I used to read federal grants for my state. I read bills to pass at our capitol. Years ago and that would be over 15years ago, there was a bill that mentioned lifting that seal of confession and I brought it up to our independent priest and he said I'd like to see that and he said that with some disbelief or the idea that he'd like to see the gov't try. Question is in my mind, did the bill pass. We have bills that pass with laws/changes attached to the bills, like a pay increase for the gov't. You get what I am saying. It might be in a different county, but it would not surprise me that we have it passed and just waiting to have the button pushed.
I don't think the "law" matters. A true priest would not violate the seal regardless of what the government threatened him with.
Marsha
From the Code of Canon Law;
Can. 1388 §1. A confessor who directly violates the sacramental seal incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See; one who does so only indirectly is to be punished according to the gravity of the delict.
§2. An interpreter and the others mentioned in ⇒ can. 983, §2 who violate the secret are to be punished with a just penalty, not excluding excommunication.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P54.HTM
Topic: Confession (Read 1610 times)