Hello Brother,

I do not ordinarily read blogs, but I just went through some elsewhere on the web on the subject of the Seal of Confession that confused me. There were several confidently-written blogs that stated that if the penitent was not seeking absolution for his sins, just merely bragging and taunting, that the communication between he and the confessor would not be protected under the Seal. Is this true?

Also, I read in another blog that in a case where the penitent committed a capital crime the priest would give as penance the condition that the penitent must turn herself in and ask forgiveness from the victims before receiving absolution. If the penance was not completed then the confession would not be protected under the Seal. Are these true?

As the title in this submission states, I guess I am asking if any and all communication from the penitent to the priest in a confessional is protected under the Seal, whereby the confessor is prohibited from revealing any information gained in the sacrament, whether the confession be genuine or not, or whether the sacrament be completed or not. Are there any exceptions, especially in regards to what the priest can report to his superiors to stop a crime from being committed or to try to save a person's life?

Thank you very much for your time in these questions. God Bless you in your work.