Archbishop of York Calls For End To Confidentiality In Child Abuse Confessions

[hrmjustin]

Religion News Service | By Trevor Grundy

CANTERBURY, England (RNS) Anglican priests should no longer be bound by the centuries-old principle of confidentiality in confessions when they are told of sexual crimes committed against children, the Church of England’s No. 2 official said.

Speaking at the end of an internal inquiry on whether senior church officials ignored abuse allegations involving children, Archbishop of York John Sentamu said that “what happened was shameful, terrible, bad, bad, bad.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/24/archbishop-confidentiality-child-abuse_n_6041342.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

[rug]

1. That's a mistake, for lots of reasons.

Child abuse is rarely discovered through the Sacrament of Confession.

This case is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court:

http://www.lasc.org/opinions/2014/13C2879.pc.pdf

[hrmjustin]

2. I had similar thoughts.

A priest should not offer absolution unless they agree to go to the authorities.

[rug]

3. Penance is a part of absolution.

[hrmjustin]

4. Yes.

I just have deep reservations about changing the sacrament.