#148: Confession Under Attack Down Under—Archbishop Julian Porteous (Free Version)
Archbishop Julian Porteous is the Ordinary of Hobart, Tasmania, and an astute observer of Australian culture, particularly how fast it has veered toward militant secularism. The latest example is the law passed September, 2019, that provides jail time for priests who will not disclose what is confessed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (aka Penance, or Confession) by, say, an abuser of minors.
This is an outrageous and unprecedented intrusion into the running of the Catholic Church in what is otherwise known as a free country. The rights of the Church are violated, and the challenge becomes down to the great difficulty in explaining why the Seal of Confession is substantially different from a relationship like attorney-client privilege.
Think this could only happen in secularist Australia? Think again. Secularist America is next: California and Louisiana legislatures have already tried the same stunt.
In this episode you will learn
- The context as to why this law amendment was passed, and why
- Why the Catholic Church has been singled out for unjust scrutiny by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse compared to the MUCH more dangerous institutional environments for children
- Why the Archbishop believes this attack on the rights of the Church and the sacred nature of the Seal of Confession provide a great opportunity for evangelization
- Whether His Grace, or any priest in his archdiocese, is willing to go to jail rather than disclose what is said in Confession
- Why this new Tasmanian law will actually work against its own stated rationale
- What all this implies for Catholics in and outside Australia
Resources mentioned in this episode
- Don’t Mess With Marriage pamphlet published and distributed across Australia by the Australian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and spearheaded by Archbishop Porteous
- Background article on this new attack on religious freedom
- Calvary movie, directed by John Michael McDonough (Rated R but exceptionally pro-Confession and pro-priest)
- I Confess movie, directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Our Sponsors
MyPillow.com: MyPillow’s patented interlocking fill adjusts to your individual sleep needs regardless of sleeping position. Allowing your pillow to hold that position all night, helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Use code “Patrick” at checkout and save more. 10 year warranty/guaranteed not to go flat. 60 day money back guarantee. Or call: 800-794-9652 and mention coupon Patrick to get a deal.
Covenant Eyes: Is an accountability software designed to help you and those you live life free from pornography. Use code Patrick and try it out for Free for 30 days. Click here.
Join the Conversation
If laws like this come to your country, how will you defend the sacred Seal of Confession?
Connect with me on social media:
Tweet to Patrick HERE
Follow Patrick on Facebook HERE
Subscribe to the Podcast and the YouTube Channel
(Click on the images and then click on the Subscribe icon)
Apple/Mac Users podcast:
Android Users podcast:
Listen in Spotify:
Subscribe to the YouTube Channel:
While you are there, please leave an honest review.
2 Responses
Thank you so very much for conducting this long overdue discussion of the other side of the controversial, ongoing saga. Although I had heard of Dr. Jones decades ago, I was dissuaded from reading his work due to the fanatical Medjugorje camp’s rash criticism with which they treat anyone with an iota of skepticism. I was intimidated and frustrated for years until it became quite obvious that the story of Medjugorje seems to be contradictory, exaggerated, and downright bizarre.
While attempting to understand the blatant disobedience of the actors and the weak excuses of their supporters, I began to question their defensive, repetitive and pat answers along with the “religious guilt card” that many Medj enthusiasts play relentlessly.
After Sunday Mass l listened to a well meaning Medj supporter pitch the same old tired lines about the so called “fruits.” As I suspected, this lovely soul never heard the “bloody handkerchief” story, which as you point out, should have brought this strange phenomenon to a swift conclusion. Any objective challenge or mention of particular discrepancies were met with predictable, defensive responses, often alluding to a mistranslation of the record or a conspiracy to suppress Medj, inevitably drawing upon “similarities” to other apparitions. I am most sympathetic to those trapped by the propaganda and mind control that they appear to suffer from, but have become impatient with this ridiculous scheme to hold good Catholics hostage to what looks like a fantastic hoax.
Tell me, assuming the Church is opposed to your views, should the faithful accept your opinions or pronouncements from the Church? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0g8Y_RvM54