“for edification and not for your destruction”
Father Bob out of Australia who gained notoriety for hearing confessions live on a radio show, is of the opinion that it’s morally mandatory that priests should violate the seal of the confessional and report those who confess to child abuse while in the confessional. He said, “I believe everyone should report abuse. It’s their moral duty. If it takes mandatory reporting to make sure, that’s how it will have to be.” What did he think he was actually doing in the confines of the confessional?
“When you go to Confession, know this, that I Myself am waiting for you in the confessional; I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in the soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of Mercy.” - Jesus to Saint Faustina
Fr. Bob has a history of dissent, especially as it related to contraception. He was of the opinion that the Church should mind it’s own business on certain matters, so it’s not particularly shocking that it seems as though he believes priests should fall under the authority of the secular state, who screen criminals (vs. repentant sinners) who confess in the confines of a Catholic confession. It must be he also failed to remember that the sacramental seal is inviolable and quoting Canon 983.1 of the Code of Canon Law, the Catechism states:
“…It is a crime for a confessor in any way to betray a penitent by word or in any other manner or for any reason” (No. 2490). A priest, therefore, cannot break the seal to save his own life, to protect his good name, to refute a false accusation, to save the life of another, to aid the course of justice (like reporting a crime), or to avert a public calamity. He cannot be compelled by law to disclose a person’s confession or be bound by any oath he takes, e.g. as a witness in a court trial. A priest cannot reveal the contents of a confession either directly, by repeating the substance of what has been said, or indirectly, by some sign, suggestion, or action. A Decree from the Holy Office (Nov. 18, 1682)
What ever the culprit - yesterday it was murderers and rapists, while today it’s child molesters - there will always be a diabolical assault on the Sacrament of reconciliation specifically because it was given to us by Christ, the Great Physician, who knows everything about us and the healing powers of confession on our soul, in both a supernatural and psychological sense.
“The tears of the penitents are wine for the angels.” — St. Bernard
Those who hate and attack this great sacrament know nothing about it. They have never experienced the depth of God’s forgiveness and mercy available to them in the confessional, nor do they understand the power of God’s grace given freely to our priests to guide them in doing what is righteous. There is No price or potential crime known to man that is worth desecrating the Sacrament of reconciliation. The value of each and every one of our souls are without measure - while the bodies eventually die, the consequences of sin on souls are eternal.
As a side note: the story of a “confession” of a repeat sex offender was from a non catholic denomination, but the press just so happen to get a couple of quotes from a reliable dissenter to bring it back to the Catholic church.
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There’s a simple approach for confessors. They should insist a penitent turn himself or herself in to the authorities. A failure to do that could be construed as a lack of sincerity. (Rite of Penance 18)
The paragraph continues:
“A penitent who has been the cause of harm or scandal to others is to be led by the priest to resolve to make due restitution.”
If bishops don’t insist on discipline within the sacrament of penance for the purpose of alleviating scandal and harm, they have no one but themselves to blame for the attacks on the sacrament.
Comment by Todd — February 29, 2008 @ 11:34 am