The Ministry and confessional in the secular world

[kornkob]

While I know that this forum trends toward the 'fck it, let's get a lane' doctrine, I do have a serious question.  And ya ya-- lots of ins and outs but man, I need a more secular answer than that. 

Without getting into too much detail about the specific situation I am having a hard time finding a solid legal opinion regarding the sanctity of the confessional.--- both in terms of criminal culpability and civil liability.   

If someone told a Dudeist minister (and knew that person was a minister) about a crime they had committed as part of a confession, what legal ramifications are there for me if I tell relevant parties who then engage the authorities and turn it into a criminal matter?   

And conversely, if I fail to say anything and I am questioned by the authorities, what is response can I give that doesn't land me in a world of pain? 

Again---  I need a secular answer, not the Dudeist response.  Shit--- if I had my druthers I'd have told this asshole to fukc off and piss on someone else's rug.     

[digbys kid]

In all seriousness, I believe the Catholic Church is the only ecumenical body that recognizes the sacrament of reconciliation, that is, what is traditionally known as confession.  There isn't any real legal issue involved with this, like the ones involved with lawyer and doctor confidentiality, it simply is accepted practice that the confessional is a sacred venue and the Catholic priest will not violate the trust of the sinner.

As a Dudeist priest, you hear confessions at your peril, because there is no established doctrine, neither of sin nor of remission of sin within Dudeism.  If somebody approached me asking me to absolve them of their sins before they run off to Honolulu with Marty Ackerman, I would tell them to go fuck themselves!

Within Dudeism, the notion of sin in a person means that their thinking about this case has become too uptight.  Do a J, jerk-off manually, and watch the film again.  The closest thing to a confessional is The Big Lebowski's limousine, and the only apology offered is after the scattering of the ashes.  Look to those sections of The Holy Film for guidance.  I'm going to go help my fucking lady friend conceive.

[forumdude]

Did you expressly offer to receive this person into religious confession? To absolve them of a misdeed? Or was this person just sharing a secret with you as a friend or acquaintance? That is, were you offering ministerial services?

As digby's kid aptly implied, there's really no room for absolution of sin (and hence, anything resembling traditional Catholic confession) because the notion of sin in Dudeism is pretty much non-existent. You can definitely be undude, a real reactionary, a cleft asshole, a fucking fascist or even (the lowest rung of Dudeist "hell") a human paraquat, but that doesn't mean anyone's in need of absolution from anyone other than their own self. And of course, the folks who's proverbial rug got pissed on.

if you told the guy that he (i'm presumptuously assuming it's a guy) could tell you anything in confidence and you wouldn't tell but you're going to tell anyway, then of course your conundrum is a purely ethical one -- that is, is your word to this guy more important than your responsibility to the victim? of course, the details of the case might be very complicated. lotta ins, lotta outs? sounds exhausting.

Finally, in other words, this shouldn't have anything to do with your standing as a Dudeist Priest -- unless you framed it in that context to the (possibly soon to be registered) felon.

[kornkob]

there's really no room for absolution of sin (and hence, anything resembling traditional Catholic confession) because the notion of sin in Dudeism is pretty much non-existent.

There's the key, man.   

Makes me feel better about letting the interested parties know the ins and outs so that this human paraquat can pay his due. 

Thanks.

Time for an oat soda.

[kornkob]

Not that it is too relevant to my own specific situation but apparently 'clergy privilege' is not, in fact, limited to Catholic confessional but extends to any personal spiritual counsel provided by a clergyman.  The limits and terms of this protection varies state to state.

While the person I was discussing this with was not versed in the specifics, he did say that in some states the clergy can choose to break the privilege.   

So, despite the absence of sin in Dudeism, spiritual consultation with the clergy is privileged, in varying degrees depending on what state you are in when the consultation happens.     

[brandt]

Not that it is too relevant to my own specific situation but apparently 'clergy privilege' is not, in fact, limited to Catholic confessional but extends to any personal spiritual counsel provided by a clergyman.  The limits and terms of this protection varies state to state.

While the person I was discussing this with was not versed in the specifics, he did say that in some states the clergy can choose to break the privilege.  

So, despite the absence of sin in Dudeism, spiritual consultation with the clergy is privileged, in varying degrees depending on what state you are in when the consultation happens.     

DON'T SAY PEEP MAN!!!!!

You'll fuck it up.

Am i wrong?
Okay then

[kornkob]

Calm down, man.  You gotta calm down.