Catholic Church to excommunicate priests for following new US state law
www.newsweek.com
The Justice Department is investigating whether the new law violated the First Amendment.
  • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    2 days ago

    emotional support such that a priest provides would make him an accessory

    That does not appear to be true, unless the crime is being planned or in progress.

    But even if it somehow did, you’d effectively be demanding a priest self-incriminate by admitting to the contents of a confession.

    • PapaStevesy@lemmy.world
      21·
      1 day ago

      It’s called “accessory after the fact”, and they wouldn’t be guilty of it if they report it, that’s the whole point of reporting it.

      An accessory must generally have knowledge that a crime is being committed, will be committed, or has been committed. A person with such knowledge may become an accessory by helping or encouraging the criminal in some way. The assistance to the criminal may be of any type, including emotional or financial assistance as well as physical assistance or concealment.

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        22 hours ago

        they wouldn’t be guilty of it if they report it

        Imagine believing this given the current state of the criminal justice system

        • PapaStevesy@lemmy.world
          2·
          13 hours ago

          Psychiatrists don’t get arrested for reporting on patients when the law requires it, this is no different. You’re thinking of whistleblowers and functional regulation enforcement agency employees. Now, if the confessor in question is, like, the mayor or something, then yeah, Father’s fucked.