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Post by M. Hawbaker on May 16, 2019 22:26:30 GMT
Sacramento, Calif., May 15, 2019 / 10:47 am (CNA).- The appropriations committee of California’s state senate will hold a hearing Thursday on a bill that would require priests to violate the seal of confession if they became aware of allegations of child abuse or neglect while celebrating the sacrament of penance. Critics say the bill would deny Constitutional religious liberty protections, and that there is no evidence it would actually prevent child abuse.
California’s bill would be a striking reversal of long-standing legal precedent preceding even the foundation of the United States. The state would be the first to explicitly revoke religious confidentiality while keeping protection for other kinds of confidential conversations in place.
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Post by M. Hawbaker on May 16, 2019 22:28:41 GMT
I understand the reasoning behind this bill; but even though I don't believe in the Catholic practice of Confession to a priest, I would hate to see this bill pass as it would be yet another step down the slippery slope of losing religious liberty in this nation.
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Post by M. Hawbaker on Jul 10, 2019 12:44:58 GMT
UPDATE: California confession law dropped
Sacramento, Calif., Jul 9, 2019 / 08:00 am (CNA).- A California bill that would have required priests to violate the seal of confession has been withdrawn by its sponsor the day before it was to be debated in committee.
California Senate Bill 360 was removed Monday from the agenda for a meeting of the California Assembly’s Public Safety Committee scheduled for July 9. The decision by the bill’s sponsor, state Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), came just hours after the Public Safety Committee released a report on the bill July 8. That report raised a number of First Amendment concerns with the proposed legislation.
In addition to religious liberty objections, many – including the Public Safety Committee report – noted that the bill would be almost impossible to enforce. Hill’s decision to drop the measure also followed widespread public opposition to the proposed law. Over 100,000 Catholics sent letters voicing their opposition to SB 360. After the senate vote in May, Bishop Michael Barber of Oakland issued a statement saying that neither he nor any of his priests would abide by the law if it came into effect.
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Post by barb43 on Jul 12, 2019 4:43:48 GMT
UPDATE: California confession law dropped
Sacramento, Calif., Jul 9, 2019 / 08:00 am (CNA).- A California bill that would have required priests to violate the seal of confession has been withdrawn by its sponsor the day before it was to be debated in committee.
Thank goodness!
I completely agree with what you said, Mel. For those reasons, I'm happy the bill was withdrawn.
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