Paul KeenanDear Editor, Paul Keenan’s warning about the threat to the seal of confession is timely indeed, ‘Breaking the seal’ (IC 17/7/14).
Sacerdotal privilege has traditionally been recognised by the courts of the Republic of Ireland – though the Supreme Court, in a 2001 appeal by the ‘Church of Scientology’ against a judgment which refused privilege for counselling notes, made clear that sacerdotal privilege was “not an issue before this court”.
Although the priestly imperative to maintain inviolate the seal of Confession has traditionally been recognised in Irish law, it faces enormous legal pressure, particularly with regard to legislation on mandatory reporting of the crime of child abuse.
But perhaps those who have framed this legislation do not realise that, once a priest breaks the seal of Confession, even if mandated to do so by the law, those guilty of appalling crimes (including child abuse)
will never confess their sins to that priest.
We should remember that a good Confession requires a firm purpose of amendment and ask ourselves which would serve society better – the
once-off evidence of a pressurised priest, which might or might not result in a conviction, or the firm certainty that we can be forgiven the most heinous of our sins and be sure that our confessor will never again mention the matter, no matter what the pressure?
Yours etc.,
Kieron Wood,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.