If that is true it’s very problematic , we should help kids in danger and life threatening situations.
In my 70 years I have never heard of a priest who broke the seal of confession, not even one who left the priesthood or retired. Besides endangering their own salvation there may be a very practical reason or two at play. Remember, priests hear thousands of confessions in a life time. If he broke the seal in one case, might not that place his life in danger? After all, others might fear they might be exposed too and decide to take the priest’s life to prevent possible exposure.
No!
A priest may encourage a penitent to notify police of his/her actions or to seek counseling (but to my understanding, cannot withhold absolution if the penitent does not), but a priest could not hear a confession, then go call the cops and say, “Come pick up so and so” - no matter how awful the crime.
A priest who would do that is automatically excommunicated. Show me one parish where that is indeed an agreement and I’ll show you a parish that doesn’t know the congregation’s boundaries and which thinks the Parish Council really runs the show.
This is completely wrong!
Sorry but that is mis information. See my above post.
On the contrary. There are no circumstances in which a priest can break the seal of the confession. I cannot use terms that are strong enough to emphaise this point. Priests cannot reveal what they have heard in confession - NEVER!
OK thanks. We will have to agree to disagree.
So in other words, he said, “Tell you father to talk to me about, BECAUSE I CAN’T talk to him about since you mentioned it to me during Confession.”
This isn’t a matter of opinion. It’s a fact that a priest can never break the seal.
Disagree with many of your premises. We can pound our fists on the table but that does not equate to fact or fiction.
Show me one Church document that says the seal can be broken in those cases. In return, I’ll show you 100 documents that says it cannot.
Thank you for your reply. I forgot to mention that the priest did ask him for details of the car, and also if they found any buyers yet. Maybe you’re right about the priest not planning on talking about the car: but it just puzzles me.So in other words, he said, “Tell you father to talk to me about, BECAUSE I CAN’T talk to him about since you mentioned it to me during Confession.”
The fact that the priest said it in this way tells you that he doesn’t plan on talking to the father about the car unless the father brings it up.
). It is very simply a matter of the Church documents banning it under all circumstances, regardless of what your priest says.No, we will not. It is the consistent teaching of the Church that the seal of the confession cannot be broken, ever. You can come back with as many scenarios as you wish: can the seal of the confession be broken if …? The answer will be consistent, no!
That is your prerogative. It does not alter the teaching of the Catholic Church
It was not fiction, it was fact. The seal is inviolable. A priest who breaks the seal is excommunicated. No ecclesiatical authority has to consider the case and decide to excommunicate the priest. He is excommunicated ipso facto according to the law.
