Irish priests say they will disobey new confession box law on child abuse

Photograph caption: "People line up for confession in Knock, County Mayo." Signs pointing in same directions say Confession/Counselling? Might it not have been the case that at least 50% of the queue were queueing for counselling? If they're all Roman Catholic, do they get a concession? Ironic for a Jewish-Irish Minister for Justice to being setting standards for a Roman Catholic sacrament. Yet, a Roman Catholic priest is reputed to have warned the leader of the Black 'n' Tans in Ireland during the War of Independence of an IRA plot to assassinate him, whereupon he escaped to Canada, dying only in recent years as a very old man. Did that not breach sacradotal privilege?

Breaking the seal of confession is a red-herring. The Junior Minister for Children conceded that with Pat Kenny, RTE on a live tv audience discussion before winter. The penitent remains anonymous before and after the trip to the 'Confessional. The law is not enforceable. Long forgotten how arrogant S h a t t e r is.

GDillon: the Govt running Ireland are more than just Fools, they are arrogant. Others are also manifest in arrogance. As arrogant as the RC Mandarins. This polarising can and will give rise to a Sanc-timonious Tea Party style entity here. Asking to happen.

"The Seal of Confession is inviolable", how many clergy will find comfort in that, were're talking about the spiritual murder of innocents here. Minister Shatter is 100% right, stay firm in that conviction, it has nothing to do with God.

He most probably does deny the sacraments,but he lets the pedophile loose on the streets,that is the problem.

Seems to me a priest hearing the confession of a crime like this should assign a penance that includes making amends or deny the confessor the sacraments.

The confessional is the real seat of power in the RCC.Any priest not reporting any crime learned in the confessional is an accessory after the fact and should be charged accordingly. I hope Mr Shatter is as keen to demand that the Jewish Misrah is not used to shield lawbreakers in the Jewish. A current case in Australia where a pedophile teacher at a Jewish school was spirited to Israel.The college evoked "Misrah" and did not inform the authorities and threatened the parents if they told the authorities.

The confessional is a place where one can confess to a Priest ANY SIN and never fear it being revealed. I totally agree with the Priests on this issue.

Seal of Confession my eye. It's simply an "old boys club" seal. Protect the cloth and all the men who wear it.

hard one this,the confessional has always been sacrosanct for two thousand years,i don't think priests who believe in this sort of thing will break their vows or beliefs what ever the penalties,my own thoughts is there should be no hiding place for pedophiles ever.what does a priest do when he receives a confession of abuse,surely he must do something knowing that the person may violate another child?

I agree with Eiriamach. Priests should refuse to hear the confessions of a suspected child abuser, and tell the police about their suspicions. That way they aren't breaking their sacramental law, and the pedophile isn't given free license to continue their crimes.

did anyone mention that alan shatter is jewish an may have a personal agenda against the catholic church an how in the name of god would he enforce this ridiculous rule seriousally

I read somewhere in the Irish media that it was other Govt Ministers, atheists and anti-Catholic men, Ruarí Quinn and Eamon Gilmore, who pushed this agenda re priests and the confessional. It’s Shatter’s name that comes into the public domain as it’s his Department (of Justice) that has to deal with it but Quinn and Gilmore are the instigators. Frankly, it’s complete stupidity to even suggest the law… every priest, bishop and Cardinal and all the Catholic laity in the world will support the Irish priests’ stance on the sacredness and sanctity of Confession (I bet Quinn, Gilmore and Shatter never thought of that opposition forthcoming!). Other than that I think LacarourSeanB said it all for me… brilliantly written & thought out.

Yes, God forbid child rapists be turned in and prosecuted for molesting little girls and boys. Jesus would be offended...wait...what was it he said about harming a child, again?

They know it'd mainly be other priests they'd be reporting on. Still, let them speak loud and proud their contempt for the law and for the welfare of children.