This is regarding the recent development in the drama May Bukas Pa. Catholic priest Fr. Jose heard from the devotee's confession that her husband will kidnap Santino. Afterwards, he decided to inform the police notwithstanding the vow of secrecy in confessions.
While it would be easy for me to dismiss the Roman Catholic Church institution of confession as absurd due to a misinterpretation of a passage in the General Epistle of St. James, I will not do that here. Many Protestant writers and theologians have discussed this at length and this is outside of the point I want to make.
A moral dilemma took place in the mind of Fr. Jose. Is it right to protect Santino if this would mean violation of his priestly duties? or should he respect the vow of privacy and hope for the protection of Bro? This is philosophy at work, isn't it?
Here's my take. Sure, the woman had the right for privacy and non-disclosure. But Santino has a right also. While a Liberal society emphasizes the rights of individuals, in no way does this give anyone to abuse or use one's right at the expense of another's. In this case, Santino's right to Life was threatened.
Therefore, Fr. Jose did the right thing, and he must not be ashamed about it.
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