California Senate Bill 360

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If you are unaware S.B. 360 was passed. What this bill says is that priests in California will be required by law to report cases of child sexual abuse that they hear in the sacrament of confession to the authorities. (I believe something similar already exists in Australia. )

Canon Law states: “The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.” This bill had overwhelmingly passed and now priests in California are forced to chose between imprisonment for violating this law or excommunication from the Church for following this law. The U.S. Constitution states: “First Amendment, religious freedom includes two complementary protections: the right to religious belief and expression and a guarantee that the government neither prefers religion over non-religion nor favors particular faiths over others.”

I am all for justice and believe that the Church should have and needs to handle cases of sexual abuse more urgently. However, I feel like the government is going too far with violating the first amendment. If it starts with abuse, how long before priests are told to report all other illegal activities to authorities?
 
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That’s not exactly what the Bill says. It does not affect everyone going to confession.
The bill as passed by the Senate now protects the seal of the confessional - except in cases where a priest is hearing another priest’s confession or in cases where a priest is hearing the confession of a co-worker.
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Archbishop 'deeply disappointed …

It is always possible to go anonymously.
 
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The US Constitution will render these attempts moot. Be not afraid.
 
Yup. There have been multiple attempts in American history to break the Seal. All have failed. The Seal is protected by the First Amendment. There is judicial precedent defending it.
 
Clergy do remain a mandated reporter in many places outside of Confession.
 
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You are correct: the government has overstepped its bounds. In addition, as you state, this sets a dangerous precedent in matters of religious freedom. The seal of Confession is inviolable in all respects and any attempt by government to break this sacrament is a violation of religious liberty.
 
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