Are priests mandatory reporters?
Under existing law, clergy are required to report whenever the clergy, in their professional capacity or within the scope of their employment, has knowledge of or observes a child whom the mandated reporter knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse or neglect, except when the clergy acquires the …
Are priests bound to confidentiality?
Clergy–penitent privilege and mandated reporting
In U.S. practice, the confidentiality privilege has been extended to non-Catholic clergy and non-sacramental counseling, with explicit clergy exemptions put into most state law over the past several decades.
Is Catholic confession protected by law?
The Catholic Church, for example, requires its priests to uphold the Seal of Confession, which prohibits priests from disclosing to anyone the contents of disclosures made by an individual during confession. …
Is confession legally protected?
In United States law, confessional privilege is a rule of evidence that forbids the inquiry into the content or even existence of certain communications between clergy and church members.
What sins Cannot be forgiven by a priest?
In the Book of Matthew (12: 31-32), we read, “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
Do priests judge you in confession?
And, just know one thing more: be assured that the Sacrament of Confession is inviolable. This means that the priest cannot, under pain of excommunication, at any time or in any manner either reveal or act upon what has been confessed.
What happens if a priest breaks his vow of celibacy?
The Priest could well confess, and be absolved of their sin, in this case the transgression of their vow of celibacy. And conveniently, they could go to a fellow Priest for this ministry. And further, the confessional seal is almost completely private and sacrosanct.