If you confess to a priest tahat you murdered someone...?

Question

does he have to alert the police? Is he even allowed to under chruch law? What if you confess you are planning to murder someone? Just a question that came up between friends, thanks!

I'm looking for specifically their protocol for this type of situation, not what he 'should' do, thanks.

Answer 1

The seal of the confessional is an extremely serious matter in the Catholic church. A priest would commit a very serious sin if he broke it. Most courts in the western world respect that obligation.

"What happens if a priest violates the seal of confession? The Catechism (No. 1467) cites the Code of Canon Law (No. 1388.1) in addressing this issue, which states, "A confessor who directly violates the seal of confession incurs an automatic excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See; if he does so only indirectly, he is to be punished in accord with the seriousness of the offense." From the severity of the punishment, we can clearly see how sacred the sacramental seal of confession is in the eyes of the Church."

Answer 2

I'm a psychotherapist, and I think the same legal privileges apply to priests & ministers:

If someone discloses a past crime, confidentiality prevents us from disclosing that information without the client's written permission. However, part of the therapy process may involve taking responsibility for the past crimes.

If someone reports they plan to hurt someone else, themselves, or a major piece of property, then we are bound ethically to try to prevent this. That can go from believably talking them out of it to notifying the intended victim or the police in the jurisdiction where the murder could occur. It's an interesting process to go through, although it's truly nerve-wracking.

The exception is child abuse or neglect or abuse of elders or mentally retarded persons in the care of my client. Those are reportable, even for behavior that has already occurred. I tell people when I start seeing them the rules, and still I hear about child abuse that I gladly report to the authorities. As a matter of fact, I try to do so with the client present.

By the way, in the US these laws are usually defined by the state, not the Congress, so check your own jurisdictions for the laws that apply to your area.

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Answer 3

The priest may not break the bonds of confession, so he can't tell the police. As part of the process of reconciliation, the confessor has to make it right, so the priest will tell him or her to turn them self in for a serious crime. Unfortunately, most murderers will refuse to do so, but from the Catholic point of view, that makes the confession invalid, so the burden of sin is not lifted, and thus the murderer has condemned himself to hell, most likely.
I think there is a process available to break the bounds of confession for an extraordinary situation (for example, if the murderer is clearly planning on committing more murders) but I'm not sure about that.

Answer 4

If you went to confession to a priest to tell you had murdered someone and you were truly sorry, I think you would want to be honest with the world as well, and you wouldn't need to wonder what a priest would say about you.
If you confessed that you planned to murder someone, you would allow the healing process to work, and change your mind. Perhaps find another way to resolve your dilemma

Answer 5

Actually, I'm not SURE but I think that if the person confesses this to a Priest OUTSIDE the confessional, he is bound to report it, but there IS a 'penitent confidentiality' and I'm not sure if that would extend to murder. What I mean is...if it's confessed in the confessional...I'm not sure the Priest CAN report it to the police.

Answer 6

Maltesed could desire to have "I Confess" in recommendations. i became into rather to youthful to comprehend when I observed it. it rather is a Hitchcock action picture. a clergyman isn't allowed to interrupt the seal of confession no rely what. Now if the penitent supplies completely sparkling permission for the priest to inform third events the penitent's sins, the priest could gain this. that may no longer seen breaking the seal.

Answer 7

Many priests have gone to jail and even died because they wouldn't tell a confession. It is NEVER ok for a priest to tell a confession. It is a holy seal that cannot be broken.

Answer 8

Its not required by the law, but he should aways first talk who ever out of it first.

by telling the police everything that people say, you are basically destroying the first amendment-"freedom of speech"

people have the right to say what they want to say.

now if he sees him kill some one that's different, or if he know the guy actually killed someone then he should go tell someone.

Answer 9

id think he wouldnt even notice do to the fact of him worring u found out about the little boy he molested and has locked in the other room

Answer 10

that would put great strain onto the preist, but if they are very close to their faith then they wouldn't be allowed to tell, however they can pray to God and most likely he will find a way to deal with it.
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