Perhaps it's good that people know there is someone they can confess anything to without getting reported. I know people in AA who have to confess everything they did to harm others, and they choose a Catholic priest even though they aren't Catholic, because they want to confess to someone they know won't tell. I think it's good they have that option.
Perhaps if the abuser is willing and capable of changing their behavior; but emptying one's conscience of such acts then being told "God bless you my son, go and sin no more" certainly doesn't cut the cake. I'll leave the rules of reasonable punishment to the authorities; but confession without change is worthless and can actually serve to keep the cycle of abuser continuing.
If we are more concerned with the safety of children over the punishment of abusers, then perhaps many of our mandatory reporting laws should be revisited; as they often tie the hands of mental health professionals into forced reporting, which serves to dissuade abusers who desire help from coming forward; and without receiving help, they are much more likely to continue their destructive behavior until they DO receive help.
I watch with great interest at the progress and success of Germany's
Dunkelfeld Project, who does not report discovered instances of abuse when former abusers willfully and seriously seek treatment, guidance and assistance in ending their abusive behaviors. As mandatory reporting, stiffer penalties, etc. etc. etc. have failed to curb the instances of child sexual abuse, it makes sense to try a different approach ... and this approach certainly would not exist in most nations due to mandatory reporting.
I do not believe that religion and religious confessions should serve to shield abusers of children. Religious persuasions, practices and doctrines have shown a highly unsatisfactory track record of changing this type of behavior.
f they want forgiveness for such a heinous sin they should pay the price in jail, beaten and possibly killed by inmates.
Speech like this silences abusers who may otherwise seek help to stop doing what they are doing, and they don't want to be beaten and possibly killed by inmates.
Speech like this silences victims, who most often know their abusers and don't wan't their abuser beaten and possibly killed by inmates.
Speech like this silences witnesses, who are often friends and relatives of the person they have discovered engaging in such activities; and don't want a friend or relative to be beaten and possibly killed by inmates.
Speech like this is a part of the problem.
Childhood sexual abuse must stop; but beating and killing abusers has been going on, even in "civilized" nations for a very long time; and it doesn't seem to be doing anything to stem the tide of new or repeat instances of these crimes.
Doing the same thing and expecting a different result is insanity; and on this issue, our children pay the price for our stubbornness.
Child abuse too ugly of a crime to leave it up to a nonprofessional to take responsibility for the outcome of deciding which abusive situations need to be investigated by the law and which don't.
No! Priests need to stick to religion and let other people do their job of protecting people from molesters.
I wholeheartedly agree.