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

2017-09-01T12:34:34-04:00

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?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2017 12:44 PM

2017-09-01T12:44:04-04:00

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?

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Sep 1 at 2017 12:49 PM

2017-09-01T12:49:26-04:00

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!

Response by SGT Christopher Lachcik made Sep 1 at 2017 1:30 PM

2017-09-01T13:30:10-04:00

Yes.

Response by SSG Toryn Green made Sep 1 at 2017 1:51 PM

2017-09-01T13:51:30-04:00

While I think that the confidentiality behind the confession is critical to the relationship between the Priest and those in confessions, I believe there are instances when that silence should be broken. If he chooses to remain silent in the case of abuse, I think he would be just as responsible for the abuse as the one doing the abusing. Knowing and failing to report, is more or less allowing it to continue.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Sep 1 at 2017 2:20 PM

2017-09-01T14:20:40-04:00

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.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Sep 1 at 2017 2:53 PM

2017-09-01T14:53:27-04:00

Yes. And if they don't, they should be considered an accessory to the crime. And tossed in jail along with the abuser.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2017 3:26 PM

2017-09-01T15:26:31-04:00

Interesting question for sure. The priest/confessor relationship is sacred and I see not wanting to upset that in any way. But I also see the point of view that says he'd be an accessory if he did nothing.

But is this any different than Apple not letting the FBI hack into a cellphone if it would enable them to convict someone of a crime? Just a thought.

Response by SrA James Cannon made Sep 1 at 2017 4:56 PM

2017-09-01T16:56:46-04:00

What goes on in a confessional is and should be absolute confidentiality.

Response by Maj Rev. Fr. Samuel WATERS - Traditional RC Priest made Sep 1 at 2017 5:10 PM

2017-09-01T17:10:00-04:00

Nathan,

No parish can really do anything about what goes on in the confessional. Parents, teachers in parish schools, parish staffs, priests outside the confessional can all work together to make sure that the children are safe during the times the children are involved in the parish. Education and training on how to set up and maintain the safety of the children can be done. There needs to be an "atmosphere" among everyone to talk about and be aware of what is going on.

Fr. Sam Waters

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2017 5:23 PM

2017-09-01T17:23:16-04:00

Tis a slippery slope of governmental involvement we tread upon. I think the Priests need to do more than just hold confession, and maybe they do. In church counseling, mentoring, coaching. However, making a law that they have to report, while it "feels good" also makes it harder to find these people. They quit confessing. They quit showing up to school. They learn how to wear a (social) mask and hide themselves in plain site.

There is something about a moral compass. Ethics is a very personal thing. It is your internalized ideas of right and wrong and how they fit in with the groups moral compass. Justice is the group enforcing the group idea of what ethics should be on the individual. We've stopped teaching our young what is right, what is wrong and how to define right/wrong for themselves in any situation they find themselves. With no individual idea of ethics, the moral compass just floats. There is no true north, no map to align it to, no direction.

I've never believed in religious confession. As it was taught to me in the Catholic Church (I was raised Lutheran) it is a confession of sin that is then absolved (forgotten). Uhm, no. When your moral compass is weak or non-functional, you need more than a confession. And, for the church to not step in and be that helper is wrong also. But, go ahead and legislate all religions. That is very much in keeping with the idea of separation of Church and State. (Sarcastic)

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2017 6:31 PM

2017-09-01T18:31:57-04:00

Just some facts:
28 States require it by law and Priests would be guilty of a crime if they fail to report.
As of August 2015. States that include clergy as mandated reporters are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. In approximately 18 States and Puerto Rico, any person
who suspects child abuse or neglect is required to report it. Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Three of these States (Mississippi, New Hampshire, and New Mexico) also enumerate clergy as mandated reporters.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Sep 3 at 2017 10:47 AM

2017-09-03T10:47:52-04:00

Any perv that goes to a priest to brag and even discuss upcoming sins is not really embracing the intent of the confessional. The Catholic Church is not really one to hold to some make believe sanctity of the coffesional anyway with their decades long hiding of abusers and rapists that were discovered in ways other than the confessional. One of the reasons I decided the whole thing was a pile of bs.