Confessional Seal

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TylerWS

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A situation similar to the one below was presented on an episode of CSI, a crime show on CBS.
  • A Catholic is on trial for the murder of two people. There is not enough evidence to prove whether this person is guilty or innocent, and therefore the verdict is entirely up to the jury. This person’s priest is called in as a witness.
I know that the priest cannot reveal if the person confessed to the murders of the two victims, but can he tell that the person on trail did not confess to the murders?
 
I do not think the priest can discuss anything regarding confession.
 
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TylerWS:
A situation similar to the one below was presented on an episode of CSI, a crime show on CBS.
  • A Catholic is on trial for the murder of two people. There is not enough evidence to prove whether this person is guilty or innocent, and therefore the verdict is entirely up to the jury. This person’s priest is called in as a witness.
I know that the priest cannot reveal if the person confessed to the murders of the two victims, but can he tell that the person on trail did not confess to the murders?
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He cannot reveal the identity of anyone who enters the Sacrament, even to acknowledge that they went to Confession. Unless the person gives him permission. Then he can speak about it to the extent permission is given.
 
So can a priest talk about anything that is said in the Confessional, as long as he has full consent from the person woh is on trial?
 
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TylerWS:
So can a priest talk about anything that is said in the Confessional, as long as he has full consent from the person woh is on trial?
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he wouldn’t have to… if the person in question decided to divuldge the truth he/she could just confess to the authorities, why would the priest then need to say a thing… i doubt you would find any priest that would discuss anything revealed in the confessional… :cool:
 
The Priest could be brought in if he was a witness to the case. I have read recently that they are trying to change the law to force Priests to testify what they heard in confession. Pay attention and write your pols that the seal is inviolable.
 
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TylerWS:
So can a priest talk about anything that is said in the Confessional, as long as he has full consent from the person woh is on trial?
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With the full consent given by the person who confessed,Yes
The priest must not ask for the consent, the person must freely give it to the priest.
 
I know that the priest cannot reveal if the person confessed to the murders of the two victims, but can he tell that the person on trail did not confess to the murders?
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No, he should not. It is a very practical reason. If the priest is in the habit of saying so and so did not confess to me, then the one time they ask him about someone who did actually come confess, he will have to refuse to answer the question. But that will then give away that the person did come to confession because otherwise he would have said they didn’t. So the safe policy is to refuse to say anything on the matter in all circumstances.
 
This issue brings up another point. What of the rest of the parish?!

They find out their priest confided a confession, (even if permission is given), will the rest of the parish be aware of this?..This could lead to a possible loss of trust in that priest.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
With the full consent given by the person who confessed,Yes
The priest must not ask for the consent, the person must freely give it to the priest.
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Incorrect. Can. 1550 Sec.2 Subsection 2 states. "The following are considered incapable [of being witnesses]: priests as regards everything which has become known to them by reason of sacramental confession **even if the penitent requests their mainfestatation **[emphasis added]; moreover, whatever has been heard by anyone or in any way on the occasion of confession cannot be accepted as even an indication of the truth.
 
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All4lifetoo:
Incorrect. Can. 1550 Sec.2 Subsection 2 states. "The following are considered incapable [of being witnesses]: priests as regards everything which has become known to them by reason of sacramental confession **even if the penitent requests their mainfestatation **[emphasis added]; moreover, whatever has been heard by anyone or in any way on the occasion of confession cannot be accepted as even an indication of the truth.
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That is correct, this is the Canon Law that applies to proceedures regarding Church Tribunal trials. Just as in civil court, the court has the power to limit certain testimony in each case. The Church also has the power to limit or exclude certain testimony in it’s trials.
 
Yet another reason for anonymous confession using confessionals.

Priests hear perhaps hundreds of confessions per week, and can’t remember the sins confessed from one penitent to the next. Even if he recognized the person by his voice, it’s unlikely he would recall the confession long enough for this to become an issue.

And anyone who would purposely put a priest in this position by confessing a serious crime in a face to face confession should rethink the matter before he goes to confession. If he’s repented enough for confession, then he ought to be ready to confess to the police.
 
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