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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Feeling Betrayed!	John	Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Question: I am physically disabled and confined to a wheelchair - and I love my Catholic Faith. Because it is difficult at times for me to leave my unit, I regularly ask priests in my local area to come and hear my confession (as and when required). And this is what I did this afternoon. I don't like to bother the priests in my own parish too much, as they are so very busy and hence I don't want to be a nuisance. For this reason, I arrange for other priests to come. I told the priest this afternoon I would arrange to meet him in his presbytery sometime tomorrow at a time suitable for him (to save him the trouble of coming here to my place). He was quite abrupt and asked when I had last been to confession - I said last Saturday, but that I was having Communion brought to me this Friday and I wanted to be adequately prepared spiritually to receive my dear Lord He said I was being over-scrupulous - and that another priest I confessed to several months ago has been devulging information about me to other priests in the diocese! I was absolutely horrified when I heard this! The priest I spoke to this afternoon did come and see me (this afternoon, in my home, contrary to what I had arranged with him). He asked me a lot of questions before starting the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I did confess my sins - although now I am wondering if that's wise. Who in the priesthood can I trust not to divulge anything I say? I am a convert to the Catholic Faith - this has discouraged me enormously! I love the Sacraments - particularly the Eucharist and Reconciliation - but if the seal of the Confessional is not secure, I feel it may be safer for me just to confess directly to the Lord and not through a priest. The priest I saw today made me feel like a "fruitcake"! What do you think? Please pray for me, I feel betrayed! Should I discuss this with my own parish priest? God bless you - JOHN.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear John: I am sorry these things have happened to you. No Priest should be harping at you for weekly confession. That was wrong of him. The Pope makes a weekly confession and so did many of the Saints. There is absolutely nothing wrong with weekly confession. As to the Seal of Confession being broken, this is a extremely serious thing. Are you sure that your confessions have been discussed by the priest, or maybe they are discussing you in general but not revealing the contents of your confession? If, on the other hand, the priest directly revealed the information from your confession that cannot be known otherwise, that priest is automatically excommunicated. If he indirectly revealed information from your confession then other penalties will apply. If you believe the Seal of Confession has been broken you need to immediately contact the Bishop and let him know this. I understand the sense of betrayal. If the seal has been broken, you have been betrayed. I also know that this has damaged your trust, but please know that a priest breaking the Seal of Confession is EXTREMELY rare. It is so rare that one is more likely to win 150 million in the lottery, than have a priest break the seal of confession. Of course, remember, that things you divulge to a priest that is outside of confession is not protected by the Seal, but is still protected by professional ethics and confidentiality. In addition, gossip is a grave sin. I think you need to contact the bishop and discuss this with him or with the Vicar-General of the Diocese. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Feeling Betrayed!

John

Tuesday, October 5, 2004

Question:

I am physically disabled and confined to a wheelchair - and I love my Catholic Faith. Because it is difficult at times for me to leave my unit, I regularly ask priests in my local area to come and hear my confession (as and when required). And this is what I did this afternoon. I don't like to bother the priests in my own parish too much, as they are so very busy and hence I don't want to be a nuisance. For this reason, I arrange for other priests to come.

I told the priest this afternoon I would arrange to meet him in his presbytery sometime tomorrow at a time suitable for him (to save him the trouble of coming here to my place). He was quite abrupt and asked when I had last been to confession - I said last Saturday, but that I was having Communion brought to me this Friday and I wanted to be adequately prepared spiritually to receive my dear Lord He said I was being over-scrupulous - and that another priest I confessed to several months ago has been devulging information about me to other priests in the diocese!

I was absolutely horrified when I heard this! The priest I spoke to this afternoon did come and see me (this afternoon, in my home, contrary to what I had arranged with him). He asked me a lot of questions before starting the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I did confess my sins - although now I am wondering if that's wise.

Who in the priesthood can I trust not to divulge anything I say? I am a convert to the Catholic Faith - this has discouraged me enormously!

I love the Sacraments - particularly the Eucharist and Reconciliation - but if the seal of the Confessional is not secure, I feel it may be safer for me just to confess directly to the Lord and not through a priest.

The priest I saw today made me feel like a "fruitcake"!

What do you think? Please pray for me, I feel betrayed! Should I discuss this with my own parish priest? God bless you - JOHN.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear John:

I am sorry these things have happened to you. No Priest should be harping at you for weekly confession. That was wrong of him. The Pope makes a weekly confession and so did many of the Saints. There is absolutely nothing wrong with weekly confession.

As to the Seal of Confession being broken, this is a extremely serious thing. Are you sure that your confessions have been discussed by the priest, or maybe they are discussing you in general but not revealing the contents of your confession?

If, on the other hand, the priest directly revealed the information from your confession that cannot be known otherwise, that priest is automatically excommunicated. If he indirectly revealed information from your confession then other penalties will apply.

If you believe the Seal of Confession has been broken you need to immediately contact the Bishop and let him know this.

I understand the sense of betrayal. If the seal has been broken, you have been betrayed. I also know that this has damaged your trust, but please know that a priest breaking the Seal of Confession is EXTREMELY rare. It is so rare that one is more likely to win 150 million in the lottery, than have a priest break the seal of confession.

Of course, remember, that things you divulge to a priest that is outside of confession is not protected by the Seal, but is still protected by professional ethics and confidentiality. In addition, gossip is a grave sin.

I think you need to contact the bishop and discuss this with him or with the Vicar-General of the Diocese.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum