If a murderer confeses to murdering to the pope, does he (the pope) have the obligation to tell authorities?

Answer 1

It depends (maybe) on whether you are talking about a legal obligation or a moral obligation.

Legally the communication between a priest and parishoner is considered to be privileged, meaning that the pope (in your example) could not be compelled to testify or reveal the information.

Even this might be challenged, however--especially if the murderer is not a Catholic. After all, the privileged communication is recognized as existing between a minister and a person within that minister's "congregation." If a murderer picks a member of the clergy at random, calls them up and confesses his crime, it is not clear that the communication was between a minister and his congregant. So there would have to be some sort of relationship established between the pope and the murderer before the confession in order to guarantee that the communication is privileged.

But on the moral side it may be more difficult. It seems that at least some good moral theories would suggest that the pope would have an obligation to tell.

So it depends on what type of obligation you mean. I suspect that you are referring to the legal obligation, though.

Answer 2

mbrcatz17 has the best answer (seeing the illogic of the question as presented).

All I'd add are a couple of things (and let's say, the murder killed someone else and confessed to the pope, okay?):

1. I've never done it in myself, but when I've seen people confess to a holy dude in movies and television, it's through some kind of screen that conceals/obscures identity of both confessor and listener, so the pope (or Father, whatever) may not be able to confidently identify the confessor even if the priest chose to report to the authorities; besides that, outside of a confession, it's not like the priest is an eye witness or something.

2. By the way, I really think you meant, "does the pope have the obligation NOT to tell authorities" about a confession, that is TRUE. However, if we were to adjust your question again like so, "If a person shoots the pope but confesses and asks for forgiveness, would the pope be obligated to not tell the authorities?" In that case, it would still hold that YES, the pope would be "spirtually" obligated to not disclose the confession and furthermore, obligated to forgive the action, but that doesn't mean the pope can't report the CRIME acted against himself and specifically identify the assailant. Forgiveness isn't the same thing as Pacifism.

Ideally, religion should be a guide for living, not dying.

Answer 3

The Pope is obliged NOT to tell the authorities, but will not grant absolution unless the murderer turns him- or herself in. This is in line with Mt. 5:23, essentially that if one sins, asks for forgiveness, but does not atone for the sin, the sin is not forgiven.

The exception to the secrecy of the Confessional is if greater sin would be committed (ie, if the murderer was about to kill again).

Answer 4

No, the absolute seal of Confession forbids any priest, including the Pope, from revealing what is said in the confessional.

However, the Pope should require the murderer to turn himself or herself in and confess to the crime before granting absolution. This would be the act of a truly penitent person.

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

No, as a matter of fact, the Pope is obligated not to tell or he could be excommunicated from the Church by disclosing what is said in confession. A priest/bishop cannot be subpoenaed by a court to testify and say what he heard in confession either.

Answer 6

No the place, in any respect. in spite of if there is an egg or not, a celebration it fairly is committed to a pagan goddess named Easter ("Ashtoreth" interior the Bible) breaks the 1st 2 of the ten Commandments. A pagan fertility goddess has not something to do with Christ's dying or actual worship. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17) for that reason actual Christians ought to company to dodge pagan practices and celebrations, rather all issues that dishonor God, thoroughly. Christmas and Easter: Jesus became not born on December 25. He became born approximately October a million, a time of 12 months while shepherds saved their flocks out-of-doorways at night. (Luke 2:8-12) Jesus by no ability commanded Christians to have fun his beginning. <~~~ particularly, he informed his disciples to memorialize, or undergo in concepts, his dying. (Luke 22:19, 20) <~~~ Christmas and its customs come from historical fake religions. <~~~ an identical is actual of Easter customs, such because of the fact using eggs and rabbits. <~~~ The early Christians did not have fun Christmas or Easter, <~~~ nor do actual Christians immediately. <~~~ And the pope.... what Apostasy!!! Hypocrisy! he's closer to his father devil the devil. Idol worshiper, satanist, murderer, pedophile protector, Get! Out! of her, except you opt to share in her sins, that have accrued as much as the heavens! far removed from Jehovah God.

Answer 7

No. Anything a person tells a priest/Pope in a confession is confidential. The person would be strongly told that until he goes to authorities and confesses to the crime, he cannot be forgiven and given penance.

Answer 8

No, if someone makes a confession to a clergy member, even if it is about a crime, they cannot disclose it, this breaks their confessional confidentiality. It is kind of like doctor patient privilege. I don't necessarily think it's right, but who I am to argue.

Answer 9

why do you think catholic priests suffering now? They screwed trust of people for centuries...Confession is obligatory in there...how many times priests violated their commitment to it? What goes around comes around....

Answer 10

No, not even the priest can break the bond of confessional