Australia: Breaking the Seal of Confession Could Pit Church Against Satte

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

Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has advised that legislators in Australian states and territories should enact laws to specifically overrule the confessional seal, requiring mandatory reporting to police from priests who hear confessions concerning child abuse.

When such a proposal was made before in 2011 by an Australian legislator to overrule the seal of confession over child abuse, Melbourne’s Archbishop Denis Hart, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishop’s conference said: “I have no hesitation in stating that priests will guard the sanctity of the seal of confession with their very lives. They would certainly undergo imprisonment rather than violate it.”

n 2017, the power of the State is once again potentially in conflict with the international jurisdiction of the Pope.

Whatever happens next will be of historic import.
 
Wow! It seems so many things are being pushed to the limit these days…
I’m praying for the priests…
 
All that would do is put priests in jail. I can’t imagine any priest breaking the seal.
 
I could see a LOT more use of the screen in confessions, if this becomes law.
 
There are about 4 threads on this now.

I will post any updates as soon as the clergy here have put out an official response. And I am sure my Bishop will be updating us as soon as possible.

There are potential suggestions being put forward atm.

The remarkable thing to come out of all media discussions since this recommendation was how little understood the Celebration of Reconcilliation is , both in the Catholic and non catholic community.

And if this law goes through,

All it’s going to take is for an undercover cop to go into confession, make a false confession about child sexual abuse, the Priest to uphold Canon Law, and then be thrown in jail.

If this law is to go ahead, for Priests to be safe from sting ops and personal agenda citizens, the Canon Law will need to be changed internationally.

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis will need to get involved, which no doubt he is across as we speak.
 
Brendan said:
I could see a LOT more use of the screen in confessions, if this becomes law.
Click to expand...
We have open confessionals. Due to the historical child sexual abuse.

The room, and the people in it, must be visible at all times.
 
Roseeurekacross said:
We have open confessionals. Due to the historical child sexual abuse.

The room, and the people in it, must be visible at all times.
Click to expand...
While open confessionals are typical, I wasn’t aware that they’re required. When and where did this come about?

Also wasn’t there a case in Louisiana a few years back that involved the sanctity of the confessional in a child abuse situation?
 
Roseeurekacross said:
We have open confessionals. Due to the historical child sexual abuse.

The room, and the people in it, must be visible at all times.
Click to expand...
If the room are separated, as in a traditional confessional, why would both parties need to be visable?
 
Roseeurekacross said:
We have open confessionals. Due to the historical child sexual abuse.

The room, and the people in it, must be visible at all times.
Click to expand...
Open confessionals…the people in the room?..maybe I’m visualizing it wrong…do you mean a room full of penitents and priests all together…that doesn’t sound very private and personal for those confessing
 
Zzyzx_Road said:
While open confessionals are typical, I wasn’t aware that they’re required. When and where did this come about?

Also wasn’t there a case in Louisiana a few years back that involved the sanctity of the confessional in a child abuse situation?
Click to expand...
It’s required in my Diocese by order of our Bishop. It is one of the measures taken to ensure no child will ever be attacked in a confessional again, here.

I am in a notorious Diocese for historic child abuse. I have no idea what happens in Louisiana.

I pray Louisiana has resolved their case.
 
Brendan said:
If the room are separated, as in a traditional confessional, why would both parties need to be visable?
Click to expand...
Because, in my Diocese, children were attacked in the confessional, as elsewhere. We don’t get any closed door alone time with our Clergy anymore.

Pray for us, there are 3 cases going to, or in court. 2 cases the ex Priests involved are now or have served jail time.

We are absolutely unequivocally sure the third case is unjust and unfounded.
 
Peebo said:
Open confessionals…the people in the room?..maybe I’m visualizing it wrong…do you mean a room full of penitents and priests all together…that doesn’t sound very private and personal for those confessing
Click to expand...
So there is a room. The Priest sits in it. There is a huge glass window in the door. Most of the door is glass, plain glass. We see the Priest and the penitent in the room. They can see us, as we wait our turn.

In the room used for Reconcilliation, the penitent has 2 choices, he or she can sit in a chair opposite the Priest, or

There is a kneeler with a lace see through curtain between Priest and Penitant. So the penitent can kneel. But we see the Priest and he sees us through the curtain.

Now if someone wants Confession outside set times, they and the Priest sit together in a pew in the Church.

Privacy no, the history of our Diocese lost us that right. Personal, definitely. And since everyone knows who is in and out , it can be quite supportive.
 
Roseeurekacross said:
We have open confessionals. Due to the historical child sexual abuse.

The room, and the people in it, must be visible at all times.
Click to expand...
I am in Australia and go to the Cathedral for confession. There is enclosed confessionals there.
 
asd72 said:
I am in Australia and go to the Cathedral for confession. There is enclosed confessionals there.
Click to expand...
You are not in my Diocese , with respect.
I am in a Risdale Diocese…enough said
 
Roseeurekacross said:
There are about 4 threads on this now.

I will post any updates as soon as the clergy here have put out an official response. And I am sure my Bishop will be updating us as soon as possible.

There are potential suggestions being put forward atm.

The remarkable thing to come out of all media discussions since this recommendation was how little understood the Celebration of Reconcilliation is , both in the Catholic and non catholic community.

And if this law goes through,

All it’s going to take is for an undercover cop to go into confession, make a false confession about child sexual abuse, the Priest to uphold Canon Law, and then be thrown in jail.

If this law is to go ahead, for Priests to be safe from sting ops and personal agenda citizens, the Canon Law will need to be changed internationally.

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis will need to get involved, which no doubt he is across as we speak.
Click to expand...
Good point - the under cop falsely confessing to child abuse - as that will be their ONLY way of obtaining ‘evidence’. If it becomes law, NO actual child sex abuser will confess this sin in confession. So, although the undercover activities will be a way to arrest priests, breaking the ‘law’, it will not assist in any way in identifying child sex abusers - due to the fact child abusers will not be going to confessions.

Child abusers, in the past, that were repentant and confessed have no doubt stopped abusing, got help and/or turned themselves over to the police - hence that avenue of reducing child sex abuse would be closed.

Lunacy and anti-Catholic bashing at it’s finest!
 
Brendan said:
If the room are separated, as in a traditional confessional, why would both parties need to be visable?
Click to expand...
These are the types of confessionals we have at my parish and many others. Priest in the middle room, penitents on either side in separate rooms, with screened and curtained grille. Total anonymity and the priest and penitent could never be in physical contact. No windows needed.
 
JimG said:
These are the types of confessionals we have at my parish and many others. Priest in the middle room, penitents on either side in separate rooms, with screened and curtained grille. Total anonymity and the priest and penitent could never be in physical contact. No windows needed.
Click to expand...
In my previous Australian diocese we had the option. As we walked into the confessional, which was room size, the priest is obscured from the penitent. There is a chair on the other side of the obscuring screen. We can go and sit down in the chair and face the priest or we could sit/kneel behind the screen.
 
abucs said:
In my previous Australian diocese we had the option. As we walked into the confessional, which was room size, the priest is obscured from the penitent. There is a chair on the other side of the obscuring screen. We can go and sit down in the chair and face the priest or we could sit/kneel behind the screen.
Click to expand...
That’s one way, although it still puts priest and penitent in the same room, which is what I thought they were trying to avoid. The standard 3-room confessional avoids any possibility of physical contact and preserves anonymity as well as privacy.
 
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