Catholic Church to excommunicate priests for following new US state law
www.newsweek.com
The Justice Department is investigating whether the new law violated the First Amendment.
  • PapaStevesy@lemmy.world
    132·
    15 hours ago

    You’re right, having done some light wikipedia-ing, emotional support such that a priest provides would make him an accessory.

    Psychiatrists are legally obligated to report knowledge of certain crimes that would otherwise be protected by confidentiality laws, I don’t see why priests should be any different.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      10 hours ago

      emotional support such that a priest provides would make him an accessory

      That does not appear to be true, unless the crime is being planned or in progress.

      But even if it somehow did, you’d effectively be demanding a priest self-incriminate by admitting to the contents of a confession.

      • PapaStevesy@lemmy.world
        2·
        10 hours ago

        It’s called “accessory after the fact”, and they wouldn’t be guilty of it if they report it, that’s the whole point of reporting it.

        An accessory must generally have knowledge that a crime is being committed, will be committed, or has been committed. A person with such knowledge may become an accessory by helping or encouraging the criminal in some way. The assistance to the criminal may be of any type, including emotional or financial assistance as well as physical assistance or concealment.

    • EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com
      3·
      13 hours ago

      Psychiatrists

      Thank you, this was the comparison I was looking for and the standard I would hold for this. I agree with your assessment.

      • PapaStevesy@lemmy.world
        31·
        12 hours ago

        Then they won’t know about the crime to begin with. The very act of listening to the confession and advising spiritual penance provides emotional support.