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Are you obligated to report a murder confession?

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    Peter Johnson, Jr. weighs in

  • Duration 3:52
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-- -- -- the very latest on the eight times hates case.

The sister of the key suspect in the case Pedro Hernandez now says her brother returned to work at the same -- in SoHo lower Manhattan.

Where he allegedly strangled -- Back in 1979.

She also claims it was a well known family secret that her brother had confessed.

To a New Jersey Catholic group that he killed the little boy in the 1980s.

But the priest.

Or the parishioners never told the police so can -- -- now be.

Heading to jail for staying silent Fox News legal analyst Peter Johnson junior weighs -- Yet do -- are -- doing this is a lot of people spoken and they said listen.

If I'm told about a murder if someone confesses to me in church or synagogue or just in the private conversation right there were having publicly -- the do I have an obligation to go to the police and if I don't go to the police can -- be charged -- as an accessory.

Or -- accomplice after the fact in my guilty of something.

And the truth is.

And now.

And no it.

No there is a federal crime columnist prisoner of felony.

Which means that you -- actively concealing a crime that you have.

Actual knowledge of movement but no one says that they -- law.

This man killed beautiful little bit.

There was a confection made in the church a -- -- -- photographed there in some help.

Now that that and -- collective responsibility.

Now it may impose.

Collective moral responsibility.

A moral obligation -- spiritual obligation right to act in a way that's consistent with justice -- to say yes.

This person said he did this or I'm not a priest then not a spouse to exceptions under law friendly and talking generally if your priest Newsom was confession.

-- minister there's a seal of confession.

It's confidential if privileged he can't be forced to testify about it.

In most states.

Your spouse can't be tested but can't testify against you if you tell you spouse.

Something right whether it's a murder or some other -- well this is.

Really interest him because I mean if you were putting that situation sure let's go back over the decades ago you're in that room -- -- Catholic Church basement in Camden, New Jersey right.

And you hear this -- say -- a little boy about that time -- Are you gonna call the cops.

Well first of all I'm a lawyer -- -- MI there as his as his attorney I'm not there is is attorney yes right I do call the police because I'm not a priest and I'm not there to work.

Family Mary -- and I want to make sure that never again.

If in fact it's true.

That he does it now that's not true and he's mentally ill ray has a lot of indeed ship.

A mental illness treatment for schizophrenia here sure bipolar disorder medication for many years if it's not true then that man needs the treatment that he should be getting there.

But if in fact he's done this in the past.

Steady -- that he will do it.

Again so the issue becomes was their other child abuse are there other assaults other other homicides if in fact.

He's guilty so it's it's up and it's morally repugnant to us the notion that to hold something.

In your heart and not tell the truth but unfortunately civilizations -- example an example.

Of us not speaking out when we should be speaking out in terms of justice so in the United States legally responsible.

Not really some states have an obligation like Ohio Texas others to reported death.

New laws on the books about making sure that you report a child's death -- child's disappearance.

That's really interest -- so if you see you with your own too wise that's one thing you can hear somebody talk about it completely -- It's a tough issue it is indeed all right thanks for bringing the right thing do the right thing with absolutely that's the creative all right -- a -- Johnson junior thank you empire.

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