Translators in the Confessional

[rosarykat]

In the past weeks, I’ve seen several documentaries on the life of St. Padre Pio. It’s amazing how many people came from all over the world to receive absolution from the saint. I come away with two assumptions:

1. Padre Pio did not speak 25-30 different languages
   and
2. Not everyone who confessed to him spoke Italian (not to mention the local dialect the good saint may have spoken).

Therefore, it seems to me that there had to have been a translator on Padre Pio’s side of the screen.
My questions: Who would qualify as a translator in these cases (would it have to be another priest, or would one of the brothers or friars qualify) and how does a translator affect the confidentiality or sanctity of the sacrament of reconciliation?
Thank you

 

[Michael_Welter]

Interesting question. Are you sure that there was a translator involved?

I would think that if there was a translator involved, it would have to be a priest. Howver, if it were a priest, why not have that priest hear the confession, and leave Padre Pio to hear confessions he could understand?

A priest is vowed to confidentiality of all he hears in the confessional. No one else is vowed to confidentiality, and could carry what they hear outside the confessional. That’s not appropriate.

 

[LilyM]

Under canon law (can’t remember the specific canon but I’m sure someone round here does) lay translators absolutely can be used if required.

The seal of the confessional applies to them just as it does to the priest, in fact it applies to anyone who either knowingly or inadvertently overhears someone else’s confession.

 

[mystified]

There used to be pocket-size guides for Confession that could be used anywhere inthe world. The penitent pointed to a sin in his language and the priest read it in Latin…Boy! That was a long time ago, wasn’t it?
Before I became comfortable going to Confession in my second language, I asked a priest with whom I was acquainted if he understood English. He didn’t. I then asked of other priests in the vicinity conversant in English. There weren’t any.
Then the wise old priest asked if I wanted to go to Confession. Yes, I said. He then told me to go ahead in English, he would listen in his primary language, and pointing upward said, “He will understand both of us!”
Maybe Padre Pio did it this way, too.

 

[Leslee68]

Interpreters can be used in the Confessional. My daughter is an Interpreter for the deaf and, although she has not been asked to provide this service, a colleague of hers has. The Interpreter is also bound by the Seal.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Under canon law (can’t remember the specific canon but I’m sure someone round here does) lay translators absolutely can be used if required.

The seal of the confessional applies to them just as it does to the priest, in fact it applies to anyone who either knowingly or inadvertently overhears someone else’s confession.

Yep, someone does.

Can. 983 §1 The sacramental seal is inviolable. Accordingly, 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.
§2 An interpreter, if there is one, is also obliged to observe this secret, as are all others who in any way whatever have come to a knowledge of sins from a confession.
…
Can. 990 No one is forbidden to confess through an interpreter, provided however that abuse and scandal are avoided, and without prejudice to the provision of can. 983 §2.

tee

 

[Brendan]

In the past weeks, I’ve seen several documentaries on the life of St. Padre Pio. It’s amazing how many people came from all over the world to receive absolution from the saint. I come away with two assumptions:

1. Padre Pio did not speak 25-30 different languages
   and
2. Not everyone who confessed to him spoke Italian (not to mention the local dialect the good saint may have spoken).

Padre Pio would hear confessions in Italian or Latin.

 

[rosarykat]

Interesting question. Are you sure that there was a translator involved?

No, I’m not sure, I simply assumed.

I would think that if there was a translator involved, it would have to be a priest. Howver, if it were a priest, why not have that priest hear the confession, and leave Padre Pio to hear confessions he could understand?

I think most everyone who went there to confess wanted Padre Pio to hear their confession, which is why there was a waiting list (could also be the waiting list involved finding translators as well).

A priest is vowed to confidentiality of all he hears in the confessional. No one else is vowed to confidentiality, and could carry what they hear outside the confessional. That’s not appropriate.

That was my thought as well. Guess this is a question for Fr. Serpa.