Posted on Sep 1, 2017

Should Catholic Priests be required to report confessions of child abuse?

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I ran across this topic online the other day and am interested in hearing your responses. Where should Priests draw the line between confidentiality and a moral obligation to report?

Posted in these groups: World religions 2

Religion

Priest

Posted 7 y ago

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Responses: 12

COL Mikel J. Burroughs

Posted 7 y ago

I personally believe they have a social and community obligation to help these people - just my opinion SSG Toryn Green! When it comes to lives and safety of the individuals I believe God would not frown upon the Priest breaking this vow of silence for the good of mankind or a life! I'm interested in what others think and have to say. Very good question Toryn!
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Maj Rev. Fr. Samuel WATERS - Traditional RC Priest

7 y

Mikel,

If the priest breaks the seal of confession it is a sin for him which he would need to confess and do penance for. It is the Law of the Church(Canon Law) that would defrock the priest and remove him from public ministry.

Fr. Sam

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COL Mikel J. Burroughs

7 y

Maj Rev. Fr. Samuel WATERS - Traditional RC Priest - Thanks for bringing me up to speed Rev Waters; do you see any changes to this in the future or is there anyway around this for Priests?

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Maj John Bell

7 y

Maj Rev. Fr. Samuel WATERS - Traditional RC Priest - But is the Priest still bound to maintain the seal of confession if the "penitent" communicates the intent to continue a criminal act?

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Maj Rev. Fr. Samuel WATERS - Traditional RC Priest

7 y

This a link from an article of what is going on in Australia right now concerning this subject

Fr. Sam Waters

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-14/breaking-the-seal-of-confession-could-pit-church-against-state/8805126

Breaking the seal of confession could pit church against state - RN - ABC News (Australian...

Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has just made recommendations that could electrically charge the relationship between church and state.

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SSgt (Join to see)

Edited 7 y ago

Posted 7 y ago

SSG Toryn Green I think, in many cases, many parishes are taking it upon themselves to do this. It is for the safety of the confessor.

What do you say, Maj Rev. Fr. Samuel WATERS - Traditional RC Priest?

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Maj Rev. Fr. Samuel WATERS - Traditional RC Priest

7 y

As a Catholic priest I am compelled to inform everyone that for a priest to "break the seal of confession" would permanently remove him from being a priest. What the priest can do is try to convince the penitent to talk to him outside of the confessional. That would enable the priest to speak about it to the proper authorities.

Fr. Sam Waters, Ch. Maj. USAF, 1984-95

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SSgt (Join to see)

7 y

Maj Rev. Fr. Samuel WATERS - Traditional RC Priest - Thank you, sir. I thought there was a way that a priest was able to report these things, just wasn't quite sure the technical parts.
Vivat Jesus!

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SGT Dave Tracy

Posted 7 y ago

Don't know the answer--and for all I know it may vary from one diocese to the next--but I'd hate like hell to be in the position of hearing such an immoral confession and being morally bound not to act on what I was told and carry with me that which I know to be true.

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Should Catholic Priests be required to report confessions of child abuse?

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