Hi Joe,

Thank you for a thoughtful reply.

Although as you say the sacrament was an Irish innovation, Ireland at the time of this innovation was quite taken over by the RC. The earlier Spalpeens might have had a problem with this.

As to the client-healer relationship, there is a question as to what that means, what healing is intended and whether it works or not. Legally, it makes sense but in a religious sense, that is ambiguous. As to client-healer privilege, I would take the position that in a case of treating a serial killer, the needs of society trump the client-healer relationship. As to immigration, the determination as to what an immigrant is becomes questionable in that we are all immigrants to the U.S.

Mental health treatment is an open question, what treatment and what health?
I think in practical terms that incarceration of a child abuser or serial killer should be accompanied by a forced treatment program rather than a capital punishment solution.
Maybe a "Clockwork Orange" idea.

The notion of secrecy in revealing abberant behavior in religious institutions is well-known from the polygamy farms of off-shoot Mormon compounds to child-abusing clergy.

The trouble with the analogy of the strict father is that this psychopathy is just now being addressed with the issue of clergy child abuse. The ethical situation has to be weighed in terms of the individual case, one size doesn't fit all, but when society is harmed by this confidentiality, it brings into question as to whom is being healed here.

I think when someone who is going to do something that harms society, there is a duty to report it. I agree that there are no easy answers, so much is dependent on definitions, but collusion and subterfuge serve neither the perpetrator or the enabling defender. Being a priest doesn't exempt a man from child abuse by standing behind his religion.