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Episode of 'House' got me thinking. - 10/21/2009 8:42:56 AM
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PastorSteveMT
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The TV show 'House' is probably my favorite show and I could do without all others. We usually DVR the episode and watch it without commercials within a few days. I was watching the latest one last night and something happened and it got me thinking.
For those that follow the show, recently they had a patient who was a brutal dictator of a country and this man was guilty of genocide of hundreds of thousands of people. He had no remorse and throughout the show made his views very clear as to what he would do when he got better and went back to his country.
So one of the doctors, Chase, after dealing with the thought of helping this evil man get better so he could go back to his country and kill thousands more people, took it upon himself to mess with the test results of this dictator, and therefore the dictator was given a particular medication that ended up killing him.
Over the last few episodes, Dr. Chase has been struggling with this decision as has been becoming further and further depressed about it.
Ok, so on to my thinking and subsequent question:
On last nights episode, Dr. Chase went to a priest (he's Catholic) in cofession. He confessed what he did and that he felt that it was the right thing to do and was looking for absolution. The priest gave him a line about all life being sacred and that he had no right to decide what life was worth saving and what life wasn't.
My question is not whether or not what this Doctor did was right or not, but rather, what would you do if someone came to you pastors and confessed doing something like this?
What are the requirements of reporting something like this?
What if someone came to you and confessed killing someone who was NOT a brutal dictator?
What if they confessed that they had raped someone?
And let's assume that this person is coming to you because they are obviously overrun with guilt and want to get their lives right with God.
Do you call the police? Can or should you call the police?
Help a young pastor out here will you?
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RE: Episode of 'House' got me thinking. - 10/21/2009 9:56:32 AM
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PastorSteveMT
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quote:
ORIGINAL: deliveredarling
I think the best answer you could possible get, should come from the Word of God. people will tell you what they think is right or wrong-God will tell you what IS right or wrong. Let Jesus be the one to guide you in your answer seeking. 
If the person came to Christ and Christ saw they were truly repentant, He would probably say "Go and sin no more".
First, I don't have the authority that Christ does to absolve anyone of their sin.
Second, to my knowledge, leading someone to Christ, doesn't negate my "mandatory reporting" status for certain situations.
Therefore my question still stands. I know there are things we must report (child abuse, someone telling you of a crime they are going to commit, etc), but where do we draw the line?
Is there a line?
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RE: Episode of 'House' got me thinking. - 10/21/2009 10:10:50 AM
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rcjames
Posts: 6724
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From: Oklahoma
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In most states not reporting a felony is a crime.
Thanks
RC
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Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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RE: Episode of 'House' got me thinking. - 10/21/2009 2:58:59 PM
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doinkdom
Posts: 5588
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: The higher lowcountry
Status: online
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quote:
ORIGINAL: PastorSteveMT
Do you call the police? Can or should you call the police?
My husband would say "yes," and he would use the verse in Romans about our government and how God has given them authority for legal issues, etc. Law of the land, etc.
_____________________________
Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare.
They are consumed in twelve minutes.
Half-times take twelve minutes.
This is not coincidence.
~Erma Bombeck
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RE: Episode of 'House' got me thinking. - 10/21/2009 3:23:57 PM
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Eutychus
Posts: 6345
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From: Dothan, AL
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I have heard on old preacher say, "It's never right to do wrong to do right."
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Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." -John 6:29
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RE: Episode of 'House' got me thinking. - 10/21/2009 4:50:43 PM
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DeliveredDarling
Posts: 1781
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quote:
If the person came to Christ and Christ saw they were truly repentant, He would probably say "Go and sin no more".
Yes, He would.
quote:
First, I don't have the authority that Christ does to absolve anyone of their sin.
Your job isn't to absolve them from their sin, but to point them to the One who can.
quote:
Second, to my knowledge, leading someone to Christ, doesn't negate my "mandatory reporting" status for certain situations.
So, what does the bible say about authority and obedience?
_____________________________
"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed: but he puts it on a lampstand, in order that those who come in may see the light."
Luke 8:16
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RE: Episode of 'House' got me thinking. - 10/21/2009 5:08:52 PM
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mvic
Posts: 1888
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quote:
Dr. Chase went to a priest (he's Catholic) in cofession.
The Film "I confess" directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1953 has a similar plot. A priest heard about a murder during confession and said nothing about it to the police - even though he (the priest) was suspected of the murder.
Catholic priests are not allowed to say or repeat anything they hear during confession.
I don't know about other denominations and it would be interesting to get the views of pastors in these Forums.
quote:
In most states not reporting a felony is a crime.
It is the same in the UK. But it doesn't answer what a priest/pastor/vicar should do.
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RE: Episode of 'House' got me thinking. - 10/24/2009 12:46:06 PM
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Memaw.
Posts: 1579
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From: Sunflower State
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quote:
Catholic priests are not allowed to say or repeat anything they hear during confession.
I thought that only applied if there wasn't a felony, though I could be mistaken.
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If you don't believe King Jesus and his saints will be riding white horses when he returns to the earth, then you can just walk and I will ride.
John G. Hall
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RE: Episode of 'House' got me thinking. - 10/26/2009 1:58:29 PM
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BelleWeather
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From: New York City
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Memaw.
quote:
ORIGINAL: mvic
Catholic priests are not allowed to say or repeat anything they hear during confession.
I thought that only applied if there wasn't a felony, though I could be mistaken.
Catholic Canon Law states that the sacramental seal of the confessional is inviolable; it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray a penitent in words, in any manner, for any reason. Violation would result in immediate excommunication (latae sententiae) of the priest. Only the penitent can give permission for the confessor to break the sacramental seal.
In a criminal matter, a priest may encourage the penitent to seek help or surrender to the authorities, and may may make performing that act a condition of absolution.
_____________________________
We think we fathom the depths
when we are just skimming the surface with our finger.
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