Well, Ian, I can't say I understand you. What could be wrong with my quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church? I'm not trying to proselytize - I'm just stating the rules the Catholic Church imposes on priests. The Catechism quotation illustrates the conflict between church and civil law, and that there are no exceptions to the church law. Seems pertinent to the discussion, especially since some thought there were exceptions to the church law. I would suppose that we all have loyalties that supersede our loyalty to our country - family loyalties, religious beliefs, employment. Civil law will do what it will - but my bet is that priests won't budge on this one. The seal of confession is too old and too sacred a tradition.
A violation of this new law would be almost impossible to prove - unless, I suppose, government installed bugs in confessionals. That being the case, I think this unenforceable law will be a non-issue. It is a symbolic demonstration that Ireland is rightly appalled by the failure of the Catholic Church to deal properly with the crime of child molestation. I personally think the law is ill-advised, but I certainly sympathize with the outrage felt by the Irish people.
I am a very active Catholic and a lay leader and teacher, but I have no sympathy for the Catholic bishops and the mess they've get themselves into.

-Joe-