Seal of confession

The Latest

Australia's bishops protest national move to force priests to reveal confessions

Dec 2, 2019

Australia’s Catholic bishops support “nationally consistent” reporting standards for the abuse of minors, but cannot support new national legal standards... Read more

Sex abuse scandal leaves Australian Church, gov’t scrambling for solutions 

Sep 25, 2019

In the wake of a major clergy sex abuse scandal and the high-profile, controversial trial and conviction of sex abuse... Read more

Archbishop Julian Porteous.

Priests 'cannot comply' with laws that break seal of confession, Tasmania's archbishop says

Sep 12, 2019

The leader of Tasmania’s Catholic Church said priests in his archdiocese will not comply with a law that would require... Read more

Archbishop Peter Comensoli. CNA file photo

New Australian law requires priests to break confessional seal

Sep 12, 2019

A law passed in the Australian state of Victoria on Tuesday would require priests to violate the seal of confession... Read more

St. Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Via Shutterstock

Melbourne archbishop ready to defy law over seal of confession

Aug 14, 2019

The Archbishop of Melbourne has said he is prepared to defy a proposed new law that would force priests in... Read more

California Capitol Building.

California confession law dropped

Jul 9, 2019

A California bill that would have required priests to violate the seal of confession has been withdrawn by its sponsor... Read more

Confession booth in St. Peter's basilica in the Vatican. Via Shutterstock.

Seal of confession is an 'intrinsic requirement,' Vatican says

Jul 1, 2019

By Courtney Mares

The head of the Vatican’s Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary released a note Monday reaffirming the inviolability of the... Read more

Costa Rica considers bill threatening seal of confession

Jun 8, 2019

A bill in Costa Rica would require Catholic priests to violate the seal of confession to report cases of suspected... Read more

California State Capitol building in Sacramento. Via Shutterstock

'No priest may obey' proposed law, California bishop says

May 29, 2019

Bishop Michael Barber, S.J., of the Diocese of Oakland, California, has said he would sooner accept arrest and prison than... Read more

Confessional.

California confession bill amended, but still would require priests to violate seal

May 20, 2019

By JD Flynn

California’s state senate will vote on a bill that would require priests to violate the seal of confession in certain... Read more

Dominican priest: California confession bill threatens all religions

Apr 29, 2019

If California moves forward with its proposed law trying to force priests to violate the seal of Confession, it is... Read more

Pope Francis addresses participants in a course on the internal forum organized by the Apostlic Penitentiary at the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, March 29, 2019.

Pope Francis: 'Sacramental confession is the way of sanctification'

Mar 29, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis told priests and seminarians Friday that the sacrament of penance is “the way of sanctification” in which miraculous... Read more

California state senate chamber.

California bill would remove reporting exemption for priests in confessional

Feb 21, 2019

A state senator in California introduced a bill Wednesday which would seek to force priests to violate the sacramental seal... Read more

Australian bishop protests law requiring priests to break seal of confession

Jun 9, 2018

A new law in Australia will require Catholic priests in Canberra to break the seal of confession to report child... Read more

Why priests can’t break the seal of confession, despite UK lawyers’ recommendation

Nov 27, 2017

By Mary Farrow

Lawyers in the United Kingdom have recommended that mandatory reporting laws apply to priests in the confessional, in order to... Read more

A victory for the seal of Confession in Louisiana

Nov 1, 2016

By Matt Hadro

Catholic priests do not have to break the seal of Confession to report the alleged abuse of minors, the Louisiana... Read more

Confessional.

Louisiana court upholds priest's 'seal of confession' rights

Aug 3, 2016

A state appeals court in Louisiana reaffirmed that Catholic priests cannot be forced by law to violate the seal of... Read more

Confessional.

Could a US priest face jail for refusing to break confession seal?

Jan 21, 2015

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a petition from a Louisiana Catholic diocese that fears a civil lawsuit... Read more

Confessional.

Christian groups stand with diocese to protect Seal of Confession

Sep 30, 2014

By Matt Hadro

Nearly 20 organizations, both Catholic and other denominations of Christian, have joined the Diocese of Baton Rouge in asking the... Read more

United States Supreme Court.

Supreme Court asked to defend Seal of Confession in La. case

Sep 6, 2014

By Matt Hadro

The Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling that a diocesan... Read more