I am reading that the Pope has given instruction to break the seal of confession?

[Tis_Bearself]

JimG:

In fact I doubt that any abuser has confessed his sin in the confessional. That is why I think that all attempts by the civil authorities to compel breaking the seal of confession is useless.

I am not surprised. In order to confess sexual abuse, the abusive priest would have to admit he committed the sexual acts, admit they were wrong, and promise never to do them again. Sexual abusers are often in some denial that they even do these acts, and to the extent they admit such actions they usually don’t see them as wrong or sinful, and are unlikely to promise never to do them again.

 

[poche]

Those laws about breaking the seal of confession are civil laws. Pope Francis is encouraging those who have harmed children to turn themselves in. He is not authorizing the breaking of the seal of confession.

 

[PatK63]

It does not break the seal if the sinner tells someone else his sin. Period.

 

[HeDa]

Look into News from the Vatican - News about the Church - Vatican News or EWTN for a proper media report on what the Catholic Church or the pope is doing, teaching, changing etc. Several protocols from meetings are posted within a couple of days.

Secular media is very rarely trusted when reporting on the Catholic Church and the pope´s doings due to the lack of knowledge and the sometimes total ignorance that the journalists have regarding matters of faith and religion.

There are other posts already regarding trusted media. Please do a search.

 

[awesomecatholic]

That is completely against the Church’s teachings. Priests Have to uphold the Seal of Confession no matter what. I think the Holy Fathers is trying to get the abusive cardinals to turn themselves in. If Pope Francis actually gave permission to break the Seal, that would be very surprising.

 

[mythbuster1]

Penitents confessing to civil crimes are encouraged, but not required as a condition of absolution, to turn themselves in to the civil authorities.

 

[TheLittleLady]

And these norms, thank God, have for the lion’s share already been in place in the US for many years.

 

[TomH1]

I could not read the first article you linked because the Wall Street Journal requires a subscription to read the article, so I do not know what that article says.

I would like you to cite the paragraph in which the New York Times article says that the seal of confession can be broken. I know you will struggle to do this because nowhere does it say that. It says the pope called on clerics who have abused people to hand themselves in. He did not say you can break the seal of the confessional.

A confessor is bound to keep secret what he has heard in confession. No restriction applies to the penitent who is free to tell anyone what he confessed. Let’s say I go into the local supermarket and steal some food. Several days later I go to confession and confess the theft. If after confession my conscience keeps me a wake for a few nights and I go to the police and admit the theft that is not breaking the seal of confession. If the priest to whom I confessed my sins went to the police station and told them about my stealing that would be breaking the seal of the confession.