Vatican insists that priests cannot reveal confession secrets

The Vatican on Monday strongly reaffirmed Catholic teaching that priests cannot reveal what they learn in confession, in an apparent response to moves in Australia and elsewhere to force them to do so in cases of sexual abuse.

A document from the Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary, which deals with issues of the sacrament of confession, said no government could force clergy to violate the seal.

“The inviolable secret of confession comes directly from divine revealed law and its roots are in the very nature of the sacrament, to the point that no exception can be admitted in any Church framework, let alone in a civil one,” said the document, which was approved by Pope Francis.

Via Reuters 

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