Can a Priest Break the Seal of Confession by Accident?

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? I would think this would require full knowledge but I don’t know.

Thanks and God bless
 
S_V7 said:
? I would think this would require full knowledge but I don’t know.

Thanks and God bless
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He may not have intended it, but it is still a serious issue that he would need to discuss with his superior. (Bishop or Religious Order)
 
In my experience, priests are very discreet. They not only don’t talk about what goes on in confession, but you’re not likely to hear one tell you about a couple’s marriage woes or the financial problem that another family is having. Overall they learn to keep things to themselves in and out of confession.

That being said, it makes it unlikely that they will accidentally break the seal. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it is unlikely.
 
From my years with defense department, one doesn’t let anything slip by accident. Your memory remains locked in the safe at work.
 
I remember once I went to confession and after the conversation we had, the priest said that I should know that his homily the next day was on the very thing we were discussing…just so that I wouldn’t think that he was breaking the seal of confession.
 
Most priests I’ve discussed the matter with say that they almost immediately forget what they have heard in the confessional, and rarely remember who said what. I’m sure, however, that face-to-face confessions are harder to forget than anonymous ones when the priest and penitent meet outside of confession.
 
Also keep in mind that you will likely NEVER confess anything to a priest that he hasn’t heard already (over and over and over).

So, if you hear a preist discussing something that sounds “confessional”, don’t let paranoia get the better of you.
 
Cavaille-Coll said:
Most priests I’ve discussed the matter with say that they almost immediately forget what they have heard in the confessional, and rarely remember who said what. I’m sure, however, that face-to-face confessions are harder to forget than anonymous ones when the priest and penitent meet outside of confession.
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I’ve had a priest chastise me for committing the same sin over and over. In other words, he remembered my confessing it before. I know someone else who had a similar experience.

Is that breaking the seal?
 
HOPEFUL_IN_UK said:
I’ve had a priest chastise me for committing the same sin over and over. In other words, he remembered my confessing it before. I know someone else who had a similar experience.

Is that breaking the seal?
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Was it outside the Confessional or the next time you confessed?
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
Was it outside the Confessional or the next time you confessed?
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It was during the next confession. I would assume that the seal covers all confessions so that they can go from one to another like that…
 
I guess what I meant to ask was, can a priest break the seal of Confession without knowing he did?

Thanks and God bless
 
I’m not sure…just on accident I suppose without the intention of doing so or knowledge that it was done.
 
S_V7 said:
? I would think this would require full knowledge but I don’t know.

Thanks and God bless
Click to expand...
This is one of those things that does not require full knowledge- you either break it or you don’t- that’s all there is to it. If you spill the beans on someone’s sins, they’re out in the open now- whether you meant them to be or not. I imagine it would be difficult for a priest who is formed in their faith at all to break the seal of confession by accident. I imagine priests take precautions against this (i.e. not talking about casual things unless they are sure they heard it outside of confession, not hearing friends’ confessions except in emergency situations, etc.)
 
S_V7 said:
I’m not sure…just on accident I suppose without the intention of doing so or knowledge that it was done.
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A priest can do anything - they have free will.

If by asking this you are asking if it is possible he “can” actually do this (that the Holy Spirit doesn’t keep him safe from this sin) than the answer is YES, he has that ability.

But I think you are asking, can he be punished if it is determined he in some way shape or form accidentally broke the seal?

Is that it?
 
I would like to know if the following is an example of breaking the seal of confession.

Wife goes to confession, face to face with priest.

Husband goes to confession, face to face with priest.

Husband exits. Priests comes out. Priest tells wife, in passing, “I would never allow him to raise the children”.

Priest knows both husband and wife.

Would that be a “slip” or a definite break?
 
I am not trying to confuse the thread, but this reminds me of something that has been bothering me. One of our priests left to get married about a year ago. He seemed to have a lot of anger about the faith, even while still here. Now I wonder what the seal of the Confession means to him. I also know of three other men who left the priesthood (or whatever you call it) two to get married and one to live with his parents.
Are these guys still bound by the Seal?
 
Lovemyfaith said:
I am not trying to confuse the thread, but this reminds me of something that has been bothering me. One of our priests left to get married about a year ago. He seemed to have a lot of anger about the faith, even while still here. Now I wonder what the seal of the Confession means to him. I also know of three other men who left the priesthood (or whatever you call it) two to get married and one to live with his parents.
Are these guys still bound by the Seal?
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They are bound forever. It is interesting that, with all the scandals, I have heard of no instance of one who has left the priesthood violating the seal.
 
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