OK To Discuss Your Own Confession?

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Greg_McPherran

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I know that a priest is obliged not to reveal anything he has been told in confession. However, Is it OK for a confessor to discuss with others what the priest told him/her?

Greg
 
First, Greg, let’s straighten out your terms. “Confessor” is the priest who hears the confesssion. “Penitent” is the person doing the confessing. Confusing.

The seal of confession only applies to the priest (and interpreter, if one was used, and anyone who accidentally overheard your confesssion). You are free to talk about it with whomever you wish, but prudence will limit the extent to which you do this.

Betsy
 
Hi Greg,

If by confessor you actually mean confessee, or the person receiving the sacrament–to best of my knowledge, it is perfectly permissible to discuss your own sin and forgiveness and the advice received. I have done this a number of times.

I have read, too, that the only time a priest is allowed to discuss what was told to him in confession is if the person receiving the sacrament approaches him at any point afterward and asks to discuss the subject or whatever came up during the sacrament.
 
baltobetsy said:
“Confessor” is the priest who hears the confesssion. “Penitent” is the person doing the confessing. Confusing.
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Thank you Betsy.
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baltobetsy:
You are free to talk about it with whomever you wish, but prudence will limit the extent to which you do this.
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Understood. For example, I might mention some things to my wife related to our marriage or I might wish to reveal a dissenting opinion given to me in confession. In general, I would very rarely discuss my confessions.

Thank You,
Greg
 
Dear Moderators, please entertain a blanket request to ban posters on these forums from discussing the matter of their own confessions here.
 
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Princess_Abby:
I have read, too, that the only time a priest is allowed to discuss what was told to him in confession is if the person receiving the sacrament approaches him at any point afterward and asks to discuss the subject or whatever came up during the sacrament.
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Princess Abby,
I think you are wrong here…somebody please correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think that the priest can discuss your confession ever… even with you after you have come out of the Confessional.
Annunciata:)
 
So what is the answer? May a penitent discuss what a priest told him/her in confession?
 
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Annunciata:
Princess Abby,
I think you are wrong here…somebody please correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think that the priest can discuss your confession ever… even with you after you have come out of the Confessional.
Annunciata:)
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I believe that you are right. A good priest also has the extra graces to “forget” what he has heard in persona Christi.

MrS
 
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MrS:
I believe that you are right. A good priest also has the extra graces to “forget” what he has heard in persona Christi.

MrS
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Somehow my question thread here got hijacked. 🙂

I am asking a simple question. May a penitent discuss what a priest told him/her in confession?
 
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Greg_McPherran:
I am asking a simple question. May a penitent discuss what a priest told him/her in confession?
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Yes, if he chooses to. Now, if it is discussed to cast dispersion on the priest for his comments, that is wrong and that becomes sinful, but still his choice.
 
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Annunciata:
Princess Abby,
I think you are wrong here…somebody please correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think that the priest can discuss your confession ever… even with you after you have come out of the Confessional.
Annunciata:)
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I once had a very holy confessor, who is now a bishop, btw. Once he recommended a book for me to read, and offered to lend me his copy. He told me to ask him for it specifically outside the confessional, because he could not use any information from my confession outside, even something as simple as lending a book, and even for my own benefit.

What I’ve learned about the question above is that the priest may never, ever bring up a subject that you have confessed, even in a later confession. However, if you bring it up, he is permitted to talk about it with you. So, for example, if you confess killing your mother in confession this week, and you return to confession next week, the priest may not ask you anything about your mother’s funeral, or whether you have surrendered to the police, or whether you’re planning on doing in your father next. But if you open the door by mentioning “I’m the one who murdered my mother last week, and I am having further difficulty,” or “I am planning to bump off my Dad,” or whatever, he can give you advice. The same is the case with habitual sins. If you frequently become intoxicated, for example, he cannot ask you if you’ve stayed sober this week. It’s a clean slate every time, UNTIL you bring it up.

If you wish to discuss an ongoing problem with the priest outside the confessional, you may do that as well, but the priest must not use any information gained from you in the confessional, so you’ll have to start from the beginning. At that point, the information is no longer subject to the seal of confession, so subsequent conversations can be based on the first one outside confession.

Greg, to answer your simple question - yes, you may discuss what a priest told you in confession. The seal does not apply to you.

Does this help?

Betsy
 
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MrS:
Yes, if he chooses to. Now, if it is discussed to cast dispersion on the priest for his comments, that is wrong and that becomes sinful, but still his choice.
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Thank you MrS. What if a priest tells someone something against Church teaching and they want to expose that?
 
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baltobetsy:
If you wish to discuss an ongoing problem with the priest outside the confessional, you may do that as well, but the priest must not use any information gained from you in the confessional, so you’ll have to start from the beginning. At that point, the information is no longer subject to the seal of confession, so subsequent conversations can be based on the first one outside confession.

Does this help?

Betsy
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That is interesting information. However, my question relates to someone discussing what a priest told them with a third party. For example, Nancy tells Sue something that the priest told her (Nancy) in confession.

Thank You,
Greg
 
Betsy–that is exactly what I was trying to say 🙂 Thank you for communicating it better. I had in mind an example of using your spiritual director as a regular confessor, and obviously sins confessed might come up as issues needing guidance and direction–but that the penitent would in fact have to broach the subject with the priest, thereby breaking the seal himself–NOT the priest.

Greg–I know multitudes of people who share advice given to them by a priest in a confessional. Often times you don’t need to share the sin, just the advice, as it is sometimes applicable for many situations.
 
Thanks everyone! It is probably a good idea to ask a priest about this. Most grateful for all the kind responses!
 
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asquared:
Dear Moderators, please entertain a blanket request to ban posters on these forums from discussing the matter of their own confessions here.
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Oh, you’re no fun! 😛
 
Dear everyone,
Code: 
       Those whoever accidently heard other confession has to have the same responsibility as the priest. When you need to know the answer. If you need help, you should talk to the priest. 
                                             Anthony
 
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Greg_McPherran:
However, my question relates to someone discussing what a priest told them with a third party. For example, Nancy tells Sue something that the priest told her (Nancy) in confession.
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Nancy, not bound by the seal of confession because she is not the priest, may tell Sue anything she wants about the confession, including her own sins if she wishes (but we hope she doesn’t), and whatever advice was given to her by the priest. She can tell the advice in the context of sharing a wonderful insight or even a warning not to go to that priest, because he teaches contrary to the Church. What she may not do is pass along negative information without a just cause. If what she has been told by the priest is confusing or outright wrong, she may seek clarification of the issue from another priest, or contact the bishop, if she feels it’s that far out of line. This would be far more productive than discussing the matter with Sue, unless Sue is a canon lawyer! 😉

Betsy
 
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baltobetsy:
Nancy, not bound by the seal of confession because she is not the priest, may tell Sue anything she wants about the confession, including her own sins if she wishes (but we hope she doesn’t), and whatever advice was given to her by the priest. She can tell the advice in the context of sharing a wonderful insight or even a warning not to go to that priest, because he teaches contrary to the Church. What she may not do is pass along negative information without a just cause. If what she has been told by the priest is confusing or outright wrong, she may seek clarification of the issue from another priest, or contact the bishop, if she feels it’s that far out of line. This would be far more productive than discussing the matter with Sue, unless Sue is a canon lawyer! 😉

Betsy
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There is a caution here. It is unfair to accuse a priest of saying this or that when he cannot respond to defend himself. It is probably wrong to repeat anything detrimental to the priest unless it is a real wrong - which should be reported through proper channels, not gossiped about.
 
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