Father Who Killed Daughter's Alleged Molester Won't Face Charges

[anp1215]

Originally Posted by Scott_Lafrance

The sacrament of confession is about turning from sin and returning to God. The priest is well within his rights as the absolver to require and part of penance, the man to turn himself in and make amends for his crimes. A couple of "Our Father's" and 10 "Hail Mary's" just don't cut it.

And a priest CANNOT break the seal of confession. Who do you fear more, the punishment of the state, or the wrath of God. A priest should fear the wrath of God more than the state, and therefore should never break the seal of confession. Period.

The priest could assign that as part of penance I guess, but he can't withhold absolution.

[Scott_Lafrance]

Originally Posted by anp1215

The priest could assign that as part of penance I guess, but he can't withhold absolution.

Since God is ultimately the one who forgives, IF he is forgiven ultimately depends on God's mercy.

[SamH]

Originally Posted by Durus

Are you happy this child molester was beaten to death?

Having seen the after effects and life long trauma some live with - I am very happy that the offender will never be able to molest another child again.

Originally Posted by Durus

What about all the other child molesters who've not been caught, have confessed their sins to a priest, have been absolved of their sin and have never been held to account in a court of law or at the hands of the victims family?

Lets hope they confess their acts to the nearest law enforcement officer.

Originally Posted by Durus

How do you feel about those molesters?

May they get theirs in the end.

[SamH]

Originally Posted by anp1215

The priest could assign that as part of penance I guess, but he can't withhold absolution.

A priest may withhold absolution if he has reason to believe that the penitent is insincere.

[anp1215]

Originally Posted by SamH

A priest may withhold absolution if he has reason to believe that the penitent is insincere.

Right. I didn't say that he couldn't.

[Scott_Lafrance]

Originally Posted by SamH

May they get theirs in the end.

Pardon the pun......

[garyconrad]

Thou shall not kill . We all must live by his rules or die by them , the choice is ours. Do any of you understand what you have if you live by the rules of men, I call it Hell . Yours in Christ Jesus.

[JimR-OCDS]

OK, I don't know how accurate this is, but a priest friend of mine,RIP, had a conversation about the issue of penance for a confessed murderer.

I had asked him, if a man comes to you and confesses to a murder, can't you give him as part of his penance, to turn himself in?

He said, a priest can not do this.

He didn't explain why.

My guess is that a priest will not give a penance which the person may not be capable of carrying out, but still seeks absolution for their sin.

Like I said, I don't know how accurate this is and I still wonder why such a penance could not be given.

Jim

[He Man]

Originally Posted by garyconrad

Thou shall not kill . We all must live by his rules or die by them , the choice is ours. Do any of you understand what you have if you live by the rules of men, I call it Hell . Yours in Christ Jesus.

Well, it was really thought shalt not murder, and since this doesn't qualify as murder apparently, I don't see your point.

No one endorses hunting and killing people, but many can relate to the man's anger in defending his daughter. It is easy to cast aspersions from a keyboard when your child is safe.

Let's remember he pulled the man off, he didn't go hunt him down months later.

[Scott_Lafrance]

Originally Posted by garyconrad

Thou shall not kill . We all must live by his rules or die by them , the choice is ours. Do any of you understand what you have if you live by the rules of men, I call it Hell . Yours in Christ Jesus.

Thou shalt not murder. This was not murder.

[anp1215]

Originally Posted by JimR-OCDS

OK, I don't know how accurate this is, but a priest friend of mine,RIP, had a conversation about the issue of penance for a confessed murderer.

I had asked him, if a man comes to you and confesses to a murder, can't you give him as part of his penance, to turn himself in?

He said, a priest can not do this.

He didn't explain why.

My guess is that a priest will not give a penance which the person may not be capable of carrying out, but still seeks absolution for their sin.

Like I said, I don't know how accurate this is and I still wonder why such a penance could not be given.

Jim

This is what I've always understood as well. Kind of like, absolution can't be refused on a conditional basis, as in "I won't absolve you unless you return the $10" or something like that. All that is required is true contrition. The priest could assign something as penance, but even then, absolution isn't dependent on completing the penance either.

[SamH]

Originally Posted by garyconrad

Thou shall not kill . We all must live by his rules or die by them , the choice is ours. Do any of you understand what you have if you live by the rules of men, I call it Hell . Yours in Christ Jesus.

Just curious, what does it say about raping 4 years olds?

[Polycarp1]

Originally Posted by He Man

Well, it was really thought shalt not murder, and since this doesn't qualify as murder apparently, I don't see your point.

No one endorses hunting and killing people, but many can relate to the man's anger in defending his daughter. It is easy to cast aspersions from a keyboard when your child is safe.

Certainly one can understand the fathers anger but that isn't a justification for killing a man if it could have been avoided and less force used to stop the attack. Vengence is another thing altogether.

[JharekCarnelian]

Originally Posted by garyconrad

Thou shall not kill . We all must live by his rules or die by them , the choice is ours. Do any of you understand what you have if you live by the rules of men, I call it Hell . Yours in Christ Jesus.

The actual commandment would be better translated as 'Thou shalt not murder' as there is scope allowed for killing in self-defence and when defending one's nation etc. as the Bible itself illustrates perfectly well.

[SamH]

Originally Posted by Polycarp1

Certainly one can understand the fathers anger but that isn't a justification for killing a man if it could have been avoided and less force used to stop the attack. .

Why not?