Can a priest advise to tell someone outside the confessional during confession?

[St_Francis]

Obviously this could go in many directiions, but I’ll base my question in something I read sbout recently

An elderly man has formed an online friendship with a woman who is getting him to send her large amounts of money. She holds charitable verses of the Bible over his head, and he mentions in confession that he is resenting being charitable. The priest sees what is happening, but of course cannot act on the information ibtained in confession.

Can the priest recmmend to the man that he speak to someone outside of confession?

 

[Bookcat]

Sure.

Recommending is fine.

 

[joeybaggz]

Obviously this could go in many directiions, but I’ll base my question in something I read sbout recently

An elderly man has formed an online friendship with a woman who is getting him to send her large amounts of money. She holds charitable verses of the Bible over his head, and he mentions in confession that he is resenting being charitable. The priest sees what is happening, but of course cannot act on the information ibtained in confession.

Can the priest recmmend to the man that he speak to someone outside of confession?

Of course! In fact, IMHO the priest should, in confession, explain to this gentleman what is occurring. And I don’t think speaking to him outside of confession would break the seal of confession, since he is talking to the penitent himself. The priest just cannot discuss this with anyone else outside of confession.

My two cents.

Shalom

 

[Bookcat]

Of course! In fact, IMHO the priest should, in confession, explain to this gentleman what is occurring. And I don’t think speaking to him outside of confession would break the seal of confession, since he is talking to the penitent himself. The priest just cannot discuss this with anyone else outside of confession.

My two cents.

Shalom

Well I think rather it is the case that he should not just start talking with him about this outside confession without his permission…

 

[Blessedwithfive]

Correct. He can suggest anything. He can’t tell the man’s children or report the scam.
He can’t discuss the incident outside of the confessional even to the man who confessed unless the man retells him the story outside of the confessional.

 

[LiamQ]

And I don’t think speaking to him outside of confession would break the seal of confession, since he is talking to the penitent himself.

The Priest can go up to him and say, “Listen, is it OK if we discuss something you brought up in Confession?” If the man says no, then no is the answer. If he says yes, then and only then may Father talk openly to him.

 

[Gorgias]

The Priest can go up to him and say, “Listen, is it OK if we discuss something you brought up in Confession?” If the man says no, then no is the answer. If he says yes, then and only then may Father talk openly to him.

Actually, it should be the other way around. If a penitent comes up to his confessor and asks, “mind if we talk about something I said?”, then all is well. By rights, though, the priest shouldn’t bring it up. At all. Ever. Anywhere.

 

[robertmidwest]

I am thinking that an actual priest had better answer this question.

I am not sure it would out of bounds for a priest to speak up if he sees a scam happening. The penitent may think he is confessing sins when he isn’t. My guess is most priest would just stop him and say we are out of the realm of a valid confession and something needs to be addressed here.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

The Priest can go up to him and say, “Listen, is it OK if we discuss something you brought up in Confession?” If the man says no, then no is the answer. If he says yes, then and only then may Father talk openly to him.

I can’t imagine that is correct!

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

I can’t imagine that is correct!

I don’t know, seems fine to me personally, provided the priest approaches the penitent in private, where no one is going to overhear, and he makes it completely clear that the penitent is free to say “No thanks, Father, I’d rather not.”

 

[PrayPsalm51]

The priest cannot bring it up outside of confession. That would be using information from the “internal forum.” My priest once recommended a book to me during my confession. He told me to ask him for it outside of confession since he could not approach me with anything that was discussed within the confessional.

 

[St_Francis]

Thanks everybody!