S&F-Breaking the Seal of Confession

There is plenty to be frustrated about in the Government today.  Just spend 10 minutes on any social network site and you will be infiltrated by posts against the Government for doing something or not doing enough.  Personally I don't engage in these discussions, as I believe doing so only leads to more hate and discontent.  Those posts do not lead to any personal growth.

I have talked about my frustration with the secular world today and its feeling that it is okay to attack the Catholic Church without worry about people's feelings or beliefs (see my post on the Olympic Opening Ceremony). But now the State of  Washington has taken it to a new level.

In the last couple of weeks Washington has passed a law requiring Catholic Priests to report sexual abuse to the authorities if they are confessed during confession.

While I do feel for victims of sexual abuse or neglect, The United States was founded on the principle of religious freedom.  That was put into the 1st Amendment of the Constitution in the Free Enterprise Clause, guaranteeing the ability to practice religion without government interference.

Among the most important pillars of the Catholic Church is the feeling that what is said in the confessional is confessed directly to Jesus via the Priest acting in Persona Christi (the person of Christ).  What is said in there, regardless of the how severe or heinous, is locked under the seal of the confessional.  If a Priest breaks that seal he faces excommunication from the Church.

To force a Priest to break this fundamental belief as Washington State is shows a lack of understanding in how sacred this is to us as Catholics and the Priests in particular.  I believe Priests will go to jail before they break the seal of confession.  And, even though I try to not get involved in political issues, I would be among those protesting and fighting for his release.

If this law is allowed to be enforced it creates a slippery slope.  Why only confessions of abuse and neglect?  Why not other violent crimes?  Eventually can a Priest be forced to testify in crimes of theft?  Will Priests be called to testify in divorce court about adultery?  I don't think I am exaggerating here.

Right now this is focused specifically on the Catholic Church.  If we allow the government to impede on the religious rights in this instance, do we open up the door to removing other religious freedoms from other faiths as well?

If this law is enforced can the state eventually remove other privileged conversations as well?  What about attorney-client privilege?  Doctor-patient confidentially?  Maybe, but I think that if they did remove those protections there would be an uprising against it.  Or is it only ok to attack the Church's protections?

My hope is that this Washington State Law will be fought and struck down as Unconstitutional.  My hope is that it is never enforced.

We were settled by people looking for religious freedom.  We were founded on the idea of separation of church and state.  My hope is that we can get back to the respect to all religions, one of the things that makes this country great.