The Church and Law

[XPbeliever]

In 2002, The Boston Globe** broke a story about the sexual abuse of quite a few boys at the hands of a priest (you may find the article at pulitzer.org/archives/6729, if you wish to read it). Although I am Catholic, I don’t really have any knowledge of the connection between the Church and the law. Does anyone know what the grounds are for public courts to grant Church lawyers confidentiality so that their records don’t become public (as most depositions do)? Why would Church leaders need this kind of secrecy?

 

[Texas_Roofer]

… Does anyone know what the grounds are for public courts to grant Church lawyers confidentiality so that their records don’t become public (as most depositions do)?

it is not “Church Lawyers” but any ordained person acting within their professional role.

Why would Church leaders need this kind of secrecy?

People confess to all types of immoral actions. Most people commit these crimes only rarely during weak moments. Their Pastor/Priest/etc is allowed (as is their doctor/lawyer) to assist them to rehabilitate themselves. Whether their action is legal or illegal all professional assistance from Priests, lawyers, or doctors is privileged and bound to silence.
Hope that helps

 

[MarkInOregon]

In 2002, The Boston Globe broke a story about the sexual abuse of quite a few boys at the hands of a priest (you may find the article at pulitzer.org/archives/6729, if you wish to read it). Although I am Catholic, I don’t really have any knowledge of the connection between the Church and the law. Does anyone know what the grounds are for public courts to grant Church lawyers confidentiality so that their records don’t become public (as most depositions do)? Why would Church leaders need this kind of secrecy?

Aren’t all cleint records of lawyers confidential? Isn’t that called attorney client privilege and nothing unique to the Church?
As for secrecy and child sex abuse–the Oregonian ran a 3 part series in February of 2008 an child sex abuse in our public schools. It would appear that there is more sex abuse and much more recent sex abuse there–than in the Church–but I have yet to hear it mentioned on tv or radio. There has been no outrage here in Oregon over it as there was over the Church sex abuse scandle. The schools here even have a term for passing off the abusive teachers to another school–they call it “passing the trash” I even wrote to the Boston Globe with this information suggesting if they were really concerned about protecting children they look into the matter of sex abuse in our public schools–I don’t beleive they have. Apparently they are only concerned with the Church and they don’t care if our public schhool children are abused at the hands of teachers they see 5 days a week 9 months a year.