Seal of Confession: How does it go?

[CatholicCid]

Hello,

In another thread ([HTML=Who May Recieve the Eucharist]http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=78211

, I got to wondering how far the Seal of Confession goes?

I searched around and couldn't find anything, so forgive me if this has been answered.

Once someone goes to Confession, can the Priest say "So-and-so went to Confession Friday" or something like that?
Or would it violate the Seal of Confession?

In another scenario, I was at Confession a few weeks back and while in line (Yes, there was a line  :thumbsup: , though short) the Priest had to... excuse himself... inbetween confessions, so of course, he saw everyone there.
So could he say "I saw so-and-so in line for Confession on Friday" or would that be considered informally breaking the Seal?

So, summed up, does the Seal of Confession cover identity, possible chit-chat, and/or being seen by the Priest while waiting for Confession?

If you get time to answer this, thanks.

In Christ,
CC

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear CC,

The priest cannot mention ANYTHING about anyone whose confession he has heard. If he saw someone in line to go to confession to him, then he cannot acknowledge that. He can acknowledge seeing someone is another priest’s line, but even that would be in appropriate.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.