ARTICLE: Vatican officials discuss "five worst sins"

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*For the first time Vatican officials will this week discuss in public sins committed by clergy considered so deadly that they require forgiveness from the Pope himself, including sexual abuse by priests and the profanation of Holy Communion wafers in Satanic rituals.

The Apostolic Penitentiary, currently headed by Cardinal James Stafford of the United States, the Major Penitentiary, was once described by Pope John XXIII as “the most secret” of Vatican departments. Starting tomorrow (Tuesday) however it will emerge from the shadows to hold a two day conference in Rome on the five “ultimate crimes” - abortion, using the Eucharistic host in Satanic rites, paedophile offences committed by the clergy, violation of the secrets of the confessional, and “offences against the person of the Pope”.

The Apostolic Penitentiary, founded in the thirteenth century by Pope Honorius III (reigned 1216-1227) is a Vatican tribunal responsible for matters relating to confession, absolution, indulgences and the forgiveness of sins, and is sometimes described as “the tribunal of the soul”. For the “five worst sins” however confession is not enough, and a special dispensation from the Pope himself is needed for absolution.*

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Does anyone have any actual references for some of these statements, like under what conditions the Pope is needed, in what context was the “five worst sins” used. I’m left more confused than anything.
 
Does anyone know what counts as an offence against the person of the pope? Does insulting the pope count?
 
I’ve read accusations that the sexual abuse cases were covered up because the investigations into them were protected under the secrecy of the confessional, and therefore no one who knew could report them to the police. Is there any truth to that? Or maybe we’ll find out when this conference happens?
 
I’ve read accusations that the sexual abuse cases were covered up because the investigations into them were protected under the secrecy of the confessional, and therefore no one who knew could report them to the police. Is there any truth to that? Or maybe we’ll find out when this conference happens?
Yes. Bernard Cardinal Law tried to do this. Philip Lawler talks about it happening to him (on an issue totally unrelated from the sex abuse scandal) in The Faithful Departed (which I highly recommend, by the way). Of course, it’s not valid - the confessional seal is upon the clergyman hearing the confession alone. The person confessing can speak freely about it, if they like, and a third-party isn’t bound.
 
Yes. Bernard Cardinal Law tried to do this. Philip Lawler talks about it happening to him (on an issue totally unrelated from the sex abuse scandal) in The Faithful Departed (which I highly recommend, by the way). Of course, it’s not valid - the confessional seal is upon the clergyman hearing the confession alone. The person confessing can speak freely about it, if they like, and a third-party isn’t bound.
Yes and no. The person confessing the sin can talk freely about it, but a third party is bound by the Seal as well as the priest.
 
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