Ireland Pushes Priests To Report Confessed Sex Abuse

By Francis X. Rocca
Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Ireland's prime minister said Catholic priests could be jailed for failing to report child sex abuse crimes they hear during the sacrament of confession, regardless of the confidentiality imposed by church law.

"The law of the land should not be stopped by a crozier or by a collar," said Prime Minister Enda Kenny on Thursday (July 14), a day after a government-sponsored commission criticized a bishop for failing to report allegations of clerical sex abuse.

A report published on Wednesday faulted the Diocese of Cloyne for failing to inform police about 15 allegations of clerical sex abuse from 1996-2009, including two cases in which the alleged victims were still minors at the time of the accusations.

The report also characterized the Vatican as "entirely unhelpful," for downplaying the child protection policies that Irish church leaders established in 1996. The report concluded that, in the case of Cloyne, those policies were "not fully or consistently implemented."

On Thursday, Ireland's foreign minister summoned the papal nuncio, the Vatican's official representative in the country, to respond to those criticisms.

The Cloyne inquiry is the fourth major probe by the Irish government of clerical sex abuse in the Catholic Church since 2003. The investigations have revealed widespread child abuse over several decades by clergy and members of religious orders, leading to the resignations of three bishops.

Bishop John Magee, who served as bishop of Cloyne during the period covered by the report, stepped down from active duty in March 2009, and resigned a year later. He publicly asked "forgiveness and pardon" for his failure to prevent sex abuse.

Comments

[Damon Coburn]

04:50 PM on 07/19/2011

The vatican should give serious consideration to changing the confessional rule to allow exceptions for when a person poses a danger to themselves or others, including children. The practice is already in place for secular counselors. This is not a doctrine after all, it is a rule, and rules can be changed. However, the reluctance to make such a change isn't without some reasonable objections. If priests can reveal certain behaviors, then it is less likely that they will be confessed at all, leaving them unable to act on the information at all, because they simply won't have it. If a sin that is a crime is confessed, the priest can (and should) counsel them to submit to authorities as their act of contrition. A superior can (and should) suspend a subordinate who confesses a crime. In either case, absolution should never be granted to anyone who is not repentant. Coffession of sin without genuine repentance is sacrilage. Such a person should only expect condemnation, not forgiveness. The failure of the church to hold persons accountable in the confessional is as much of a problem as their inablity to break the seal.

[dukeuch]

06:56 AM on 07/21/2011

That it is in place for secular counselors but not priests speaks volumes. It says that the church believes their priests to be above the laws of state and man, but those who are not "believers" deserve no such exemption.

[Damon Coburn]

02:10 PM on 07/21/2011

The practice has been in place for centuries and was never intended to be an obstruction to law enforcement. I doubt those who instituted the practice ever considered such situations would even arise. Early catholics actually practiced public confession to the whole congregation at least in some instances. The Roman church, however, has always been reluctant to change traditions that have long been in place even when they go against the purpose they were created for. (i.e. the Lating Mass. The very reason the bible and liturgy was translated into latin was so people could have it in their own language.) And while no individual is above the state, the commands of God and the Church certainly are. However, the Bible does tell believers to obey all governing authority unless it directly goes against the commands of God. Though some might argue that the confessional seal is an unbreakable trust, I would argue that it is a rule, not a doctrine. In my opinion, the Vatican can and should modify the rule for when a person indicates they are a danger to themselves or others. Thats my opinion, however, and as long as the rule is in place, priests are right to obey the Vatican. As to non-believers not having the exemption, you are wrong. Lawyers cant testify against their clients, and many courts forbid the testimony of counselors or doctors unless there is an ongoing crime.

[Seaniebhoy]

04:36 PM on 07/18/2011

To Bishop John Magee...TELL THE TRUTH!!

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/speak-up-archbishop-tells-bishop-john-magee-16024460.html

[Stokes]

09:00 AM on 07/18/2011

In the 4th century there beheld a nature of clandestine aversions. The material used for this rupture were the palace manuscripts. Invitations to witness the academic achievements became a tool of the mighty. Here lay the foundation for an ever increasing exuberance. Conditions which had prepared the immature to sterility had been of an obedience to form a pact underlying the growth once unmarred. By this means did the uneasiness supply the force which invaded the realm. Guardians of the pasture emphasized the necessity of cloaking the wrath of the Father. Purge ecclesiastic boudoirs for the remainder of the staff. Cursed are the prevailing sources of wanton activity. Insight has been blinded by the emotional upheaval that attracts the ready sprouts. Cursed are the emotional antics of the wiry prey. Their habitual drive has encouraged an obvious irrational group to show the tendencies of craft. Gutter controlled radicals have invaded the premises of the elite. Topic of conversation is the removal of the Vine. In duress will the weak envision what will be considered a strenuous endeavor to hold on to the pertinent manner of present modes. Doorstep to be removed when the fall of the empire has been accomplished. Strength abiding within the elect will be the victor. When the news of the downfall reaches the weary , the scattering will produce a nourished replica. Soon are the walls to crumble. Blessed are they who watch and continue in the victory of the Almighty King of Kings. Hallelujah.

[Stokes]

09:06 AM on 07/18/2011

I was inspired to write this on February 7, 1969.

[charlesrfd2003]

07:16 AM on 07/18/2011

If the penitent releases the priest from the seal, the priest can talk. If a person is molested in the confessional and that person goes to the police. the priest is no longer protected.

We need to educate potential victims and their families to speak up and we all need to listen. Thing that is striking is that these stories are about events years ago. How terrible for a victim to live all alone for all that time.

[charlesrfd2003]

07:09 AM on 07/18/2011

The seal of the confessional is not the problem and will just complicate matters. There are already laws that should make the bishops report the crime of his employees. How is a priest going to identify a person who goes to confession in a dark box. Besides saying I molested a boy five times does not identify the victim. either.

The problem in these cases is that bishops knew the victim and knew the perpetrator. The confessional seal was not an issue. Give the juries a few perpetrators and their enablers and watch things change. Insist on seeing the hidden chancery files. If the files are hidden or destroyed, punish the obstruction of justice. Let us not get lost in a non-issue of seal of the confession.

In the United States the IRS needs to investigate and audit the 190 dioceses. Only 10 use standard accepted accounting methods. Money is leaked and diverted.

In countries where the government supports the church with a check off system, watch as the support drops. In countries where control of some services such as school are in religious hands, watch as the hands become secular.

[Mr Nightlinger]

01:06 AM on 07/17/2011

The Catholic church has been allowed to operate tax-free and above the law. Child molesters (Catholic Priest, on a wide scale) belong in the general populations in federal prison where they will be free to pray to their God for forgiveness (while probably getting molested by the chaplain.)

Even murderers and adult rapists are higher on the food chain than twisted, sexually confused men of the cloth. Put these freaks in jail. They have hurt so many families...and paid so much money to make the stories go away...then they are transferred and begin again in another parish with another set of fresh young 14-year-old boys. I have seen families devastated first hand.

Put these freaks away. This is an FBI matter, not a matter for the Vatican to rule upon.

There are some good documentaries on this subject.

[Seaniebhoy]

04:32 PM on 07/18/2011

To correct you this as a Garda problem, not an FBI one.

[Mr Nightlinger]

02:28 AM on 07/22/2011

What is Garda?

Why should the FBI not be on this?

[TheGenuineSantaClaus]

11:28 PM on 07/16/2011

To learn more about the Pope's position, visit TheSanta dot im.

[KennebunkportIndependent]

10:44 PM on 07/16/2011

I understand the good intentions, but I question how it could be imposed.  If a priest chooses not to comply, who will there be to substantiated the confession?  If the confessee says he confessed to the priest, the priest can deny any such thing, and it becomes a case of he said/she said.  Only if the confession were witnessed by a third party could any claim against the priest be upheld for his failure to report the evidence.

[Seaniebhoy]

04:34 PM on 07/18/2011

The problem is the article is only half finishes. It neglects to mention that Bishop John Magee was aware - on at least some level - that abuse was taking place, but rather than report it to the Garda, he reported it to the Vatican (which the Archbishops of Ireland have all labeled as very uncooperative in fighting abuse in the church) who did nothing.

[Captain Ron]

10:18 PM on 07/16/2011

While I wholly support the prime minister's efforts in seeking justice for victims, as I have said before, the Catholic church is a sick dog that just needs to be put down, permanently.

[ThinkCreeps]

06:26 PM on 07/17/2011

Usually you need to pay to have a dog put down.
In this case, the financials are much more rosy.

[owlafaye]

09:56 PM on 07/16/2011

Remember: Catholic future history:

In 300 years the Roman Catholic Church will refer to these times as one in which the church was falsely and malignantly attacked by atheists, non-believers, evildoers, government and Satanic enemies of Christianity.

They will say:

"Against a massive effort to discredit the piety and chasteness of the clergy with accusations of heinous crimes, the church and her followers fought a protracted battle against this evil... eventually triumphing in the name of Jesus and to the greater glory of the mother church."

I assure you that this will come to pass...this has always been the strategy of the criminal enterprise called Catholicism.

May the light of knowledge shine on your path,
May your path lead to truth,
and the LIE die.

By: Ogden Lafaye 2001

[Laxsmi de Potrero]

09:52 PM on 07/16/2011

you are not the only one. i am sure that child sexual abusers did not stop when either of us became adults nor whether they served time. i don't play the victim card, sorry.

[Lady In Silhouette]

02:07 PM on 07/16/2011

Bishop John Magee asks forgiveness and pardon for his failure to 'prevent sex abuse'. Careful wording here which shows he could not, even in the end as he resigned, admit the full extent of his guilt or he would have said he asked forgiveness for 'aiding and abetting sex abuse'. Forgiveness and pardon? Why? The hypocrit would still be doing what he always did had he not been caught out.

[Laxsmi de Potrero]

01:04 PM on 07/16/2011

how wrong headed can this be? so will doctors, psychiatrists and lawyers be next as to having to reveal wrong doing? every professional will be a snitch. i fear that the lack of confidentiality will force the wrongdoer into darker, lonelier and more violent depths.

[kilthistle]

01:58 PM on 07/16/2011

Many professions are required by law the report child abuse or neglect.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/manda.cfm

"Many states have broad statutes requiring "any person" to report."
http://www.smith-lawfirm.com/mandatory_reporting.htm

It is only the Roman Catholic Church that thinks pedophilia is not a crime. If priests refuse to comply with the law, they should go to jail, just like the criminals they are protecting.

[Laxsmi de Potrero]

02:11 PM on 07/16/2011

being in a jurisdiction, california, which has such laws, i am aware of them. i happen to think that such laws are wrongheaded if they clash with confidentiality. i am unaware in jurisdictions which have such law, that the numbers support any claim to effectiveness in prevention.

we are determined to alienate and perpetuate a permanent "deviant" class.

[mrkurtzhedead]

11:18 PM on 07/16/2011

Are you insane? This "confidentiality" has resulted in the rape and torture of thousands of children. Anyone priest or layman NOT reporting one of these monsters to the police should be prosecuted.

Wrong-headed? What is wrong-headed is "respect' for idiotic religious precepts.

[Laxsmi de Potrero]

02:16 PM on 07/17/2011

yes, i am insane enough to believe that a pillar of anglo-american jurisprudence embodied in the clergy-penitent privilege has merit. your blood lust may have unintended consequences. but don't worry about that.

your statement that the privilege has resulted in the rape and torture of thousands of children is nonsense. enjoy your hysteria, many an evil witch has been burned because of it.

[viko]

12:52 PM on 07/16/2011

Like saying the police did right by everyone for fifty years.
Get ready to be refused your Holy Communion Enda.
The cover ups and the musical chairs was the cancer. Money cannot pay for the sabotage of the providential dispensation of the restoration of Gods Love on Earth.
It's the antiquated belief system cannot hold up the twenty first century scientific advancement. The stadium is crashing down on the people. The Spiritual engineering cannot hold the structure. Salvation is God accepting the sacrifice of Jesus offsets Satan taking the World because we rejected Christ. We can only confirm if Jesus sacrifice was acceptable by experiencing the remission of sin. This to me is the kicker if this did not happen I don't think it would have lasted 2,000 years. Being born again is another thing. God said don't eat the fruit or we would die . We did and no one died. The fall is Spiritual and the resurrection is Spiritual . It's about coming back into His pure state of Divine Love and humility of heart..
What a mess we have made. We think the Beatitudes is about someone else.
The Bible says in the end which is a new beginning two thirds of the Church would fall and the Son of Perdition would be revealed.
The messianic age is over and all mankind are the chosen people.
The Church is not abreast of New Revelation if it was it would have automatically and willingly changed it's ways.

[Watchman and The Wardog]

07:59 PM on 07/16/2011

Whoa Dude! That is a lot of BULL! Jesus' gift of life is still on the table. And He is coming againg, real soon.
Science has done a lot for mankind. They have a cure for a every form of sin. Lust, obesesity, greed, fornication. Free lovin'. Doing what feels good. You think mankind is in charge. Man is too busy getting over on each other to be in charge. Just read the bussiness, political section.
"Behold, I am coming quickly" Yea,thus sayth the Lord.

[mrkurtzhedead]

11:22 PM on 07/16/2011

Behold what? Care to give us a date for this appearance, Mr Prophet? The alleged Christ supposedly said this 2000 years ago. That's "quickly'?

[viko]

02:06 AM on 07/17/2011

Read my blog before you judge. I said God is in charge not man. I said the church needed to interpret the message . As for Jesus he has already come and gone .
you should have prepared as for a thief in the night.
Christianity and all religions failed their respective missions .
Under the direct direction of God we are being led through the final judgement.
Only one way out left put God first before all things .
This one is the great if you accept and the terrible if you reject.
Free will only works when you take responsibility.
Only through Love is anything possible now its a New Covenant.That the confusion. A New day has dawned and the Darkest hour was just before the dawn.
Happiness is only a shadow of Love.

[Indigo1941]

12:06 PM on 07/16/2011

That's an easy one! Dont be stupid in the confessional and admit anything that can be held against you in a court of law.

SampleTemplate: "Bess me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was years ago, since that time I have masturbated twice. For this and all other sins including sins of omission I am heartily sorry. Amen.'