Wednesday, September 5, 2012
309. Is a confessor bound to secrecy?
(Comp
309) Given the delicacy and greatness of this ministry and the respect
due to people every confessor, without any exception and under very severe
penalties, is bound to maintain “the sacramental seal” which means absolute
secrecy about the sins revealed to him in confession.
“In brief”
(CCC 2511) "The
sacramental seal is inviolable" ( CIC, can. 983 § 1). Professional secrets
must be kept. Confidences prejudicial to another are not to be divulged.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 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 penitents' lives (Cf. CIC, can.
1388 § 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.
On reflection
(CCC 2490) The secret of the sacrament of reconciliation
is sacred, and cannot be violated under any pretext. "The sacramental seal
is inviolable; therefore, it is a crime for a confessor in any way to betray a
penitent by word or in any other manner or for any reason" (CIC, Can. 983
§ 1).
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