Louisiana court's ruling that Catholic priest testify about confession criticized by Baton Rouge Diocese

  • Thread starter Thread starter SKWill
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
cycleman said:
In these replies, there is a lot of ’ that’s what Canon Law says’. Nobody disputes that’s what Canon Law says.

Let’s go a bit further and take away any conflict with civil law. Assume Canon law is the only law.

I still don’t get why Canon law is morally correct if it allows an abuser to continue his crimes. By not requiring the priest to somehow warn potential victims (or police)** it clearly puts the value of redeeming the soul of the abuser higher than saving future innocent victims from harm, even death. **

What is the moral defense of such a position?
Click to expand...
Are you proposing putting the prevention of suffering on a higher status than the salvation of souls? This, made obvious by the Cross, is not what our Lord intended.

This is a tragedy beyond measure. This attack on priests will not heal this little girl’s suffering.
 
MomaMary8 said:
Are you proposing putting the prevention of suffering on a higher status than the salvation of souls? This, made obvious by the Cross, is not what our Lord intended.

This is a tragedy beyond measure. This attack on priests will not heal this little girl’s suffering.
Click to expand...
Admittedly in this case where the abuser is dead, the argument about preventing further crimes and suffering is moot. It is only a civil case now and probably does not justify breaking the seal.

BUT…in other cases.

Are you really saying that you would risk the future rape and murder of others by hiding behind the seal? The perpetrator can still confess and receive absolution, no one is stopping him/her from doing that.

To sit back silently and watch silently as future abuse happens is totally abhorrent!!
 
cycleman said:
Admittedly in this case where the abuser is dead, the argument about preventing further crimes and suffering is moot. It is only a civil case now and probably does not justify breaking the seal.

BUT…in other cases.

Are you really saying that you would risk the future rape and murder of others by hiding behind the seal? The perpetrator can still confess and receive absolution, no one is stopping him/her from doing that.

To sit back silently and watch silently as future abuse happens is totally abhorrent!!
Click to expand...
If priests break the seal of confession, sinners will stop confessing.

Then, no one is helped.
 
cycleman said:
Are you really saying that you would risk the future rape and murder of others by hiding behind the seal? The perpetrator can still confess and receive absolution, no one is stopping him/her from doing that.
Click to expand...
  1. People don’t confess FUTURE sins that they plan to commit. They confess what they have already done and are sorry for and want to avoid in the future.
  2. Where would you draw the line for what is not worthy of the Seal and what is? Apparently you think rape and murder should be revealed. You don’t mention sexual abuse of children, which is what I believe is under discussion here. What if a mother confesses yelling at her children? Break the seal or not? What if someone confesses robbing a bank? Shoplifting from a store? Pirating a movie? Hitting his brother? Is it different if it’s a 7-year-old hitting his 6-year-old brother versus a 57-year-old hitting his 56-year-old brother?
  3. On a purely practical level, would anyone confess anything if they didn’t have the assurance of confidentiality? Would you tell a priest the darkest aspects of your life if you thought he might discuss it with your spouse, your boss, his friends, or the police?
 
Phemie said:
In this case the State is arguing that since the girl has revealed to the Court what she confessed (something we’re all allowed to do if we wish, we are not bound by the seal of our own confession), the priest is under no obligation to maintain his silence. But it doesn’t work that way. If she really wanted to give him permission to ‘break the seal’, she’d have had to meet him outside of Confession and repeat what she’d already told him. Then he’d be free to talk about it in court.

The priest is between a rock and a hard place: he and the diocese could be convicted of negligence because he can’t defend himself. He can’t even acknowledge that the girl came to him to confess, let alone talk about anything she said.
Click to expand...
The family can claim anything they want about what the girl allegedly told the priest in that he cannot break the seal of confession. We don’t know what the girl told the Priest, we don’t know what the Priest told her and we never will. If this priest goes to jail for honoring his vows he will join a long line of other clergymen who have been oppressed governments for not compromising their faith.
 
estesbob said:
The family can claim anything they want about what the girl allegedly told the priest in that he cannot break the seal of confession. We don’t know what the girl told the Priest, we don’t know what the Priest told her and we never will. If this priest goes to jail for honoring his vows he will join a long line of other clergymen who have been oppressed governments for not compromising their faith.
Click to expand...
I personally know the priest and I suspect he would live up to his vows, well live up to Church law, diocesan priest don’t take vows. 🙂
 
catholictiger said:
I personally know the priest and I suspect he would live up to his vows, well live up to Church law, diocesan priest don’t take vows. 🙂
Click to expand...
I don’t want to derail the thread, but is that true about the vows? I didn’t know that, that’s interesting. I thought all religious took vows of poverty and chastity.
 
cornbread_r2 said:
Diocesan priests don’t take vows of chastity and obedience?
Click to expand...
I dontwant to derail the thread but I was talking about formal vows-I was talking about his promise not to divulge what he is told in confession.
 
seakelp said:
I don’t want to derail the thread, but is that true about the vows? I didn’t know that, that’s interesting. I thought all religious took vows of poverty and chastity.
Click to expand...
I don’t know about all religious, but it’s my understanding that diocesan priests take vows of chastity and obedience and that *most *religious order priests also take a vow of poverty in addition to those.
 
seakelp said:
I don’t want to derail the thread, but is that true about the vows? I didn’t know that, that’s interesting. I thought all religious took vows of poverty and chastity.
Click to expand...
Technically, diocesan priests don’t take vows. They make promises to their Bishop which generally include celibacy, obedience to the Bishop and to pray the LOTH daily.
 
catholictiger said:
I personally know the priest and I suspect he would live up to his vows, well live up to Church law, diocesan priest don’t take vows. 🙂
Click to expand...
I know Fr. Bayhi as well. He will follow in obedience of his state of life, priest; even if it means consequences.

Also, knowing the man I do not believe what is being said that he told this young person.
 
Lapey said:
I know Fr. Bayhi as well. He will follow in obedience of his state of life, priest; even if it means consequences.

Also, knowing the man I do not believe what is being said that he told this young person.
Click to expand...
I’ve known Fr. Bayhi and his family for many years. I agree with you completely. I’m also sure that, being the man he is, he didn’t advise this girl as she is claiming. It is a great injustice to this wonderful priest and to the sacrament of reconciliation to suggest that he break the seal of confession. It saddens me that he can’t defend himself, although I’m sure he would rather remain silent with honor. He’s a wonderful priest.
 
cycleman said:
Admittedly in this case where the abuser is dead, the argument about preventing further crimes and suffering is moot. It is only a civil case now and probably does not justify breaking the seal.

BUT…in other cases.

Are you really saying that you would risk the future rape and murder of others by hiding behind the seal? The perpetrator can still confess and receive absolution, no one is stopping him/her from doing that.

To sit back silently and watch silently as future abuse happens is totally abhorrent!!
Click to expand...
Sin IS abhorrent. I agree. I thank God for the gift of the sacrament of reconciliation. To take away that gift, is equally abhorrent.
 
catholictiger said:
I personally know the priest and I suspect he would live up to his vows, well live up to Church law, diocesan priest don’t take vows. 🙂
Click to expand...
God bless him. Say a prayer to Saint John Nepomucene for him (martyred for refusing to break the seal).

Confession is too important to mess with. It’s between Christ and the confessor.
 
Is there any proof beyond the girl’s testimony that she even went to confession?
 
I’m a little confused.

First of all, the girl and family have apparently given permission for the priest to speak. In these cases, a priest is allowed to speak about the confession, isn’t he?

Also, what does the family stand to gain from having the priest testify?
 
Dawnia said:
Others might have seen her go into the confessional. A lot of kids go to confession as part of their religious ed class, etc.
Click to expand...
Could you remember who you saw enter a confessional 5 years ago? I couldn’t remember who went to confession last Easter.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top