Attack on “Seal of Confession” Passes First Committee April 4, 2019 A California Senate Committee has voted to remove the right to privacy between a penitent and confessor during the Sacrament of Reconciliation and other spiritual counseling. SB 360 Mandated reporters: clergy (Hill, D – San Mateo) passed the Senate Public Safety Committee on a 5-0 vote with two abstentions even though the move is most likely unconstitutional and is ultimately an unnecessary and unwise attack on religious freedom. Members of the Committee seemed to misunderstand the nature of the Sacrament. Senator Hannah Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) said the penitent privilege “allowed for the sexual abuse of children under the protection of religious freedom” and that “absolution from their Church” allowed for continue pedophilia. Abusers are notoriously meticulous, secretive and deceptive. They are not likely to seek reconciliation or counseling, especially if the exemption is removed, but rather go to great lengths to conceal their hideous crimes. In Catholic teaching the confessional is sacrosanct and Canon law is very clear that any priest who violates the seal of confession is automatically excommunicated. That will not change. (Four priests over the centuries have been martyred rather than violate the seal.) Clergy already mandated reporters in their administrative duties and must remain so. But ignoring the First Amendment’s protection for the free exercise of religion is not going to protect children rather it will undermine fundamental rights recognized for centuries around the world for no gain whatsoever. The bill must now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee before it goes to the full floor. To express your disagreement with the bill, please use our Action Alert to oppose SB 360. https://www.cacatholic.org/attack-“seal-confession”-passes-first-committee
Well it could come to the point where we can no longer receive the Sacrament of Confession in cases where there is criminal offence, without fear of being turned in to the police. Hard to believe, but that day may come.
If passed this would be a direct attack on the Catholic Church and the beginning of direct persecution.
If this abomination passes in CA, rest assured it will spread to other liberal states. I pray that this never comes to pass. I could see an underground Church forming if the Seal of Confession is ever violated.
The state governments are going to kick these accusations up the ladder into federal RICO cases anywhere they can, especially in liberal states, I would be surprised if the DOJ have not already begun an investigation.
Nothing surprises me anymore about California. I made a recent trip there to take care of my elderly father while my sister took a vacation. I was surprised at how broken down and old California is looking. My father lives in a really good area but even there I could see a "headed towards 3rd world" look to it. I have been gone for 15 years . The overwhelming liberal policies in that state have really made an impact, and not a good one. Cali will continue to make bad decisions and the voting base is mesmerized by the virtue signaling politicians and Holly-weirdos. Attacking the Seal on Confession is just another notch in their belts to turn that state unlive-able.
That is very interesting -- I see the same thing here in Northern Ireland - the roads I travel on to work are like those of a 3rd world country/I have real problems with rough roads/potholes etc damaging my car - in the school I work there a lack of resources - in many of our towns/cities shops are shut and boarded (perhaps impact of online buying), our hospitals & A&Es are stretched to the limits etc We are so, so close to going over the edge should there be another economic crisis - yet most people cannot see the reality -- people go on blindly as if the world owes then a living and they are in for a shock as next time there is a banking crisis they are going to lose everything including their benefits -- I believe we have been on a knife-edge economically for a long time -- wouldn't take much to push us over the edge!
House prices have been creeping steadily up and up here in the North... they're not far off their peak of 2007, when the mortgage crisis hit. Youd nearly think that someone or something is keeping rates low to encourage ppl to buy property at these exorbitant and unsustainable prices! Youre right, itll collapse again. And therell be no dough for a bail out this time...
Personally I believe the crash of 2007 was orchestrated. But that's just my view. I believe the powers that be knew that it was coming for a long time.
There’s more to events than meets the eye, I always say Same thing goes for the price of oil and gasoline.
Ireland is among only a small number of countries that have legislated for the Confessional Seal to be breached. I believe China is one of those countries also.
