Child Abuse and the Lutheran Confessional: A Call to Elevate Christ’s Teachings on Children above Church Traditions

Abstract

Examining the concept of the Lutheran confessional as found in the Book of Concord, as well as contemporary Lutheran writings on receiving a confession about child abuse, this article argues that Holy Scripture, particularly the words of Jesus and the writings of Paul, take precedent over the church tradition of keeping the confidence of a penitent. In a case of child abuse, a faithful reading of the words of Jesus necessitates reporting abuse to the authorities in order to protect the child. A report is also in the best interests of offenders, many of whom will be unable to reform without civil and criminal justice interventions, and some of whom use the confessional as a divine license to continue to hurt children.