Priest handed cache of weapons at confession

[Isilzha]

**Priest handed cache of weapons at confession
**Tue Feb 14, 2006 3:56 PM GMT

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - A priest in Germany got more than he bargained for during confession when a man not only declared his sins, but also handed over a machine gun and a hand grenade, police in Bavaria said on Tuesday.

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[Della]

Sounds like the man wants to change his life for the better. Let’s pray he does.

 

[gelsbern]

We all see CSI, and with modern forensics, would turning the items over to the police constitute breaking the seal of confession if the police were able to track down the person through forensic evidence?

 

[Timidity]

gelsbern:

We all see CSI, and with modern forensics, would turning the items over to the police constitute breaking the seal of confession if the police were able to track down the person through forensic evidence?

Yes. “It is absolutely wrong for a confessor in any way to betray the penitent, for any reason whatsoever, whether by word or in any other fashion.”

But perhaps had the priest had permission. The handing over of weapons is not part of the sacrament, and the priest may have been clear that he would have to turn them over to the police if the pentitant insisted on leaving them there.

I’m dispointed that the report says “a man” instead of a “a person” though. Still, I am giving the priest the benefit of the doubt.

 

[beckers]

gelsbern:

We all see CSI, and with modern forensics, would turning the items over to the police constitute breaking the seal of confession if the police were able to track down the person through forensic evidence?

Just a question…what would except the priest to do with the weapons??? In the end he would have to turn them over because he most likely can not dispose of the weapons on his own…I think the fact that the priest will not tell the cops who it was shows that he has not broken the seal of confession.

 

[wjp984]

the priest did what he should have done. This way no harm is done but had the priest concealed the weapons and someone found out, then he would be liable and bound by the confession not to prove his innocence. We all know how the world takes any chance it gets to go after a priest.

 

[Aureole]

I read about this in the morning and thought it slightly humourous. I almost passed it off as a joke. But can you imagine what the priest must have been thinking?

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Aureole:

I read about this in the morning and thought it slightly humourous. I almost passed it off as a joke. But can you imagine what the priest must have been thinking?

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