In that case, your parish has an agreement for the priest to excommunicate himself to protect families.If that is true it’s very problematic , we should help kids in danger and life threatening situations.
Fortunately I have been told Priests would protect kids and those in imminent danger, yes even if information gained in confession. Its a parish congregational agreement to protect families.
So by the book no as you stated, based upon reality yes safety is first and thank goodness.
Totally ignored. The poster has been back and has posted on multiple threads, but has stayed away from this one.It is dubious, to say the least. The little information provided is vague and all requests for any specifics are ignored. It appears to be an inept attempt to pass off a personal opinion as something more substantial, i.e. the unanimous position of an entire parish. I cannot recall a single occasion when my parish was of one mind on any issue.
That might be a possibility. We have, though, to accept at face value what is posted. The alternative is to try and second guess what a poster might mean. It seems fairly clear the poster in question believes there are circumstances in which a priest can break the seal of the confession.Just a thought, but there might be some confusion regarding spiritual direction and confession. Though they are similar, they are not the same. Spiritual direction should be treated with strict confidentiality, except when the safety of the spiritual directed or another is in serious danger. In that case, the director is permitted to break confidence, but this should be explained to the directed upfront. This was pretty much standard practice (explaining this at the outset, I mean) for all of the spiritual directors I’ve ever had.
Sorry…that should say “directee,” not “directed.”Just a thought, but there might be some confusion regarding spiritual direction and confession. Though they are similar, they are not the same. Spiritual direction should be treated with strict confidentiality, except when the safety of the spiritual directed or another is in serious danger. In that case, the director is permitted to break confidence, but this should be explained to the directed upfront. This was pretty much standard practice (explaining this at the outset, I mean) for all of the spiritual directors I’ve ever had.
nonsenseYes, life threatening or a child in danger.
Yes, he can assign that as a penance, but he can not do it himself.Confession has the element of reconciliation to one’s brothers and sisters as well as forgiveness of one’s sins. I would think a wise priest would find a way to protect someone who may be in danger of physical harm. If a person confesses to serial murder for ex… a penance could be given to say a rosary and then go directly to the police station, no?
No, he can’t. He can’t make use of the information gained in confession AT ALL. It would constitute a violation of the seal, and the priest would immedetely excommunicate himself.This question has probably been answered, but does the priest have the option of withholding absolution to a non-penitent, ie one who is unwilling to make amends to society for the wrong he has done and may continue to do? A good expression of sorrow for a murder for instance is to go turn yourself in. If a priest feels an individual may perpetrate a crime on someone, possibly he can go to the authorities and be of some help without breaking the seal. Information could be given that would not identify a specific person or his crimes, but give law enforcement a heads up of the possibility of harm coming to a child or other innocent individual.
Even if you cannot use civic responsibility as a tool or withold absolution, could they be encouraged to take responsibility as evidence of sorrow?Actually, we were taught in seminary that you CAN’T assign that as a penance. Just as I can’t violate the seal, I can’t force the penitent to “confess” to someone else as part of his penance and as a condition for absolution. I can’t use the penance as a way to violate the seal without actually violating the seal.
For example, suppose someone confesses to adultery. I could not, as the confessor, assign as penance that the person tell his or her spouse about the adulterous relationship. I can counsel the person that it may be a good idea (or it may not be, and I can counsel him/her on that) but what I can not do is insist that he “come clean” in order to be absolved. That’s a decision the penitent must make on his own.
No. He’s not allowed to reveal anything to anyone in any way.Is a priest allowed to go down to the police station and say something like “you may want to watch the children living down on 4th street” without breaking the seal of the individual’s confession?
I did not stray from the post. People have started arguments that were unrelated to my original question, so I will not intervene. I have provided all information that I have, in the original question.Totally ignored. The poster has been back and has posted on multiple threads, but has stayed away from this one.
They were referring to Wiseowl, not you. Wiseowl is the one who made the assertion that it’s policy in his parish that the priest violate the seal to report a confessed child molester to the police.I did not stray from the post. People have started arguments that were unrelated to my original question, so I will not intervene. I have provided all information that I have, in the original question.
NO, no, no. not if he learned that information in the confessional.Is a priest allowed to go down to the police station and say something like “you may want to watch the children living down on 4th street” without breaking the seal of the individual’s confession?
It is not opinion. It cannot be a case of majority view on such an important aspect of our Faith. It is the consistent teaching of the Church that there are absolutely no circumstances whatsoever under which the seal of the confession can be broken.I never expected this post to receive so many replies, Thank you everyone. Opinions here were varied, but the majority seemed to say that everything is always confidential: and I will stick with believing that. Thanks again everyone.
Confession has the element of reconciliation to one’s brothers and sisters as well as forgiveness of one’s sins. I would think a wise priest would find a way to protect someone who may be in danger of physical harm. If a person confesses to serial murder for ex… a penance could be given to say a rosary and then go directly to the police station, no?
This question has probably been answered, but does the priest have the option of withholding absolution to a non-penitent, ie one who is unwilling to make amends to society for the wrong he has done and may continue to do? A good expression of sorrow for a murder for instance is to go turn yourself in. If a priest feels an individual may perpetrate a crime on someone, possibly he can go to the authorities and be of some help without breaking the seal. Information could be given that would not identify a specific person or his crimes, but give law enforcement a heads up of the possibility of harm coming to a child or other innocent individual.
The priest cannot break the seal of the confession. He cannot do it in any way. He can’t even drop hints about what he’s heard.Even if you cannot use civic responsibility as a tool or withold absolution, could they be encouraged to take responsibility as evidence of sorrow?
Is a priest allowed to go down to the police station and say something like “you may want to watch the children living down on 4th street” without breaking the seal of the individual’s confession?
i am a convert of three years,prior to my conversion by the Grace of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,i lived a totally unchurched pagan existence . i can’t believe that so many Catholic do know this.i knew this and i was a heroin addict living under a bridge!It is not opinion. It cannot be a case of majority view on such an important aspect of our Faith. It is the consistent teaching of the Church that there are absolutely no circumstances whatsoever under which the seal of the confession can be broken.