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Perth: Being A Priest Becomes a Crime

Perth Arthbishop Timothy Costelloe, Australia, argues against a new law that demands of priests under the criminal code to report sexual abuses heard in a confession (e.g. of a journalist). The legislation passed by the Western Australian State Parliament this week and removes civil law protections to the seal of confession.

Costelloe writes in a pastoral letter (PerthCatholic.org.au, October 21) that the decision “criminalises fidelity to an essential dimension of the practice of our Catholic faith by our priests.” He denies that any minor will be better protected because of this law.

He says he is “perplex” by the decision but has - no joke - “no reason to question the integrity and good intentions of our parliamentarians.”

Costelloe adds that critics [= Church haters] seek to paint the Church as unresponsive to sexual abuse cases, “This is both inaccurate and unfair.”

Similar laws against the seal of confession already exist in South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Canberra. The archbishops of these states have announced they will ignore the law.

Picture: © Mazur, CC BY-NC-ND, #newsGhmytiujpn

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Defeat Modernism

The Novus Ordo 'bishops' and 'priests' should all be put in jail for impersonating Catholic Priests and Bishops.

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Seer3

They need to do confessions in secret now.

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Robert P Hartley

Always do your confession in secret! If it is face-to-face, it isn’t Catholic. No true Catholic priest wants to know the identity of the confessor for obvious reasons!

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De Profundis

It is a gutless letter. He shuold clearly instruct his priests to not violate the seal of confession.

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prince0357

The title is living martyrdom.
Men who ask for the ordination to the priesthood know about the consequences. Bishops and cardinals have the colour of blood in their frock.

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De Profundis

It's going to mean the state bugging confessionals and sending in spies pretending to be penitents, for the purpose of nailing and eliminating Catholic priests.

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Seer3

Archbishop Costelloe is correct, of course. This is, however, a rather softball sort of pastoral letter. I hope that in private he is pointing out to his priests more than he says: that the seal of Confession is absolutely inviolable, whether by word, action, or implication; that any priest who violates it is automatically excommunicated; and that they should be willing to face prison or even death to maintain it. Much worse is on the way, and our priests (and lay people as well) need to be prepared for real sacrifice.

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De Profundis

Video on the case here
Archbishop expresses concern over Western Australia’s new law

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Facts Not Lies

This is a hard subject... one which has no 'right' from all perspectives.
a) We want confession to remain sacred and private.
b) We want to care for the innocent.
In some cases, both are not an option. Catholic doctrine made the decision that 'a' takes precedence making the non-secular decision.
Now, the secular government wants this changed. Hmmm, well in prior conditions (you know... when we had a pope with a spine), this would likely be simply 'NO' and political assertions would be made reinforce adherence.
But, with silicone spined 'leadership'... all bets are off.

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De Profundis

Priests have been martyred for this principle. Let us pray it does not come to that.

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