Confession Question

[Brother Adam]

I've been told by our resident Dave that no matter what, what is said in a confessional, stays in the confessional. So my question is, if someone confessed that they were about to commit a horrible crime (murder for instance) would not the priest be obligated to protect society and report the crime to happen?

[PedroX]

No, the seal of the confession is absolute. So absolute, that it is reconized by US civil law.

peace...

[Theoketos]

Well to confess something about to Happen would not really be confessing. Becuase the person has not sinned I think that we all are obligated to not let other people sin if that sin will have grave consequences on others.

[theculturewarrior]

The priest can still protect society. He can make the penitent turn himself into police or a mental hospital as a condition of forgiveness (ie his penance). The priest is an icon of Christ, and the penitent leaves the confessional free to do good or bad, just as Christ gives us the same freedom.

But priests have their ways.

For example, I heard a story about a man who had stolen some things. He felt bad so he went to confess. The priest told him to bring the stolen goods by his office, and then the priest called the victim of the crime and told them somebody had turned in their stolen goods.

Now, how do I know this, you may be asking? The priest who told the story didn't use the information against the penitent in an malicious way, and his anonymity was protected. Nevertheless, the goods were restored.

I am not to sure about the "legalities" (I know baptists hate that word ) of what a priest can or cannot tell of the confessional. Maybe somebody here knows better.

[theculturewarrior]

I think planning to kill is very sinful.

[willguy]

I believe that if someone says that they are planning on committing a crime (especially a violent crime) the priest can break the seal of confession.

[Iacobus]

I am not sure about this. I mean my parents are teachers and are mad. reporters. But if my priest reported someone to the police he may be doing the right thing, but will the people still trust him? I mean most people don't commit crimes like that but will I be able to trust that he is not going to tell my parents that I got drunk at a friends house (I don't drink, trust me) or something?

[theculturewarrior]

Remember, the priest is acting in the person of Christ. Christ created us free, and maintains our freedom.

However, I do believe a priest could make stipulations for forgiveness, and indeed, I believe they would.

[Bruce S]

OK, my newest confession joke, told to me after Mass on Tuesday, and on good authority, the parish Priest like this one too:

A man goes into the confessional, kneeling, the door slides open. "Ah, my son, what have you to confess since your last confession?"

"You first Father..."

Edited April 3, 2004 by Bruce S

[theculturewarrior]

Priests go to confession too...just not to laity.

[Dave]

[quote name='willguy' date='Apr 3 2004, 05:12 PM'] I believe that if someone says that they are planning on committing a crime (especially a violent crime) the priest can break the seal of confession. [/quote]
Nope, that wouldn't even be permissible.

I will say this, however ... in the late Fr. John Hardon's Pocket Catholic Dictionary, Fr. Hardon says that the seal applies UNLESS the penitent gives the priest permission to tell someone. However, I don't know if Fr. Hardon is correct or not.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='willguy' date='Apr 3 2004, 06:12 PM'] I believe that if someone says that they are planning on committing a crime (especially a violent crime) the priest can break the seal of confession. [/quote]
Absolutely not. I priest can never break the seal of confession. Never.
If the penitent gives the priest permission, the priest may consult someone, but that is it.
The seal is absolute.

[phatcatholic]

i've heard of priests taking matters into their own hands and trying to stop a crime they heard about in the cofessional themselves. since they can't tell the police or anyone about it--yet they still wish to protect society and uphold the common good--i can see why some priests would be compelled to do such a thing.

what do u guys think?

[Dave]

Well, I've seen movies like that; however, a priest isn't even supposed to use the knowledge gained in the confessional in any way. I would suppose that would include stopping crimes.

[Colleen]

A little off topic, but has anyone seen Alfred Hitchcock's [i]I Confess[/i]? It's a story about a priest who hears a muderer's confession and then gets accused of murder, but he refuses to break the seal of Confession. It's excellent.

[willguy]

I stand thoroughly corrected. Thanx all.

[Anna]

Why on earth would someone who fully intends to commit a horrible deed seek forgiveness prior to committing the deed?

Certain conditions must be met in order to receive forgiveness:
1. The person must be truly sorry.
[i]He can hardly be truly sorry if he intends to go through with the sin, now can he?![/i]
2. He must do penance.
[i]The priest can impose a penance of turning himself in to the police, etc.![/i]
3. The penitent must have a firm purpose of ammendment. In other words, he must have a plan in mind to avoid this particular sin in the future!
[i]You can't have a firm purpose of ammendment, if you have a firm intention to commit the sin in the future![/i]

So confessing prior to the crime would be totally ridiculous.

But of course, so would planning to kill someone....

Pax Christi. <><

[willguy]

The penitent may not actually be fully sorry and have firm purpose of ammendment when he confesses it. He may be trying to seek forgiveness for the act before he commits it (an impossibility, but its possible that that is his reasoning).

[Dave]

[quote name='willguy' date='Apr 3 2004, 11:17 PM'] The penitent may not actually be fully sorry and have firm purpose of ammendment when he confesses it. He may be trying to seek forgiveness for the act before he commits it (an impossibility, but its possible that that is his reasoning). [/quote]
But surely no priest would give him absolution if it was obvious he had that type of attitude, right?

[willguy]

I would assume so. I would also assume that a priest would have a long talk with and try to convince otherwise anyone who confessed the intention of commiting a crime. I wonder if their penance would be to not commit the crime...