At the Register: Some answers about the seal of confession

let’s say John Doe confesses kicking a dog. Later, John is in court for animal cruelty, and the judge wants the priest to disclose whether or not he confessed kicking a dog. Because of the seal of confession, the priest cannot even acknowledge that John went to confession to him, even if John says publicly that he did so. And if — again, correct me if I’m wrong — during the confession, John mentions that he saw his friend Steve kicking a cat, that information is also bound by the seal. Everything that is said during confession is secret, even if it’s not a sin.

Read the rest of my correction to a previous post at the Register.