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Can a Catholic priest be forced to testify?
State laws generally exempt a pastor from having to testify in court, or to law-enforcement, about what was discussed in a church confession. The so-called priest-penitent privilege, however, can be challenged in court. And some states are changing their laws in response to a rash of clergy child-abuse cases.
Can a priest be made to testify?
Priests are not authorized to share what they heard in confession, according to Catholic laws. In most states, a pastor is not required to testify in court or to law enforcement about what was mentioned in a church confession. However, the so-called priest-penitent privilege can be contested in court.
Can a Catholic confession be used in court?
No. From the standpoint of canon law (that is to say, the internal regulations of the Catholic church), confession is sacrosanct. A priest may not reveal anything he has heard in confession.
Can priest Report confession?
The priest is forbidden to disclose anything said in the confessional under penalty of excommunication. Priests can counsel the penitent, and try to convince him to go to the police himself. The priest cannot report it, no matter the severity of the crime.
Can a priest report a confession?
In many cases, the rule of evidence of confessional privilege forbids judicial inquiry into communications made under the seal of confession. However, the Court later ruled that a priest has no duty to report confidential information heard during a sacramental confession.
Is confession admissible in court?
Admissibility of confession All admissible evidence is relevant but all relevant evidence is not admissible. Confession made to a police officer is absolutely inadmissible in accordance with provisions laid down in law of evidence. However, the same confession made to a competent Magistrate becomes admissible.
Should priests be required to report crimes committed against them?
No, because of the seal of the confessional, priests cannot be required to report such crimes, nor are they allowed to report them. Even if a law required a priest to report such knowledge, the priest would morally have to follow God’s law, and break the civil law.
Can a priest reveal his confession to the government?
Answer Wiki The general consensus is that priests are not allowed to reveal to civil authorities what they have learned in Catholic confession. The penalties for revealing secrets from confession is an automatic excommunication, preventing them from participating in the services.
How does a priest deal with a penitent who refuses Absolution?
The priest can talk this through with the penitent and try to get him to see what true amendment entails. At the very least, he can explain that he cannot impart absolution if the person does not firmly intend to stop committing the sort of sin that he has confessed.
Can a priest accompany a penitent to the police station?
The priest might even offer to accompany the penitent to the police station when he does this; but in such a case he would still be forbidden to repeat the contents of the person’s confession to others.