nyc priest reveals confession

by orbison 9 Replies latest jw friends

  • orbison
    orbison

    interesting, a nyc priest has revealed a confession re:murder which has allowed the courts to appeal the outcome,,,all i can find at the moment,,,just happened today

    w

  • Tina
    Tina

    Hi Orbie!
    If you find out more let us know OK? Has interesting implications...hugs,Tina

  • Yerusalyim
    Yerusalyim

    Yep, lets hear more about the issue.

    Generally this is an automatic excommunication for the priest.

    YERUSALYIM
    "Vanity! It's my favorite sin!"
    [Al Pacino as Satan, in "DEVIL'S ADVOCATE"]

  • crossroads
    crossroads

    Oh my a higher moral standard than gods,
    a HUMAN standard
    It's about time----if true.

  • ZazuWitts
    ZazuWitts

    Orb, Cross, Tina & Yuru,

    I saw the article a couple of days ago, on the 17th, in "The New York Times."

    http://www.NewYorkTimes.com

    You need to register (free) to access the article headlined "In Court, a Priest Reveals a Secret...."

    I should point out, that the 'confessor' has been dead a few years. Yet, the issue is generating MUCH controversy from a variety of groups.

    As you suggested, Tina, it easily could have future implications. Worth the effort and read, IMO. (I had trouble getting a direct link...maybe someone can do so????)

  • Gopher
    Gopher

    ZazuWitts,

    Here's a link to the NY Times article you mentioned.

    * http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/17/nyregion/17PRIE.html?searchpv=day01

    Here's a key quote from the article.

    Before he stepped onto the witness stand, the Roman Catholic priest's credibility was attacked by Bronx prosecutors, who said Father Towle would be violating church law by disclosing the conversation. The Archdiocese of New York, however, backed Father Towle yesterday and said his actions were appropriate.
    The killer died in 1997, but two innocent people are in prison for the killing. So the confession to this Catholic priest is instrumental in efforts to set the 2 non-killers free.

    GopherEven if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.
    Will Rogers (1879-1935)

  • ZazuWitts
    ZazuWitts

    Gopher,

    Thanks for providing a direct link. I'm sure others will also appreciate your thoughtfulness. Makes it so much easier to read!!!! :)

    I scan more than a dozen major newspapers daily, particularly to search for blood related issues, and child abuse/molestation articles. However, the 'confession' article did catch my attention. If I see anything
    further re this issue, I'll be certain to post it on the forum.

  • BoozeRunner
    BoozeRunner

    VERY interesting situation.

    Gopher, TY for that quote. Is it no wonder the WTS and other religions have such an easy time hiding criminals in their midst. That quote shows the arrogance of the law enforcement agencies, namely that they think they do their jobs perfectly all the time. The NERVE of the prosecutor to tell the priest that he would be violating Church law in disclosing that confession.
    What about GOD's LAW????
    I applaud the courage of the priest to step forward.

    Boozy

  • Tina
    Tina

    ((((((((((((Zazu,Goph,Boozie,orbie,cross,yeru)))))))))))) thanks for the links! Tina

  • Yerusalyim
    Yerusalyim

    I recieved this from my daily religious news summary I receive, Crosswalk Crosswalk.com [ [email protected]]

    Twelve years after Jose Morales and Ruben Montalvo were sentenced to 15
    years in jail for murdering Jose Rivera in New York City, a Jesuit
    priest has come forward to testify that the two men are innocent. Father
    Joseph Towle revealed that in 1989 he was called to the home of a
    teenage boy, Jesus Fornes, who told the priest he was the person who
    murdered Rivera. Towle had encouraged Fornes to go to authorities with
    his information, and Fornes did. But he was too late. A jury never heard
    his direct testimony, and Morales and Montalvo were convicted.

    For the next eight years, Towle remained silent, feeling that it was his
    moral obligation to do so. In 1997, however, Jesus Fornes was murdered.
    And with Fornes' death, Towle believed that it was time for him to come
    forward with his secret. Towle disclosed his story in May 2000, and
    Morales' attorney filed a new appeal.

    But before he even took the witness stand Tuesday, prosecutors began
    questioning the legitimacy of his testimony, saying that it was
    impermissible under church law for Towle to make his statement. They
    cited his sacred responsibility to keep confessions secret. The
    Archdiocese of New York, however, gave its full support for Towle's
    decision to come forward, noting that what Fornes had told his priest
    was not a formal confession.

    Judge Denny Chin of the Federal District Court in Manhattan is expected
    to make his decision on Morales' appeal in two weeks.

    Yeru

    YERUSALYIM
    "Vanity! It's my favorite sin!"
    [Al Pacino as Satan, in "DEVIL'S ADVOCATE"]

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