ROME (ITALY)
CBS News

July 1, 2019

By Anna Matranga

The Vatican’s highest court issued a document on Monday approved by Pope Francis strongly reiterating Catholic teaching that priests may not, under any circumstances, reveal information learned inside the confessional. The document was a response to mounting political and social pressure for priests to report details of sexual abuse of minors acquired during confessions to authorities.

The document states that any legislation aimed at forcing priests to report such information would be an “unacceptable offense” against the church’s freedom from secular power, as well as a violation of the religious freedoms of both the penitent and the confessor.

The Vatican said it felt it was “necessary to intervene,” to explain the importance of the confessional seal to the church, and to promote understanding of it.