www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall confession.

I got into a discussion with my landlord the other day (very interesting RC fellow at times) about under what conditions a priest was allowed to discuss what someone had confessed with a third party. I held that under no circumstances was a priest allowed to discuss it with anyone else (with the possible exception if they kept it anonymous). He held that is there was some actions (such as sexually abusing a minor) where the law required him to inform the authorities. So, I feel really dumb asking this, but so I can tell him a priest said so, what would you any of you priests (particularly those in California) do if you were in the hypothetical situation that someone was continuously abusing a child that lived in the same house as them and didn't seem to be able to stop, or wasn't willing to do about it?

thanks

Matt

They're not supposed to tell anyone, ever. That's what the "seal of the confessional" means. And yes, sometimes it's appalling and risky but that's the way it's set up.

Code of Canon Law, 983 �1:

There's an Alfred Hitchcock movie about this called "I Confess", in which a man confesses to a priest that he murdered someone, but even though the priest himself winds up being the main suspect, he can't reveal who the true killer is.

Hi,

As far as I understand, Civil Law in California upholds the priest's right to keep confessions confidential as a form of professional privileged information.

Therefore, a priest cannot be legally coaxed into discuss things he learned in confession with any third-party, the State included.

Shalom,
Memo

Yes as said above there are no exceptions to the seal of confession. Governments can pass all the laws they like, for as long as they like but the Priest say and indicates nothing learnt in confession.

I should add just because they have been to confession does not mean they have been absolved of their sins. The priest may say I will not absolve you until you show your sincerity and hand yourself into the Police with a full and frank disclure of what it is you have done. many people believe wrongly that confession and absolution are the same thing and catholics can do a revolving door thing with their sins and they get forgiven every time while not having any intention to cease that particular sin. Repentence and an in the intention to change the way of life is integral to the sacrament.

St. John Nepomunk was murdered by drowning for not telling Wenceslaus IV (not "Good King Wenceslaus") what his wife the Queen had said in confession.

A priest MAY NOT tell what was in a person's confession. I believe that only the Pope himself may absolve a priest who tells what he heard in confession.

Any priest who breaks the seal is automatically excommunicated.

But I have always wondered why a priest has to give absolution to an unrepentant criminal or why for his/her penance admitting to a crime is not required. Maybe a priest can't break the seal but how can he be forced to give absolution? A murderer or child molester who confesses to a priest is making a mockery of the sacrament as long as he is unrepentant and not willing to do the time!

I don't necessarily agree with this, but here's what EWTN has to say:
[Linked Image]

I was told by a priest years ago that throughout history there have been scores of priests that have been killed for not breaking the seal of confession.

Only a few years ago an ex priest was shot dead by a man who thought that now he was no longer funtioning as a priest he was no longer obliged to keep the seal of confession, so he shot the man dead.

The reverend gentleman's point of view is interesting. However, I suspect there are other schools of thought that would challenge some assumptions he has made.

It is entirely possible for some miscreant to be genuinely repentant of his sin(s) but unwilling to turn himself over to the police. Using the Sacrament to browbeat someone into delivering himself up to the "secular arm" sounds downright repugnant.

Incognitus

Thank you much everyone!

Hello,

In the Catholic Church, there's a "seal of Confession" meaning keeping it all confidential regardless.

What about the Orthodox Church? What is the policy on confession confidentiality?

SPDundas
Deaf Byzantine