Confessing murder

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dje101

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Hi all,

I know that a priest has a vow of silence or something like that with peoples’ confession and that they are not allowed to repeat what a person said in a confessional. However, if someone confessed murder, and the person was later identified by the authorities, could the priest get in trouble for having knowledge of the situation but not revealing it? Do they have some sort of protection from the law in this instance?

Thanks,

God bless

dje101
 
How would they know the priest knew this?

How would they know which priest?

How would the priest know who you are?

You are confessing to Our Lord, He is just hidden by the priest.
 
Short answer- No, the priest cannot ever break the seal of the confessional. If he did so, he would be automatically stripped of his duties as priest. The law also does not require a priest to reveal anything he is told in the confessional.
 
The priest would not in many countries have protection from the law, but - correct me if what I’ve read is wrong - they are still meant to keep the seal of the confessional, even under torture or the threat of death.

For example, in England & Wales, it’s not a crime not to identify a murderer, but it is an offence not to report various terrorist offences or treason - so theoretically a Catholic priest who heard a confession related to political violence, killing the Queen or overthrowing the government may have committed that offence - though as Nelka said where would the evidence come from?
 
wild_thing said:
The law also does not require a priest to reveal anything he is told in the confessional.
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Assuming you’re referring to US law,are there state or federal laws on this issue? Or is your assumption based on something like freedom of religion under the First Amendment?
 
I believe it is one of those special sins that can only be forgiven directly by the Pope.

Priests can’t talk about ANYTHING said in the confessional, even if it is an off-hand comment that is not a reference to a sin.
 
dje101 said:
Hi all,

I know that a priest has a vow of silence or something like that with peoples’ confession and that they are not allowed to repeat what a person said in a confessional.
Click to expand...
The seal of confession is absolute.
dje101 said:
However, if someone confessed murder, and the person was later identified by the authorities, could the priest get in trouble for having knowledge of the situation but not revealing it? Do they have some sort of protection from the law in this instance?
Click to expand...
Most countries have laws protecting the seal of confession.

Even if they don’t the priest cannot reveal anything, even if it means a civil or criminal penalty.
 
Nelka said:
How would they know the priest knew this?

How would they know which priest?

How would the priest know who you are?

You are confessing to Our Lord, He is just hidden by the priest.
Click to expand...
It was a general question…

If the police SOMEHOW found out that the priest new from a confession, would he be subject to any persecution under criminal law?
 
Arizona_Mike said:
I believe it is one of those special sins that can only be forgiven directly by the Pope.

Priests can’t talk about ANYTHING said in the confessional, even if it is an off-hand comment that is not a reference to a sin.
Click to expand...
Murder can only be forgiven when confessed to a Pope? How would someone get that set up? I mean, is someone just able to write to the Pope and say “hey, I’ve sinned big time, need to talk to ya. When are you available?”
 
You should ask a Catholic priest, if you have not already. Here is what one Catholic priest said when pressed about the seal of the confessional;

Question: If someone in the confessional box during confession said to you they were going to break into your house that night and kill you, could you tell the police?

Answer: No.

Question: Could you do anything to avoid or prevent it?

Answer: No. You could not.
 
dje101 said:
Murder can only be forgiven when confessed to a Pope? How would someone get that set up? I mean, is someone just able to write to the Pope and say “hey, I’ve sinned big time, need to talk to ya. When are you available?”
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No, that is not correct.
 
dje101 said:
Murder can only be forgiven when confessed to a Pope? How would someone get that set up? I mean, is someone just able to write to the Pope and say “hey, I’ve sinned big time, need to talk to ya. When are you available?”
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I didn’t write that clearly, sorry. I was referring to the PRIEST’S sin in violating the secrecy of the confessional, not the murderer’s original confession.
 
In particular, only the Pope can lift the excommunication that comes with certain sins, including breaking the seal of the confessional. Other sins in this category include:

Defiling the Eucharist

Attempting to assassinate the Pope

A priest having sex with somebody then offering to give absolution for the act

Someone directly participating in an abortion (including paying for it) and then seeking to become a priest or deacon.

Such cases are referred to the Vatican office with the forbidding-sounding title of the Apostolic Penitentiary, which was established in 1179.

Here’s an article on the subject: telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/4247756/Vatican-reveals-secrets-of-worst-sins.html
 
Arizona_Mike said:
I didn’t write that clearly, sorry. I was referring to the PRIEST’S sin in violating the secrecy of the confessional, not the murderer’s original confession.
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Woops, lol. My bad. Thanks for clearing that up. There was another post by someone under the AAA similar and the apologist said that a priest can absolve murder. Kind of threw me off for a sec.

😃
 
You said:
You should ask a Catholic priest, if you have not already. Here is what one Catholic priest said when pressed about the seal of the confessional;

Question: If someone in the confessional box during confession said to you they were going to break into your house that night and kill you, could you tell the police?

Answer: No.

Question: Could you do anything to avoid or prevent it?

Answer: No. You could not.
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I have a couple of questions about this. Is it possible for a person to confess and receive absolution for a sin that has yet to be committed? Does the seal of the confessional apply to sins that have not yet been committed but which are stated as being intended?
 
dje101 said:
Hi all,

I know that a priest has a vow of silence or something like that with peoples’ confession and that they are not allowed to repeat what a person said in a confessional. However, if someone confessed murder, and the person was later identified by the authorities, could the priest get in trouble for having knowledge of the situation but not revealing it? Do they have some sort of protection from the law in this instance?

Thanks,

God bless

dje101
Click to expand...
Can. 983
§1. The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.

§2. The interpreter, if there is one, and all others who in any way have knowledge of sins from confession are also obliged to observe secrecy.

**Can. 984 **
§1. A confessor is prohibited completely from using knowledge acquired from confession to the detriment of the penitent even when any danger of revelation is excluded.

§2. A person who has been placed in authority cannot use in any manner for external governance the knowledge about sins which he has received in confession at any time.
 
gcnuss said:
I have a couple of questions about this. Is it possible for a person to confess and receive absolution for a sin that has yet to be committed? Does the seal of the confessional apply to sins that have not yet been committed but which are stated as being intended?
Click to expand...
No.
Yes.
 
steve_b said:
Can. 983
§1. The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.

§2. The interpreter, if there is one, and all others who in any way have knowledge of sins from confession are also obliged to observe secrecy.

**Can. 984 **
§1. A confessor is prohibited completely from using knowledge acquired from confession to the detriment of the penitent even when any danger of revelation is excluded.

§2. A person who has been placed in authority cannot use in any manner for external governance the knowledge about sins which he has received in confession at any time.
Click to expand...
Thank you for showing me this.

I’m afraid, however, that many people may not be reading my OP correctly. I understand that the priest is not allowed to say ANYTHING regarding a confession.

My question was that if police found out that, say a serial murderer, had confessed many times to a priest for forgiveness, is there any type of protection for the priest against being prosecuted in a court of law?

The question has been answered somewhat…basically, a poster stating that it varies with location.
 
dje101 said:
Thank you for showing me this.

I’m afraid, however, that many people may not be reading my OP correctly. I understand that the priest is not allowed to say ANYTHING regarding a confession.

My question was that if police found out that, say a serial murderer, had confessed many times to a priest for forgiveness, is there any type of protection for the priest against being prosecuted in a court of law?

The question has been answered somewhat…basically, a poster stating that it varies with location.
Click to expand...
The canon law I quoted is for the priest. No matter what secular legal system in the world he is in. His obligation is to not violate the seal of the confessional. As I understand, Even to death.

I mention the latter point “even to death” because there are I’m sure legal systems in the world who could give a rip about canon law. But the priest has a higher calling.
 
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