PowerBlog! writes of a new bill in the New Hampshire legislature (HB 1127), which would mandate all clergy members to report instances of sexual abuse with no exceptions. A good idea, but there has to be one exception - Confession.
This bill would require the Seal of the Sacrament of Confession to be broken and force clergy to reveal these confessions by parishners. What this will do will not help children, but it will keep people from Confession. I know that many people fear others to know there sins, and with Confession lines low anyway, they will only hit rockbottom in New Hampshire if this becomes law.
I hope the "no exceptions" aspect can be removed to allow Confession to be what it is - a special place between God and us.
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This bill would require the Seal of the Sacrament of Confession to be broken and force clergy to reveal these confessions by parishners. What this will do will not help children, but it will keep people from Confession. I know that many people fear others to know there sins, and with Confession lines low anyway, they will only hit rockbottom in New Hampshire if this becomes law.
I hope the "no exceptions" aspect can be removed to allow Confession to be what it is - a special place between God and us.