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1. Surely if anyone confesses a criminal offence to a Catholic Priest, the correct advice or penance would be at least to go to the Police and own up.

   Posted By: Mary-Anne Johnson

2. A note of caution to the possibility of persons with intentions unknown using recording devices such as mobile phones in confessionals.
   Pastors need to be aware that there is a high level of attention being paid to the sacrament of penance at this time.

   Posted By: Joe Duffy

3. I remember to this day 55 years later the story a Jesuit priest told on the absolute practicality of the seal of the confessional.
   A priest, let's call him Fr Murphy, had just celebrated with Holy Mass his 25 years as a priest.
   At the celebration afterwards he was regaling a circle of adoring parishioners with memorable moments from his ministry.
   'I remember like it was yesterday the first confession I heard. It was a young woman confessing to adultery.'
   In another corner of the reception room the president of the Catholic Women's League was boasting to a circle of her adoring acolytes.
   'I remember like it was yesterday. I was the first one to go to a very young and wet behind the ears Fr Murphy for confession.'
   Regarding the enquiry into the sex abuse of children discussion of the seal of confession is a distraction. Although it may give church leaders an opportunity to explain just what this sacrament of healing really is.
   It would be a shame if some hierarchs tried to hide between the seal of the confessional as an excuse for their not taking steps to deter the penitent from re-offending and encouraging him/her to go the civil authorities.
   But I suspect, as Paul Collins says, few if any sexual abusers of children go to confession, and if they do, disguise their offence with vague language.

   Posted By: Joe

4. I see lots of practical problems even if priests agree to report a penitent who confessed to being a sexual abuser (and people were 'going to confession' etc.)
   I can just imagine the way in which a Catholic's connection with his church would come to a sudden end as soon as he was arrested (reported by his priest).
   But, if a sin such as this was confessed, it would probably be to a priest elsewhere who was a total stranger. What does that priest do? Ask the man his name and phone number and/or address so he can report him? And when the penitent refuses to say? Does he ring 000 and try and keep the man in the confessional by force until the police arrive?
   It's a minefield.
   And if pedophilia is seen as reportable why, perhaps after a time, wouldn't the community be saying '
   'murder should be reported too, and rape and bullying that led to suicide'.
   Somehow I can't see it working.
   But I do acknowledge with interest some of our Aussie Cath bishops who are saying a pedophile should be reported if the crime is owned up to in the confessional.

   Posted By: Mike Yates

5. Every priest I have ever spoken to about this always says that if a person were confessing such a horrific act, to receive absolution, they would need to promise to confess to the authorities, as part of their penance. In reality as well, I can't imagine those who indulge in this evil behaviour, confessing it anyway.

   Posted By: Bill Brown

6. I have spoken to convicted paedophiles in prison.
   When asked what was it like being confronted about their behaviour, mostly they express surprise and then deep sadness at the point of complaint. In their minds, these were relationships.
   The fact that as adults they were in a position of power was not recognised and so the abusiveness of their behaviour came as a surprise.
   Would such a person go to confession for something they did not recognise as abusive behaviour?
   If they did, how would they describe it; impure acts with others, a breach of his celibacy commitments.
   I can not imagine anyone saying
   'I am guilty of behaviour covered under the Crimes Act'.
   Or describing his sin is such a way that a priest would then have a clear duty to disclose it.
   And if he did suspect, would it not be hearsay? The sinner could simply deny or claim it was a dream or impure thought.

   Posted By: Martin Nicol

7. This raises some broader questions.
   If clerical child abusers don't believe what they have done is wrong or do not ever go to confession and confess these horrendous sins, what are the reasons?
   Why isn't the sacrament of penance frequented by Catholics nowadays?
   Does it tell us something about the practical ('pastoral') approach to sin?
   My guess is that the awful reality of what sin is, and what it does both temporally and eternally, has been played down in favour of 'warm fuzzy Jesus loves you just the way you are'.
   That would fit with the fact that pastors of souls rarely exhort their flocks to confess their sins - under the warm fuzzy tehology why would you need to?
   The paucity of confession times is also testament to this. Self-fulfilling prophecies.
   What role has modern psychology (there are apparently plenty of examples of psychologists suggesting Fr X is cured and won't relapse [reoffend]) and social theory ('there is only sin in structures') played in forming some of these views as opposed to a traditional view of right and wrong, amendment and restitution, prudence and honesty?
   

   Posted By: Peter in Canberra

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