Maryland AG releases report on Catholic Church sex abuse

[Tidewater]

My understanding is that the church's stance on breaking the seal of confession hasn't changed, despite a LOT of debate within it. The law, however, varies by state. Statements made to a minister, priest, rabbi, or other religious leader are generally considered privileged or confidential communications. State laws generally exempt a pastor from having to testify in court, or to law-enforcement, about what was discussed in a church confession.

The so-called priest-penitent privilege, however, can be challenged in court. And some states are changing their laws in response to a rash of clergy child-abuse cases. At last count, I believe there were six states to have formally pursued legislative action.

Thanks.
I guess my point would be that the priest has an obligation to tell the penitent that part of his penance is to go to the authorities and tell them what he did.
You do not want to discourage sinners from confessing and repenting, but a child molester has sinned against God and the victim. The sinner has to do what he can to make the victim whole again.
Saying a thousand Pater Nosters and moving the priest to a new parish does nothing to heal the victim.

 

[CrimsonJazz]

Thanks.
I guess my point would be that the priest has an obligation to tell the penitent that part of his penance is to go to the authorities and tell them what he did.
You do not want to discourage sinners from confessing and repenting, but a child molester has sinned against God and the victim. The sinner has to do what he can to make the victim whole again.
Saying a thousand Pater Nosters and moving the priest to a new parish does nothing to heal the victim.

Which brings up another interesting point: why on earth go to confession in the first place if one is not truly penitent? Seems to me that if someone intends to keep offending, there's really no point in asking for forgiveness.

 

[Tidewater]

Which brings up another interesting point: why on earth go to confession in the first place if one is not truly penitent? Seems to me that if someone intends to keep offending, there's really no point in asking for forgiveness.

Probably sincere at the moment. Like alcoholics/drug abusers. My mother got clean several times, but she would always relapse. Eventually it killed her.
I imagine pedophilia is much the same.
All the more reason to be public and transparent about it. So society can place barriers around the perp and future victims.

 

[CrimsonJazz]

Former Virginia pastor facing 30 felony charges including indecent liberties with a child, aggravated sexual assault

A former pastor of an independent Baptist church in the town of Warsaw in Richmond County is facing 30 felony charges relating to multiple incidents the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office alleg…

www.wric.com

RICHMOND COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A former pastor of an independent Baptist church in the town of Warsaw in Richmond County Virginia is facing 30 felony charges relating to multiple incidents the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office alleges occurred at the church

Wharton was charged with 22 felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child under the age of 13 while in a custodial position and eight felony counts of aggravated sexual assault.

“Wharton has lived and served seven churches in Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama and Florida over the past four decades,” Sheriff Smith said.

Sheriff Steve Smith of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said Wharton’s arrest was the culmination of a 15-month investigation into more than two dozen alleged incidents

Not a Catholic church, obviously, but at this point, does it even matter? Seriously, what the hell is wrong with these people?

 

[Go Bama]

Former Virginia pastor facing 30 felony charges including indecent liberties with a child, aggravated sexual assault

A former pastor of an independent Baptist church in the town of Warsaw in Richmond County is facing 30 felony charges relating to multiple incidents the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office alleg…

www.wric.com

Not a Catholic church, obviously, but at this point, does it even matter? Seriously, what the hell is wrong with these people?

Dude is 86 years old. He probably thought he'd gotten away with these crimes.

 

[CrimsonJazz]

Dude is 86 years old. He probably thought he'd gotten away with these crimes.

Yeah and at that age, I'm sure he'll probably escape justice one way or another. Rather than prison, they should just let his victims take turns beating him with an ax handle.

 

[Go Bama]

Yeah and at that age, I'm sure he'll probably escape justice one way or another. Rather than prison, they should just let his victims take turns beating him with an ax handle.

That would be too good for him.

 

[92tide]

they could pillory him in front of his old church

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

I just read through this whole discussion. IMO many of you are spot-on with your remarks.

<snip>
They must all stay vigilant when it comes to predators. The church I attend does back ground checks on all workers and we are quick to call for help if something happens. I’ve dealt with two instances of what would be classified as abuse. It wasn’t with a small child, but teenagers. We called the police and made a report immediately. We fully cooperated and banned the persons from the church. We had both trespassed and they were convicted of their crime. Our idea is call the authorities immediately if we have an issue and be totally transparent. It has worked well for us and we have a good reputation in the community because people know we are diligent, and will go after anyone that steps out of line.

Well done to your and your church!

I've been on our church security team for over a dozen years. I've participated in some necessary-but-distasteful conferences and seminars over the years. (Some of the best, IMO, are the Sheepdog Seminars by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman.)

One night I couldn’t sleep. I turned on the TV and a gripping / awful / excellent movie was on. I recommend it to you … with a warning.

"Trust," starring Liana Liberato and Clive Owen, is a movie about a 14 year-old girl who gets raped by a late-30s man who groomed her for months in advance. Much of the story is about the predator’s grooming and how the family is so crushed by the rape of their daughter. I DID NOT want to watch this movie. I could not avoid it, at the same time….

The horrible paragraph above is not my warning. My warning is there IS bad language in this movie. The language didn’t strike me as gratuitous. It actually fit the tension and horror of the plot.

If you choose to watch Trust, watch it all the way through the credits at the end.

Trust was quickly REMOVED from production, so it’s not easy to find. (I think the movie hit too many nerves in Hollywood.) Maybe you can find it on one of the streaming services…?
______________

Notes from a Sheepdog Seminar:
• Sex Assaults are the NUMBER ONE reason churches get sued.
• The typical male pedophile gets caught after his 151st assault.
• The typical female pedophile gets caught after her 54th assault.
• In any Christian church 20% of the congregation has survived a sexual assault.

Knees down; chins up!

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I just read through this whole discussion. IMO many of you are spot-on with your remarks.


Well done to your and your church!

I've been on our church security team for over a dozen years. I've participated in some necessary-but-distasteful conferences and seminars over the years. (Some of the best, IMO, are the Sheepdog Seminars by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman.)

One night I couldn’t sleep. I turned on the TV and a gripping / awful / excellent movie was on. I recommend it to you … with a warning.

"Trust," starring Liana Liberato and Clive Owen, is a movie about a 14 year-old girl who gets raped by a late-30s man who groomed her for months in advance. Much of the story is about the predator’s grooming and how the family is so crushed by the rape of their daughter. I DID NOT want to watch this movie. I could not avoid it, at the same time….

The horrible paragraph above is not my warning. My warning is there IS bad language in this movie. The language didn’t strike me as gratuitous. It actually fit the tension and horror of the plot.

If you choose to watch Trust, watch it all the way through the credits at the end.

Trust was quickly REMOVED from production, so it’s not easy to find. (I think the movie hit too many nerves in Hollywood.) Maybe you can find it on one of the streaming services…?
______________

Notes from a Sheepdog Seminar:
• Sex Assaults are the NUMBER ONE reason churches get sued.
• The typical male pedophile gets caught after his 151st assault.
• The typical female pedophile gets caught after her 54th assault.
• In any Christian church 20% of the congregation has survived a sexual assault.

Knees down; chins up!

I'd point out that, at the age of 14, she can't legally consent. It's legally statutory rape...

 

[CrimsonJazz]

Justice Department inquiry into abuse within the SBC ends with no charges

Abuse survivors and allies celebrated news of the federal investigation of the SBC for its handling of abuse. Now, the DOJ has ended the inquiry.

www.tennessean.com

Federal investigators closed the books on a year-and-a-half-long investigation into the Southern Baptist Convention's top administrative body that sought to determine whether leaders were criminally responsible for mishandling an abuse crisis in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.

The U.S. Department of Justice concluded its probe last week without charging any SBC leaders, a decision that will come as a pleasant surprise to some and a disappointment to others pushing for change. Abuse survivors and their allies celebrated news of the DOJ’s investigation in August 2022 for its potential to hold denomination leaders accountable.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

A disgraceful decision by the DOJ.

 

[92tide]

more old news out of the new orleans parish. this is disgusting

‘It wasn’t a big deal’: secret deposition reveals how a child molester priest was shielded by his church

Lawrence Hecker pleaded the fifth 117 times as he detailed how the Catholic church protected him for more than two decades after he admitted to molesting children

www.theguardian.com