The legislation “places them in the position of either complying with the requirements of their faith or violating the law. The consequences for violating the law are serious and, as Plaintiffs assert, the implications of violating the Sacramental Seal are more serious still,” he wrote.
Attorney General Nick Brown’s office emphasized that the ruling only applies to “the Sacrament of Confession” and that, if clergy learn about abuse in any other setting, the injunction does not change that they will be mandated reporters. Brown did not provide any further comment.
Batshit insane first paragraph. The second is at least some small positive. I don’t know that this being overturned actually makes any meaningful difference in practice though though- if people can’t say they abused a child in confessional they won’t. I guess you might catch some people in the transmission, who didn’t learn about the change? That would be a positive. But I think long term people just wouldn’t confess to sexual abuses in the confessional anymore
I live in a place where clergy are legally required to report already. There’s still a regular stream of people who confess anyway and are then counseled to immediately report to the police as well, as clergy will be reporting within 24 hours.
Some people glaze over when told what the legal responsibilities are, and just go with what they were told from old movies, that confession is inviolate. Odd but true.
Batshit insane first paragraph. The second is at least some small positive. I don’t know that this being overturned actually makes any meaningful difference in practice though though- if people can’t say they abused a child in confessional they won’t. I guess you might catch some people in the transmission, who didn’t learn about the change? That would be a positive. But I think long term people just wouldn’t confess to sexual abuses in the confessional anymore
I live in a place where clergy are legally required to report already. There’s still a regular stream of people who confess anyway and are then counseled to immediately report to the police as well, as clergy will be reporting within 24 hours.
Some people glaze over when told what the legal responsibilities are, and just go with what they were told from old movies, that confession is inviolate. Odd but true.
Huh… Thanks for sharing your perspective! it sounds like I was wrong