Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

malthaussen

(18,293 posts)
56. You're ignoring the prior point.
Tue Jun 24, 2025, 07:23 PM
Jun 2025

If priests start reporting crimes they learned of in confession, then people will simply stop confessing crimes. Thus, demanding that priests violate the confessional will do absolutely nothing. I doubt you'd get many priests to go along with the State's law, either. It's a pretty fundamental principle of all religions that their god's law supersedes that of men. And it is a pretty fundamental law of the US that the State will not interfere with the activities of a church so long as they are reasonably orderly and lawful.

You also seem to disregard the fact that to demand this is to demand the priest commit what is a mortal sin within his own religion. You may or may not subscribe to that belief, but you have no right to tell someone else what he should believe. This is not of the same silly order as refusing to bake a cake for a LBTQ wedding. Confession, and the sanctity of the confession, is one of the seven major sacraments of the Catholic Church. To violate it is an attack on some of the foundations of that Church, with ramifications beyond the Confessional. It might be a good thing if the Catholic Church ceased to exist, but given that it poses no existential threat to the US, making war on it would seem to be not in our best interests, and would probably be unpopular with a significant percentage of the American public.

Now, I don't know what "okay" means in this context. Nor do I "think it is fine," another rhetorical turn that I don't understand at all. Many things are necessary which are neither "okay" nor "fine." Honoring the right of a church to practice it's own beliefs when there is no social good served by denying that right is one of them. And there is no social good to be served by denying the sanctity of the confessional. If the law in question were obeyed, it might lead to the investigation of one or two criminals who are currently getting away with their crimes, but that will dry up almost immediately when people realize that the confessional is not safe. Of course, just because they're investigated doesn't mean a conviction will follow, or even an indictment. My experience is that when it comes to abuse, trafficking, rape, or any other form of sexual crime, the perp walks far more often than he gets locked up.

-- Mal

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I should think a priest should want to report that . Tell the person confessing that he wont keep that. Srkdqltr Jun 2025 #1
That's not how it works iemanja Jun 2025 #3
So, you are ok DiverDave Jun 2025 #6
The seal of the confession is sacrosanct. TomSlick Jun 2025 #9
12 years of Catholic school here Retrograde Jun 2025 #12
What Bondi and the Trump admin are doing is ensuring that the Epstein's of the world are a little safer. Jit423 Jun 2025 #29
Thank you. WinstonSmith4740 Jun 2025 #42
This former Catholic nun, a survivor of child sexual abuse by a priest, disagrees. pnwmom Jun 2025 #19
"on pain of his soul".....what nonsense. AZ8theist Jun 2025 #21
This is how the Catholic Church became a hotbed of child rape and sexual assaults. Irish_Dem Jun 2025 #25
So people won't confess it. malthaussen Jun 2025 #10
There are 2 people involved in sex abuse. The abusive person and the victim. pnwmom Jun 2025 #20
Oh, I'll be more DiverDave Jun 2025 #24
If he knew it Jilly_in_VA Jun 2025 #44
You're ignoring the prior point. malthaussen Jun 2025 #56
It doesn't matter if I'm okay with it iemanja Jun 2025 #11
Radical priests believe only God can decide who should be punished, giving them permission to decide for themselves Martin68 Jun 2025 #43
You should think wrong... DenaliDemocrat Jun 2025 #62
Yet, the ancient and common law idea that a church is a "sanctuary" is out the door harumph Jun 2025 #2
That remains to be seen. Ms. Toad Jun 2025 #5
Good, but the point is DOJ doesn't hold to that particular sanctity of the church LymphocyteLover Jun 2025 #31
There is currently an injunction, barring ICE action in churches. Ms. Toad Jun 2025 #33
I hope so. My point is DOJ is being very hypocritical. LymphocyteLover Jun 2025 #45
Clubhouse rules, can't break a pinky-swear JoseBalow Jun 2025 #4
yup that's pretty much it Skittles Jun 2025 #15
Is it really a surprise that Crumb The 1st and his moniss Jun 2025 #7
since those folk are usually conservative Skittles Jun 2025 #16
Sick and tired of these fascist fuckwits using freedom of religion as a get-out of jail free card for their actions and Karasu Jun 2025 #8
Yes, and only if that "freedom of religion" encapsulates slightlv Jun 2025 #14
Priests are really caught in the middle leftyladyfrommo Jun 2025 #13
You're only looking at it from the perspective of the priest hearing the confession of the ABUSER. pnwmom Jun 2025 #23
I have no answers. I've always thought that leftyladyfrommo Jun 2025 #30
religious silliness KG Jun 2025 #17
Yeah, they've got the Catholic vote sewed up with antiabortion and bullshit like this. Who cares about poverty, capital Martin68 Jun 2025 #18
The seal of confession, and child abuse. The most and second most sacrosant things within the church. Lancero Jun 2025 #22
Mortal sins kkmarie Jun 2025 #26
The Catholic Church was created by Jesus, NOT man made. Jesus said "I," not someone else. ancianita Jun 2025 #47
I used to broad of a brush kkmarie Jun 2025 #48
Until you give examples, you still are. ancianita Jun 2025 #49
The one I used in my original post kkmarie Jun 2025 #51
When one is a member of the Catholic Church, one can't use one's God given free will to assert their own ancianita Jun 2025 #53
Then why does the church keep paying big money? dpibel Jun 2025 #52
Links? ancianita Jun 2025 #54
You cannot be serious dpibel Jun 2025 #59
Just a normal question, if you take it as fair. It's a common ask. ancianita Jun 2025 #60
Recognizing the futility of disputing with a true believer... dpibel Jun 2025 #61
I understand our differences. As a decades long Four Horsemen atheist I too ancianita Jun 2025 #63
This just shows the power of the Catholic church. Haggard Celine Jun 2025 #27
They will let evangelical christians do it. travelingthrulife Jun 2025 #38
Supreme Court oberle Jun 2025 #40
Supreme Court oberle Jun 2025 #41
The Catholic Church also has a special relationship with God. The facts about its policies: ancianita Jun 2025 #50
"Sit idly by" is exactly what Bondi wants the Catholic Church to do about child abuse. nt SunSeeker Jun 2025 #28
So, DOJ is protecting pedophiles. Got it. LymphocyteLover Jun 2025 #32
I know. For an instant there I thought Trump and company were doing a decent thing. travelingthrulife Jun 2025 #37
The larger question is should confession of a crime be protected? dlk Jun 2025 #34
In terms of civil society, no interest is served. malthaussen Jun 2025 #57
The priesthood has much to atone for dlk Jun 2025 #58
I am heartfully sorry that there is religion. Can I have an "amen". twodogsbarking Jun 2025 #35
LOL. Of course, child abuse...wouldn't want anyone to know about those perps since most are conservatives. travelingthrulife Jun 2025 #36
Singling out clergy, but not other types of privileged communications. onenote Jun 2025 #39
OK IF the law explicitly states that official confessions are subject to state law. OUTSIDE the confessional, however, ancianita Jun 2025 #46
Reason for this, republianmushroom Jun 2025 #55
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»'Will not sit idly by': D...»Reply #56