Hello All,=)
How are you?
well im not too religious and i wondering sumthing...if you confess something such as a crime or etc is that clergy person(minister priest ect) reliable to tell the police or do they keep it private?
2006-08-21 12:12:00 · 4 answers · asked by ..... 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
United States law now recognizes the "seal of confession" to be as airtight as "attorney-client privlege" and "doctor-patient confidentiality." Add to that the fact that any Catholic priest who violates this seal (meaning, reveals something he heard in confession) is stripped of his priesthood, I'd say it's a very safe place to talk.
2006-08-21 13:00:55 · answer #1 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only Catholic priests, I believe, have it as part of our religion that they would not under any circumstances reveal what was stated during a confession. I don't know if it's applicable to non-Catholics as the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a very large part of our religion and is one of the seven sacraments. It would be best to ask a Catholic priest yourself. Just go by your local Catholic church they state the times available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (it's not actually called 'confession' anymore).
I do know that priests would be willing to die rather than reveal what was said in confession.
With that said, it is also expected that you would do the penance as is required as part of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which could be just about anything. You can't do it only in part, otherwise, you're just abusing another's religion.
I would suggest that you go to the police, if it's a police matter.
God bless Catholic priests for the work they do - every one of them!!
2006-08-21 19:31:57 · answer #2 · answered by bri 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im pretty that in the Catholic church what you tell a bishop or whoever, must keep it secret. However, likein my faith, (LDS) they are required to go to the police. here's why according to my faith, to get a true repentance (because that's why we are confesseing) we must pay the price for what we did wrong. If we kill someone I cannot repent until i have paid that price for that crime. But it all really depends on the faith.
2006-08-21 19:21:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a protestant I don't make a formal confession to anyone. I will sometimes share my struggles with a fellow Christian, but only to advance their faith.
2006-08-21 19:28:35 · answer #4 · answered by Morwen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋