A Proposal: Remove All Privileges of Religious Organizations that Exceed

[MineralMan]

31. Here's the problem with that:

The guilty person can go to the priest, confess, and receive absolution. For some, that relieves the guilt - until the next time. What about the victim? The victim gets nothing at all from this. The priest is forbidden to discuss the admission of guilt, or even to admit that he knows anything happened.

The guilty person has received absolution, and feels no need to go and report the crime. Jesus has forgiven him, through the offices of the priest. Soon enough, the guilty person will offend again, harming the victim even further. That's how it goes in such crimes.

The one person who receives nothing is the victim. The victim just continues to suffer, because nobody knows what is going on expect the guilty person and the priest. In cases of child sexual abuse, the victim is usually frightened into remaining silent due to threats against family or others.

Nobody seems to ever mention the victim in these discussions. How does the sanctity of the confessional benefit the victim? It doesn't have any benefit whatsoever for the victim, who will likely be subject to further abuse.

Consider the victim.