Well, they get forgiveness from an imaginary entity, so take that for what it's worth.

As for the legal privilege, which is different than legal forgiveness, it's in place for the purpose of accommodating religious practices. It can be changed if there is sufficient political will for it. In some cases, that's not an out of sight proposition -- there is talk in many states of eliminating the clerical privilege for things like child molestation.

Finally, we of all people should be quick to recognize that a person's religiosity has nothing to do with their moral worth. Therefore we should be absolutely unsurprised to find that people who purport to be religious do bad things.

With regard to child abuse, Australia has just completed a Royal Commision (which when it commenced was described by conservative politicians as an attack on the catholic church). The RC has recommended that the confessional no longer be exempt from reporting laws. Here's the church response.[catholicculture.org]

Unfair. There are criminals everywhere. There are people who will harbor them: family; friends; lovers; other members of the criminal enterprise. Sure. Churches get easy-outs for it. But don't single them out to ignore the hundreds of thousands of people who do harbor fugitives and ignore the monsters in their midst.

Rape is not a serious crime. It is not as serious as taking the lord's name in vain. It didn't make the top 10. Rape is not even a crime against the woman, but the man who possesses her. Since her father is just going to sell her, if she's unmarried, you just pay him the bride price and you can't divorce her. I don't know that pedophilia is even wrong according to the bible.

As far as confession, I am okay with it being sealed to some degree. I think the seal of the confessional should be the same as the right to privacy with your therapist, so there are exceptions and mandated responsibility to report if there is a threat of future harm. I would also like that same level of confidentiality with my bartender, but I accept that it may not happen any time soon. Bartenders and priests were our first professional therapists, so while they exist, they should be given that same therapeutic privilege.

One of the worst horror stories - an 8 year old girl was raped. She begged her mother for help. Her mother called her a slut and ordered her to go to confession. The priest called her sinful and ordered the child to do penance. This was back in the 80's. I am sure it still goes on the present time.

Yep, it is a crime when a priest keeps it a secret that someone is a rapist, pedophile, killer ... lots of heinous criminals are pillars of their churches. Working in Child Protection, I have met many child molesters who are wealthy, successful, popular and pillars of fundamentalist churches. Their pastors and church members defend, protect and enable them ... and they always get their children back very soon. If they don't, the authorities know that the rich pedophiles will get the best lawyers in town and fight for ten years.

half the priests are child molesters

I think in the UK the same rules apply as in doctor/patient lawyer/client confidentiality. It is confidential unless there is some threat of harm to the person or third party. In such cases it must be reported.

Good point.Same as the priests who hear confessions? They don't report to the authorities either. Or in Godfather III(my least favorite of the trilogy) the Mafia was in cahoots with the Vatican? We don't know if its based on fact? I knew one of the victims of pediophilia in the Church in NH,