On May 23, 2019 the California Senate passed a bill mandating the reporting by designated persons of actual or suspected child abuse to the state. Senate Bill 360 specifically compels priests to reveal information about abuse of minors that they hear in Sacrament of Confession. This would set the California state law in direct conflict with the Law of the Church, which declares the Seal of Confession as sacred, absolute, and inviolable.
To some, this may not appear to be a controversial issue at all; they may in fact support the bill and, in the interest of transparency, see the exposure of secret sins as a good to be desired in this instance. After all, the purpose of this bill is to ensure the protection of children from abuse. Who would oppose it?
The truth is not so simple, and much is at stake with this bill. As faithful Catholics, we must know our position when our Faith is misunderstood and attacked. If this bill becomes law and a priest complies with it, he would commit a grave sin, betraying his Faith, his sacred office, and the trust of those who confess to him; he would forfeit his communion with the Church, and cause scandal to the faithful who look to him as an example. In an attempt to supersede the Law of the Church, this bill explicitly infringes upon the religious liberty of Catholics.
In this lesson your students will:
- Learn what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, the Seal of Confession, and the right to truth.
- Explore the Sacrament of Confession as a profound encounter with God’s mercy and forgiveness.
- In light of California Senate Bill 360, examine why it is never permissible to do an evil so that good may result from it.
- Discuss the ways that we, as Catholics, can share with others the beauty of Confession, and encourage them to experience God’s love in this Sacrament.