What is Confession?

By George V. MURRY

Special to The Vindicator

On June 27, The Vindicator published a story about the conviction of a man who formerly lived in the Mahoning Valley and who repeatedly raped his step-daughter during a period of 13 years. No one can fail to feel deeply for this young woman. This is a profound tragedy. I know that there is nothing I can say to eliminate that pain but I do pray that this young woman now will be able to begin the process of healing.

The article stated that the young woman spoke with a priest about the abuse and the priest did not report the abuse to the police. Since that original story appeared, other media reports have surfaced asserting that the young woman informed the priest about the abuse during the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which is commonly known as Confession.

From letters to the editor and comments I have heard, it is clear that some people think the priest in question, and by analogy the church, were insensitive to this woman by not reporting the abuse to the police and left her to fend for herself against a sexual aggressor. But that is not true. If a priest receives troubling information during Confession, such as the sexual abuse of a minor, he has a moral obligation to help that person escape from danger. He must do that, however, without revealing the identity of the person who has come to Confession (the penitent) or what the person has confessed.

Confidentiality

Why? Since the 9th century, a tradition has existed in the Catholic Church that a priest must protect the confidentiality of a penitent, even to the point of sacrificing his own life, in order that a penitent may feel free to bring any matter before the Lord without fear of public humiliation. That obligation is established in Church law and recognized in the statues of the State of Ohio.

When a penitent brings a problem to the attention of a priest during Confession, a priest may counsel, advise or urge. Any priest, for example, who is told about the sexual abuse of a minor in Confession would advise the penitent to contact the police immediately or offer to help the penitent find a rape prevention counselor. He might invite the penitent to give him the information outside of Confession, where he would be free and legally obligated to report the abuse. But he can never reveal the identity of the penitent or what he or she said during Confession.

Admittedly, this ancient injunction contradicts the experience of contemporary culture. We live in a society in which everything seems to be in the public domain. There exist no guarantees that what we say to another will remain confidential. But that is not so with Confession. There absolute confidentially is maintained and help is always available.

This level of confidentiality is known and appreciated by Catholics, but it is also revered by Protestants, Muslims and Jews. As a former university professor I have spoken with numerous non-Catholics, even non-Christians, in Confession who knew they could discuss any problem or seek advice without fear that what they said ever would be repeated.

Church tradition

Undoubtedly, some people will argue that the sexual abuse of a minor should override a Church tradition of 1,200 years. That assumes that a priest who hears about abuse or others dangers in the confessional can do nothing but listen. In fact, there is much that a priest can and must do during Confession to be of help while at the same time protecting the identity of the penitent from embarrassment in the media and, most importantly, as is so often the reality in cases of spousal abuse, retaliation on the part of the perpetrator.

The priest in this case did not confirm or deny to investigators that he spoke with this young woman in Confession. He could not do so without violating the Seal of Confession. What he did say was that if he had spoken to her in Confession, he would have advised her to contact the police or speak with a counselor or allow him to speak for her by giving him the information outside of Confession.

Sexual abuse is a problem in American society, not simply a few institutions. I am very sorry that the young woman in this case was injured and I hope she knows that the priest with whom she spoke had her overall best interest in mind.

The Most Reverend George V. Murry, SJ, is bishop of Youngstown.