Are priests who listen to confessions obligated to tell the police if someone confesses a murder?
10 Answers to "Are priests who listen to confessions obligated to tell the police if someone confesses a murder?"
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I'm not a religous person, but I always understood that the duty of a priest in confessional is not to disclose anything they are told, but to counsel the confessor on appropriate action in this type of event - and possibly to grant absolution only if the person does what is "right".
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Yes
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The priest can repeat absolutely nothing that is said in confession. They can tell no one. They can take no action or say anthing that may reveal what was said in confession.
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Apparently, priests can do whatever they feel like. (As long as people keep putting dough in the legal fees basket)
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i don't trust any of them at all god will forgive me for any thing i do so why do i need them
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You mean priests acting as police informers!
And won't it be a breach of trust? People may stop confessing.Like (1)
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I don't think that they do.
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I know they are compelled to tell if they hear that the person is planning to kill someone, because they must try to prevent it, but they are bound by the confessional to keep it confidential if it is a deed already done. If they can't prevent it they can't tell anyone. Unless they killer confesses to a murder, and then a second and a third, (and they are all proven to be true) and a pattern appears which indicates that it isn't likely to stop, then the priest is bound to try to prevent any more from being done. Sticky stuff, confessions.
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no, the secrecy of confession is sacred
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Best Answer (Chosen by Voting):
Posted by rolo65 1 Jun 7th, 2012 at 7:40AM
Yes, a priest has a duty to report unlawful activity unless it's a victimless crime. They can only absolve you in the eyes of God, save you from the clink is a whole different matter.
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Reply by SpiritOfTheRabbit Jun 7th, 2012 at 7:42AM
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