Quit religion if you do not want to confess in Church: Kerala HC

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 3: The Kerala High Court has rejected a petition that sought to declare compulsory confessions in Churches as unconstitutional. The petitioner had said that such a confession affects the right to privacy of an individual.

The court however rejected the petition stating that if a person did not like a particular practice, he or she had the right to walk out of the religion.

This issue had hit headlines when last week the National Commission for Women headed by Rekha Sharma had recommended that the practice of confession be abolished in Churches. She said such a practise led to blackmailing of women.

The recommendation was made after two complaints were filed against priests and bishops in connection with an alleged rape case. Following this the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council had written to the Prime Minister terming the statement as irresponsible.