It just is. Feel free to Google it but religion predates man's law. I'm not being a dick with this next comment but I assume you're not Catholic so you don't understand the concept of confession and the role the priest plays. Think of the confessional as you praying out loud to God and the priest is there to provide guidance and absolution. I'm over simplifying but that's an easy way to think about it. A priest is not required by law to divulge anything that is said DURING CONFESSION. It ONLY applies to confession. If you told a priest you molested a baby in confession, he will tell you to stop, turn yourself in, pray, whatever but it's up to you to do the right thing. Now if you are NOT in confession like you're hanging out at his house watching TV and you mention it, that is not the sacrament of confession and if he doesn't report it he's a cunt.
Cheers for the explanation, I was already of a similar understanding, that confession is otherwise 'exempt' but was not aware that it is codified law of the land.
I didn't get the impression of dickishness at all, for what it's worth :)
For the record, a LOT of things in the Catholic faith are difficult to understand, even for Catholics. I made a comment like that once and the guy WAS Catholic and was quite offended. If you want to see Catholics get confused by their own words, have them explain transubstantiation to you. :) I graduated from a Catholic university and when that topic came up, the explanation got more and more confusing the more the prof tried to explain it.
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3141592653 ago
This is related to PG as it is an example of an elite's participation in covering up organized child sexual abuse.
HarveyKlinger ago
Except that it's not. The seal of confession is what it is. Regardless of content, it can not be broken.
3141592653 ago
the seal of confession is not the law! child abuse must be reported at all times!
HarveyKlinger ago
Actually, it IS protected by law.
argosciv ago
not that I won't be googling the shit out of this myself, but, source?
HarveyKlinger ago
It just is. Feel free to Google it but religion predates man's law. I'm not being a dick with this next comment but I assume you're not Catholic so you don't understand the concept of confession and the role the priest plays. Think of the confessional as you praying out loud to God and the priest is there to provide guidance and absolution. I'm over simplifying but that's an easy way to think about it. A priest is not required by law to divulge anything that is said DURING CONFESSION. It ONLY applies to confession. If you told a priest you molested a baby in confession, he will tell you to stop, turn yourself in, pray, whatever but it's up to you to do the right thing. Now if you are NOT in confession like you're hanging out at his house watching TV and you mention it, that is not the sacrament of confession and if he doesn't report it he's a cunt.
HERE: https://www.quora.com/If-you-talk-about-a-crime-in-Catholic-confession-can-the-priest-report-it-to-the-police
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priest%E2%80%93penitent_privilege
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3G.HTM
argosciv ago
Cheers for the explanation, I was already of a similar understanding, that confession is otherwise 'exempt' but was not aware that it is codified law of the land.
I didn't get the impression of dickishness at all, for what it's worth :)
HarveyKlinger ago
For the record, a LOT of things in the Catholic faith are difficult to understand, even for Catholics. I made a comment like that once and the guy WAS Catholic and was quite offended. If you want to see Catholics get confused by their own words, have them explain transubstantiation to you. :) I graduated from a Catholic university and when that topic came up, the explanation got more and more confusing the more the prof tried to explain it.
argosciv ago
I'd rather eat sawdust :P