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Catholics,how confidential are your confessions?

I had thought whatever went on in the confessional was confidential, but heard on the news that a man who robbed a credit union confessed to a priest and the priest called the police. I had thought any thing confessed was sacrosanct.

Update:

clusium1971...Seal? Similar to having one's criminal records/adoption records sealed? One has to reques this?

LH Catholic: Was on the TV news, but it can be Googled as several newspapers ran the story....He confessed handed the priest 12K and left and the priest called the cops.

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6 Answers

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  • john w
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    They are confidential- a priest who reveals a confession is usually excommunicated.

    The priest merely encouraged the robber to do thew right thing and turn himself in. He did not turn the robber in himself.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    The Seal of Confession is absolute. If a *valid* Confession is made, the priest's arms are tied. priests have been tortured to demonstrate what advance into cautioned to them under the Seal, yet to my expertise, it relatively is extremely no longer in many circumstances broken. The priest can order the penitent to confess his crime to the State, yet he can't do something outdoors of the Confessional. I in no way understood the subject human beings have with this. this supplies an option for a criminal to get some good and private counciling. Making priests make a record on sins to the State isn't in common words tyrannical, besides the easy certainty that it may furnish up criminals from going to priests for suggestion (which may be to teach themselves over).

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    How about a link to the story as your allegation is very serious and if a Priest did so without the Penitents permission he will be excommunicated....Then if what your telling is correct it sounds to me like the Priest told him he must make restitution and the criminal gave him the money to turn in for him so as to not be tempted....Ok i found the Story and the Priest did no more than call the Police and return the money.....

  • 1 decade ago

    Perhaps the man didn't reveal under the Seal of Confession, hence, making it ok for the priest to hand him in.

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  • 1 decade ago

    I believe that most confessions are confidential. I personally doubt that I have told my priest anything that he hasn't already heard.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    They are supposed to be completely secret, although, if you confess to robbing a bank, the priest would encourage you to turn yourself in.

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