If I confess murder, rape, child porn, can a priest tell anyone, including the police?

The confession is protected by the Seal of the Confessional.

For Catholic priests, the confidentiality of all statements made by penitents during the course of confession is absolute. Code of Canon Law, 983 §1, states "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." However,

priests have been known to come forward if they believe it will save a life (including one of a person about to be wrongfully convicted of that crime).

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/LAW/07/18/priest.conf...

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Actually, the law is a little nebulous on this one.

I don't think the legal system can "force" it but I believe they can hold the priest in contempt for not telling.

My basic understanding is that if it has to do with the abuse of a child they might have to tell or can be prosecuted for not telling. As for other crimes, I think there is less hard law.

The legal system is a funny thing. There are laws but a good lawyer on either side can make some pretty good arguments.

I also don't think a shrink can tell if you tell them you killed someone PAST tense. They are only obligated to report if there is immenint danger to a person's life and they have to tell to save that person from harm or death. So if you say you are on your way to kill someone they have to tell, if you told them you just came from killing someone, they don't.

Ultimately, when it comes to legal issues like this, do not rely on the words of ANYONE out here. Even if they claim to be a lawyer, priest, or shrink. Only rely on the word of a lawyer that you speak to in person (so can validate they are a true lawyer that has passed the Bar). Always consult legal counsel for questions of an important nature like this one.

I knew of an individual who did something to a minor, confessed to his wife about it. She in turn went to their priest for confession. He did tell authorities about it. But he was also a licensed social worker & worked for the state at that time. So I believe he wasn't acting as a man of God then, more like an employee of the state. I'm not sure what the Catholic rules are in confession as far as priests go, but I believe they can, because they have an obligation. But again, I'm not 100% if they are allowed to per say.

If you are participating in the Sacrament of Penance in a Roman Catholic Church, nothing you say to the priest will be shared with anyone except with God. The priest can ask you to confess to the police as a condition of penance, I believe.

I am a member of the clergy who has taken service courses discussing the above scenario.

Both the shrink and the priest are not under a legal obligation to tell about murder, under the law. Abuse of a child is a bit different. If they are mandatory reporters, they have to tell authorities the child is being abused, but they can't say where they got the info.

They cannot be compelled to testify as to what they heard confessed. However, they have the right to do so if they feel compelled.

This is a sticky situation with legal precedents both ways.

Most clergy are taught to get out of the situation by making the person confess to the cops ASAP.

Cop Rape Porn

If you confess something that involves harming someone else, such as murder or rape, the priest has a duty to inform the police. If you simply confess the DESIRE to do these things, as long as the priest doesn't think you will actually DO them, he won't tell.

Actually No.

There was an incident in 2005 In Australia where the Police passed a law whereby Priests had to tell the police anything remotely incriminating that was said in confession; the Priests said the usual bullshit "we answer only to god etc"

So they have to by law, but they surely don't.

Catholics have a long history of hiding paedophiles, maybe that's only the ones who are ordained ...

A priest is committing a huge sin if he tells the Police... If you are going to a priest to ask for forgiveness he is not allowed to tell the Police because if he does then he's gonna ahve to give up his name as a priest, thats what my religon teacher said... However, if you yourself don't go and admit your crimes to the police, then you will not be forgiven...