The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #139335 Message #3197535
Posted By: Joe Offer
28-Jul-11 - 06:19 PM
Thread Name: BS: Ireland v the Pope
Subject: RE: BS: Ireland v the Pope
The "seal of confession" is covered in paragraph 1467 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:Para. 1467: Given the delicacy and greatness of this ministry and the respect due to persons, the Church declares that every priest who hears confessions is bound under very severe penalties to keep absolute secrecy regarding the sins that his penitents have confessed to him. He can make no use of knowledge that confession gives him about penitent's lives (Cf. CIC, can. 1388 ยง 1; CCEO, can. 1456). This secret, which admits of no exceptions, is called the "sacramental seal," because what the penitent has made known to the priest remains "sealed" by the sacrament.