Should Priests be required to report child abuse exposed during cofessions?

[Incogneeto]

sure! I don't dispute that you can have moral values, but if you are an athiest, then they are just YOUR moral values and they don't necessarily mean anything to the atheist down the street. And listen, it would be really easy for me to make up my own moral values and then stick to them diligently.

It is much harder to stick to the moral values assigned to you from a God who is perfect in every way and expects more from you than you would otherwise expect from yourself.

If I just made up my own rules for Baseball, I would be the best baseball player there is, in my game. It's much harder to follow the set rules of a baseball commission enforced by an umpire.

Neuro isn't into sports either.

[Smit]

The morals of atheists are pretty much the same as for Christians.

They're part of the society you live in. Social norms shared by most people.

[beej]

The morals of atheists are pretty much the same as for Christians.

They're part of the society you live in. Social norms shared by most people.

That is because of the permeation of Christian influence in the writing of laws, but we are living in an era where those morals are changing just about as quickly as church membership is dwindling.

[neurosis]

With that said, it seems like you're purposefully only looking at half of beej's post here. Did you read this part?:

Yes, I read the entire post. What he said there doesn't change my opinion. In fact, I don't think that priests should be any less accountable for reporting crimes than you, or I am. I don't care what the crime is. I can see Beejs point, but I don't see that as an acceptable tradeoff for the well-being of a child.

If you read Smit's earlier post, that is almost exactly how I feel about it.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding this, but it doesn't read at all like he's comparing what priests did in the holocaust to this thread. Seems to me like he's making a case about government involvement in the church and how (in your opinion) that would be beneficial when it comes to a case like this thread. However, in the two cases he gave, I think we can all agree that government involvement in the church would be a bad thing. I think the real question is where and how do you draw that line?

Yes? He's saying that if we open the door to priests having to break their vow of silence from a confession in this one case, then we're opening the door to them having to break their vow in every case. They are also excommunicated for breaking the vow. It's an attempt to leverage a moral dilemma, but I could be doing the same thing. In the case of a past or planned murder revealed during confession. do you think a priest has at minimum, a moral obligation, if not a legal obligation to report that?  They don't. It's prohibited.

And sorry if this is messy. I don't have my glasses on and I can barely see my screen right now. 

[neurosis]

That is because of the permeation of Christian influence in the writing of laws, but we are living in an era where those morals are changing just about as quickly as church membership is dwindling.

Christian morals have changed over the years, too?  Some Christians more than others.   

[mowens]

sure! I don't dispute that you can have moral values, but if you are an athiest, then they are just YOUR moral values and they don't necessarily mean anything to the atheist down the street. And listen, it would be really easy for me to make up my own moral values and then stick to them diligently.

Now, you are getting into all kinds of gray areas. Do you refrain from killing people because God said not to kill? Do you not steal because God said stealing is wrong? Would you do these things if you didn't have God's instructions?

Do you abide by the commandments because you know it's the right thing to do or because you fear God's punishment?

Piety based on fear is meaningless. A person can have a strong moral compass without religion. And what the person down the street believes is none of my business.

[neurosis]

Neuro isn't into sports either.

When I play sports, I just make up my own rules.

[Incogneeto]

Atheists often do.

They want to keep religion out of Schools, The Courts and even the Bakeries.

Now with this legislation .....

They want to bring the Government into The Church.

[Del.]

A true Christian knows that his morals fall well short of Gods plan for us.

A man's conscience may be clear but that doesn't make him innocent.

[neurosis]

They want to bring the Government into The Church.

So you think that protecting children is just a b/s excuse?

[beej]

Now, you are getting into all kinds of gray areas. Do you refrain from killing people because God said not to kill? Do you not steal because God said stealing is wrong? Would you do these things if you didn't have God's instructions?

Do you abide by the commandments because you know it's the right thing to do or because you fear God's punishment?

Piety based on fear is meaningless. A person can have a strong moral compass without religion. And what the person down the street believes is none of my business.

I try my best to follow God's commands because of my deep reverence for Him. I am still imperfect and when I fall into sin, which happens more than I would like, I feel deep remorse because of that same reverence. but I have to say, that it is because I have felt God's forgiveness, that I am able to forgive others. I plan my forgiveness ahead of time, like other people plan their vengeance ahead of time.

[ghuns]

Speaking of child abuse, this happen just down the road from work the other day...

Man charged with murder after sex offender killed in shooting at Elkhart motel

...police confirmed that Cogswell was a sex offender who had been released from prison in May. Court records state that Stanley is related to a victim in that case.

A witness told police that he saw Stanley looking in the window of Cogswell's room before knocking on the door. When Cogswell opened the door, Stanley reportedly began shooting.

Officials say Cogswell died after getting shot in the head and chest.

What a cryin shame.

[Incogneeto]

So you think that protecting children is just a b/s excuse?

Maybe just yours.

Every Atheist I have ever met has a complete aberrance to the Church and Religion in General.

I highly doubt any child molester is going to waltz in to his Church and walk out thinking they are forgiven.

Unless you are in Cali (MAPS) and (Nambla) generally don't advertise.

The Church having learned of an offender in my opinion should be guiding the individual to turn himself in.

"Hate the Sin love the Sinner"

[neurosis]

I don't know why I ever expect a meaningful conversation with you.  You'd think I would have learned by now.

[Incogneeto]

I don't know why I ever expect a meaningful conversation with you.  You'd think I would have learned by now.

I would have to say , One of us has a thick Skull........Hmmmm??