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Post by Lost Sheep on Oct 25, 2023 15:37:04 GMT
I have always been taught that a priest is not allowed to reveal anything that is said in the confessional. In other words, what happens in Confession stays in Confession. Are there ever exceptions to this? Suppose someone goes in and tells the priest that he is about to commit a serious crime? Can the priest report something like this to the authorities? It would seem to me that the priest can/should be allowed to report this; especially if people might get hurt. And please note, this is just a simple question. I'm not planning on doing anything illegal and I am not "asking for a friend." This is purely a hypothetical question. Thanks.
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Post by homeschooldad on Oct 25, 2023 16:24:24 GMT
I have always been taught that a priest is not allowed to reveal anything that is said in the confessional. In other words, what happens in Confession stays in Confession. Are there ever exceptions to this? Suppose someone goes in and tells the priest that he is about to commit a serious crime? Can the priest report something like this to the authorities? It would seem to me that the priest can/should be allowed to report this; especially if people might get hurt. And please note, this is just a simple question. I'm not planning on doing anything illegal and I am not "asking for a friend." This is purely a hypothetical question. Thanks. There are no exceptions whatsoever.
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Post by tth1 on Oct 26, 2023 14:25:49 GMT
Can the priest break the seal of confession if [insert your scenario].
The answer is always unequically: No!
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Post by tisbearself on Oct 26, 2023 17:32:07 GMT
Yeah, this question is probably in the top three of "Catholic Forums' Greatest Hits" when it comes to questions. It gets asked on a regular basis.
As the above posters said, the answer to "can the priest break the seal of confession if [insert some scenario]" is always NO.
If the priest is concerned about something revealed in confession, for example a person confesses that they just killed somebody, the priest may ask the person to meet with him OUTSIDE of confession to further discuss. If the person then agrees to meet and talk with the priest OUTSIDE of confession, then the priest isn't under any seal for the conversation that occurs OUTSIDE of confession, and could take extra steps like reporting the conversation shared OUTSIDE of confession to the police. Several priests on CAF and other forums have confirmed that a priest might do this.
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Post by tth1 on Oct 27, 2023 15:11:19 GMT
I agree the priest can ask a penitent to discuss matters outside the confessional. If the penitent agrees that's fine. If the penitent refuses the priests hands are tied. Even if someone said to the priest in the confessional, "Oh, Father, by the way, the new shirts for the football team have arrived", the priest cannot use that information because it's in the confessional. He'd have to ask the individual to tell him the same again outside the confessional. It's only in the confessional, as well, that the priest can ask the individual to do this. He couldn't outside the confessional. For example, he couldn't say outside the confessional, "Tell me what you said about the football shirts again".
What's said in the confessional remains in the confessional!
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