Your friend is wrong. I have heard this question before and it is a shame how misinformation can keep a person from receiving the healing which Jesus offers us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (better known to many as “confession”). The Catholic Church declares “every priest who hears confessions is bound under very severe penalties to keep absolute secrecy regarding the sins that his penitents have confessed to him. He can make no use of knowledge that confession gives him about penitents' lives. This secret, which admits of no exceptions, is called the “sacramental seal,” because what the penitent has made known to the priest remains “sealed” by the sacrament” (CCC #1467).
A priest can speak to no one of anything you say to him in confession, and this includes you. For example, even if he is aware of your identity, and later runs into you in church or elsewhere, he may not bring up anything you said to him in confession, unless you first bring it up to him. Then, and only then, may he discuss it with you. Otherwise, he must remain silent. Under no circumstances may the “seal” of confession be broken. According to canon law, the penalty for a priest who violates this seal would be an automatic excommunication, reserved to the Apostolic See. (canon 983, 1388)
It is very important to remember that when we confess our sins before a priest, he is standing there in Persona Christi (in the Person of Christ). It is Christ himself who hears our confession and forgives us. Jesus gave us this sacrament because he knew that we would continue to sin and be in need of reconciliation with God. So, he gave to his apostles his authority to forgive sins “in his name” when he said to them, “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
When we stay away from confession, it is often for a number of reasons. Sometimes, it is shame over what we have done. Or perhaps we think that the priest is going to be shocked by what we will say. I can assure you, however, that he will be happy that you are there, seeking reconciliation with God. Sin offends God, but he is always ready to forgive, if we will only turn to him and ask. Do not put it off any longer. Go as soon as you can. You will experience a joy and peace that the world can never offer. God loves you so much and his mercy is far greater than you may realize.
Listen to the words of Jesus as spoken to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska and recorded in her diary: “I want to give myself to souls and to fill them with my love, but few there are who want to accept all the graces My love has intended for them (p.388). Speak to the world about My mercy; let all mankind recognize My unfathomable mercy (p.333). The flames of mercy are burning Me – clamoring to be spent; I want to keep pouring them out to souls; souls just don’t want to believe in My goodness (p.99). I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the immeasurable depths of My mercy (p.400)” (see Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul).
© Copyright 2002 Grace D. MacKinnon
Grace MacKinnon is a syndicated columnist and public speaker on Catholic doctrine. Readers are welcome to submit questions about the Catholic faith to: Grace MacKinnon, 1234 Russell Drive #103, Brownsville, Texas 78520. Questions also may be sent by e-mail to: grace@deargrace.com. You may visit Grace online at www.DearGrace.com.
