Yerusalim, I'm curious about something. What benefit is confession if the person can't receive absolution?
You made the comment earlier that absolution should be withheld if the person who commits a crime doesn't turn themselves in. So where is the benefit or sanctity of a confession that has no other outcome other than to make another person aware of a crime?
You said that they could be counselled to turn themselves in...but what is the benefit of such counsel if it's not taken? What good comes from a confession that doesn't result in absolution but does result in another person doing nothing to see that justice is served?