In 2008, a fourteen-year-old girl
alleges that she told her parish priest that she was being abused by a
now-deceased lay member of their parish. The girl alleges the
disclosures came during the Sacrament of Confession. Now her parents are
suing the priest, and the Diocese of Baton Rouge, for failing to report
the alleged abuse. The State’s Supreme Court has ruled that the priest,
Fr. Jeff Bayhi, may be compelled to testify as to whether the
Confessions took place, and if so, what the contents of any such
Confessions were.
Confession is one of the most sacred
rites in the Church. The Sacrament is based on a belief that the seal of
the confessional is absolute and inviolable. A priest is never
permitted to disclose the contents of any Confession, or even allowed to
disclose that an individual did seek the Sacrament. A priest who
violates that seal suffers automatic excommunication from the Church.
As a result of this ruling Fr. Bayhi may
now have to choose between violating his sacred duty as a priest and
being excommunicated from the Church, or refusing to testify and risk
going to prison. The Diocese said Fr. Bayhi would not testify.
The First Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution protects the free exercise of religion. Just as government
cannot compel anyone to follow a particular religion, it likewise cannot
prevent anyone from exercising the tenets of his faith. By deciding
that Fr. Bayhi must choose between his faith and his freedom, the
Louisiana Supreme Court has endangered the religious liberty of all
Americans.
The Catholic League supports Fr. Bayhi
and the Diocese of Baton Rouge in their quest for a reversal of this
ruling, and a recognition that clergy cannot be forced to violate their
faith.
This should be of concern to all religious. If our freedoms to practice our beliefs is circumvented by the government, others can be too. Thanks for passing this on and letting us know what is going on. I know I hadn't heard about this case until now. We need to make this kind of government shenanigans known.
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