if priests can listen to people tell them about sins and not go to the police, then that makes them?

Question

if a man was to go into the confession booth and say i have commited a sin maybe a sexual act against a child, surely the priest has a duty to inform the social services or the police, if he dosent then that would mean he is helping the perpetrator of the crime,

if i am wrong and this can not happen please explain to my why i am wrong

if i am right then i find it damn right discusting

thanks for your answers


xxx vici

Answer 1

The law has generally exempted religious leaders from releasing confessional information. Because of the cases of child abuse some states including Nebraska have made it mandatory for religious officials to report information about child abuse.

However in the case of a priest, the vatican has affirmed that any violation of the confessional booth for whatever reason is a mortal sin and a violation of their vows. I don't believe that any priest would do this.

By the way, this is not anti-priest. I also take seriously the sacredness of confession. I quickly tell persons in counseling and confidential situations that I cannot keep a vow of secrecy against sexual or physical abuse of children. That way they know that before any confessional statement is made. I can't believe that God would want children to continue to be abused while protected under a vow of confession.

Pastor John

Answer 2

You know the person reveling the confession could be in a place of worship - unstable there for what he states the the priest is not so and that would wear the officials out and deem the priest to be loony also I am sure and you can best believe this is how they crack many hard to crack cases when and if it effects the community I would think they would tell the authority's if it hit the news the priest go running to them with the info! But who knows?

Answer 3

You are not totally accurate to focus on Priests, Doctor or a Lawyer to a degree has the same Confidentiality Level. That is so that their clients are protected from them gossiping. I am a Minister (NON_Roman Catholic) and have on 2 occasions encouraged people to confess to the law for the things they had done. In one case he did and ws sentenced, the other one chose not to, and did not counsel with me again. A year later he was in a fatal accident though, so I am not usre if he ever confessed his actions.

Answer 4

The priest does not see the one who is confessing, and does not know their identity. The priest takes an oath that says they do not have to reveal a mans sins to anyone but God, not even the police.

Answer 5

Priests encourage people who confess to serious crimes in confession to confess their crimes to the authorities as part of their penance. No priest I know of would offer comfort to an unrepentent person who is unwilling to accept responsibility in the secular world for their action. In other words, the priest will only absolve him of his sin if he confesses to the police.

Answer 6

If you read the bible, it never states to confess to another person of your sins. If you believe in Jesus than your sins are covered: past , present and future but it does not mean you can go out and do what ever you wish. God states in the Bible to obey the laws of the land. These child molester should be caught and get the **** beat out of.

Answer 7

There is a difference between a moral duty, and a protected right to confidentiality. Therapists and counselors enjoy the same exemption from reporting a crime.

Answer 8

It's not much different than the protection for a lawyer.
But a priest (& lawyer) would try to convince the person,
that they should turn themselves in to the police.

Answer 9

I totally agree. Priests are supposed to be all moral and kind and stuff like that so you'd think its their job to do what is right which is not covering up for some psycho.

Answer 10

It means that they share in the sin also, Listen no man can hear a sin, only Jesus Christ can deal with sins, since man has been hearing sins they have been paying lots of LAW suits, and you know what i mean.