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California restaurant had fake priest hear workers’ confessions, Labor Department says
(www.catholicnewsagency.com)
this post was submitted on 19 Jun 2023
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Objectively, what is the difference between a "real priest" and a "fake priest?"
sanctioning by some governing religious authority. Like the Catholic church.
alternatively, this guy wasn't a cleric at all and only hired to pretend to be one. from the article it sounds like he was basically a paid actor.
You can send $65 to the Unitarians to get a card that entitles you to officiate weddings and administer rites. I did, and I have. Heck, for a beer I'll listen to your sins and suggest you a few more while I tell you it's OK not to stress about it.
How is that any different? Asking for my atheist friends.
it's "Official".
I mean, I get it. (particularly because I'm an atheist myself). but like Pretty sure the guy was literally just a paid actor trying to get people to nark on themselves. the employer is insane, though.
In many cases, a priest, minister, or pastor has received education in counseling, theology, and ministerial care. While one might discount the necessity of theological education, a good seminary will ensure that there is a foundation from which emotional support might be offered.
There's an authority that "official" priests answer to. They can face punitive action for breaking rules set forth by their established body... just like any other job.
Sure, you got a certificate that says you can do a thing... but you don't have a job because of that. If you did get a job from that, it would be somewhat similar, but it's not.
As in “Unitarian Universalist?” That seems sketchy, for them.
I got the card, tho. I did weddings!
I’m saying there are different religions/sects that people consistent with Unitarian.
I'm not sure what you mean here,
And a poor one, at that. They get $2000 each – after lawyer fees? And back wages.
@Flaky_Fish69 what if they're protestant and have no religious authority? i'm guessing the "religious authority" would be "the will of the people"? idk, maybe if the restaurant employees they could command the Priest title onto this guy
The vast majority of denominations have a body that decides what they as a denomination believe.
Kind of what makes them a denomination. Unitarians are weird in that they specifically don’t give a damn.
Which is good. Their basic tenants, as far as I can recall, are “be kind, be responsible, everyone messes up sometimes.” It’s been a very long time since I attended a service, there are none in my corner of the world. Lots and lots of Baptists, Southern Baptists and Methodists that are breaking from the umc, though.
I think in this case, it is because:
I like your rationale.
We've defined Fake Priest. Nice.
I'm an atheist -- but I think there's a real ethical difference between intellectually honest true believing priests, and charlatans/predators who are cynically taking advantage of the trust some people put in the position. And it seems like this article is talking about the latter.
Yeah with the real believers there is no chance for redemption, they’ll always be idiots.
I’ll take the fakes preying on idiots over the idiots themselves any day.
The difference isn’t just that one is Some Guy and one is Some Guy Who Went To Seminary, the difference is that confessions are supposed to be kept confidential (between the person, their priest, and arguably God), not “confidential” (between the person and the priest, who then rats them out to the boss.)
Yeah, a real priest understands that he is expected to die rather than reveal anything he heard in confession, while this guy was passing everything along to the boss.
Confession is covered by confessional privilege under both governmental laws and church law. What you say goes no farther.
But a random guy can tell whomever whatever, and it seems the employer was deliberately trying to get dirt on his employees.
So yes, there is a pretty huge difference.
None, AFAIK.