Tag Archives: Seal of confession

QUAERITUR: does the Seal of confession apply also to the penitent?

From a reader:
Except when he translates for or overhears another person’s confession, is a layman ever bound–like the priest–by the seal of Confession, such that he cannot mention either what he confessed or what he was told?  I was not … Continue reading

Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged , | 24 Comments

A case about violation of the Seal of Confession in the press

From the 1983 Code of Canon law 983 §1
The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.
If a priest … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Biased Media Coverage, SESSIUNCULA, The Drill | Tagged , , | 33 Comments

Card. Castrillon praised that French bishop. Why? Something missing from the reporting?

Something has been bothering me in the now viral news story about the letter His Eminence Dario Card. Castrillon Hoyos wrote to the French Bishop Pierre Pican.
You know the facts of the situation.
A French priest Fr. Rene Bissey was a … Continue reading

Posted in Clerical Sexual Abuse of Children, The Drill | Tagged , , , , | 46 Comments

Internal forum/confession and reporting crimes to the state

My friend Fr. Ray Blake, parish priest in Brighton at St. Mary Magdalen has a very good entry on his blog.  To a degree it represents also some of my own reflections in the last few days.
Let’s have a look:
Cardinal … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Clerical Sexual Abuse of Children, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices | Tagged , , | 31 Comments

Priest/penitent privilege and a state’s violation of the Seal

From ZENIT comes this about an attack on the Sacrament of Penance and the privilege of priests not to be forced by law to reveal confessions.
This is an interview.  My emphases and comments.
Seal of Confession Goes on Trial
Church and State … Continue reading

Posted in Our Catholic Identity, SESSIUNCULA, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , | 20 Comments