly believe NO ONE should be raped

I see the idea of forcing people to turn themselves in as a condition to absolution as a death sentence by prison gangs who do not follow due process

I hate how I sound, I sound like I am defending pedophiles I almost did not post this

When I was 11 and 12 I was molested by a boy from school, I do not wish sexual assault on anyone, even on rapists, but that is part of prison culture

 

[Gnarwhal]

But the overall cavalier attitude many have to confession if they care at all, is a problem. Because it creates a kind of revolving door.

I think that's one reason I've been avoiding confession. I've only gone once since last July (which was also the last time I received communion). I question myself: my contrition, my intentions, my expectations, my understanding of what I'm doing—all of it. I question myself totally and completely, every second of every day.

Edit: of course the first time I go in five months, the priest cancels confessions lol.

 

[Michie]

Archbishop 'deeply disappointed' by Senate passing confession bill

 

[Andrei D]

Lord have mercy, this is really consequential to a degree that I am not sure we fully realize. It's not a technicality. It's not a minor inconvenience. Dark times ahead.

Let us stand together as brothers.