Religion

trotsky

(49,533 posts) Thu Feb 21, 2019, 09:29 AM Feb 2019

Catholic priests would have to report child sex abuse under proposed California law [View all]

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article226530765.html

The Catholic seal of confession could lose its legal protection in California, at least as it concerns to knowledge of child abuse.

Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, announced Wednesday that he is introducing a bill that would remove an exemption in the state’s “mandated reporter” law that allows all members of the clergy to withhold knowledge of suspected child abuse from law enforcement if that information is obtained during “a penitential communication,” such as Catholic confession.

“Individuals who harm children or are suspected of harming children must be reported so a timely investigation by law enforcement can occur,” Hill said in a statement announcing Senate Bill 360.

Doctors, police, therapists and social workers are among the 47 kinds of professionals who are required by state law to notify law enforcement about suspected abuse. Clergy also fall under that law, except if they learn about suspected abuse during a confession.

I know there are some on DU who have said they are "unsure" about whether priests should have to report the abuse of children.

I just don't know how one can be "unsure" about what to put first - religious dogma or the lives of innocent kids.

49 replies

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Catholic priests would have to report child sex abuse under proposed California law [View all] trotsky Feb 2019 OP

K&R stonecutter357 Feb 2019 #1

How will this work? Cartoonist Feb 2019 #2

Child rapists often do talk after they are caught Major Nikon Feb 2019 #7

Good. It's time to make the clergy follow the same rules as MineralMan Feb 2019 #3

So if the abusers do not self-report, guillaumeb Feb 2019 #4

What does that have to do with anything? trotsky Feb 2019 #5

The "logic" is there's a higher authority than secular laws Major Nikon Feb 2019 #9

To be fair, I believe his logic is this: trotsky Feb 2019 #10

Not even his logic Major Nikon Feb 2019 #11

Another view, in this thread. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #13

Use your own words, g. trotsky Feb 2019 #46

You, and a few others, are making a point. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #47

"We"? LMAO trotsky Feb 2019 #48

More often the victim reports it and is ignored. No more of that. marylandblue Feb 2019 #6

Many times, as the Metoo movement shows, guillaumeb Feb 2019 #14

I don't get you often. marylandblue Feb 2019 #17

The problem is predation. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #20

You don't seem to understand how mandatory reporting works. marylandblue Feb 2019 #25

I understand all of that. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #26

If you understood it, you would not answer that way. marylandblue Feb 2019 #28

We can agree to disagree. eom guillaumeb Feb 2019 #29

Not really, you are throwing out red herrings. Here isevidence marylandblue Feb 2019 #30

What's worse is he does understand Major Nikon Feb 2019 #35

Worse, when he gives the water to the RCC after carrying it, MineralMan Feb 2019 #37

When they are caught in their crime, they can and will be prosecuted Major Nikon Feb 2019 #8

It is that easy? guillaumeb Feb 2019 #15

Actual experience is that people do confess abuse marylandblue Feb 2019 #18

One person.One single person. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #21

It's not the only such story, it's just the first one I found marylandblue Feb 2019 #23

It is an argument against the efficacy of mandatory reporting. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #24

So your position is that we should do away with mandatory reporting altogether? marylandblue Feb 2019 #27

No, Gil is just against mandatory reporting for religious organizations Major Nikon Feb 2019 #40

How many child rapes must we allow, Gil? Major Nikon Feb 2019 #39

What should we want? guillaumeb Feb 2019 #42

You predictably didn't answer the question Major Nikon Feb 2019 #43

I said zero cases. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #44

You refused to answer my question Major Nikon Feb 2019 #45

What "experience" are you talking about? Major Nikon Feb 2019 #19

Why Don't Child Sex Abuse Victims Tell? guillaumeb Feb 2019 #22

Sometimes the abusers tell Major Nikon Feb 2019 #31

What percentage of abusers tell the authorities? guillaumeb Feb 2019 #32

Do you think it's going to be less than one? Major Nikon Feb 2019 #33

A significant minority do tell marylandblue Feb 2019 #34

It's even stranger when someone suggests we shouldn't Major Nikon Feb 2019 #36

Some do and some don't. Given the RCCs attitudes on sinful behavior, MineralMan Feb 2019 #38

Like a moth to a flame. Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #12

Ah....yes.....of course. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #16

Kinda strange really Major Nikon Feb 2019 #41

I see zero downside -nt Bradical79 Feb 2019 #49