A legislative proposal is underway called the “Law against silence about sexual crimes”, which proposes violating the confidentiality of confessions.
Newsroom (15/11/2024 15:05, Gaudium Press) On November 13, the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica reaffirmed, in an audiovisual statement, its “firm and absolute commitment to the protection of minors and vulnerable people, as well as to the inviolability of sacramental secrecy”.
In a context of tension between the Catholic Church and the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica, due to the legislative proposal called “Law against silence about sexual crimes against children and people with disabilities. Joint civil liability, the duty to denounce and guarantee compliance with investigation protocols”, which proposes breaking sacramental secrecy, the bishops of the Central American nation made their rejection public, considering that it ‘attacks religious freedom’.
They also highlighted their commitment and dedication to the centrality of the “protection of minors and vulnerable people”, in which regard they affirmed that the Church implements “rigorous measures to prevent, detect and respond to situations of abuse”; in this regard, the episcopate indicated that, among the actions carried out by the Church in favor of safeguarding minors, there are “rigorous protocols, training programs for clergy and pastoral agents, codes of conduct for all those who work in ecclesial environments”.
The inviolability of the secret of confession
About the priestly obligation to keep the confession of their penitents in absolute secrecy, the Costa Rican episcopate admitted that sacramental secrecy constitutes “a promise of inviolable confidentiality which guarantees that each person can approach reconciliation with God with full confidence”.
In this sense, the episcopate considered it necessary to emphasize that confession can be carried out as the first step towards conversion through true repentance and the purpose of amendment, “which, along the way, can involve responsible and reparative actions outside the confessional.”
However, in the video message, the episcopate affirms that “the priest can never reveal what he hears in confession, not even in circumstances of grave danger, because he is bound by the sacred responsibility of protecting the penitent’s trust in God’s mercy” while reaffirming its commitment to respect the absolute secrecy of confession and to “build a culture of protection and prevention that makes the Church a safe place for all”.
The message from the bishops of Costa Rica can be viewed at the following link: https://youtu.be/J8Q02o3GkkM
With information from Vatican News
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Bishops of Costa Rica vs. Legislative Assembly: Sacramental secrecy is inviolable
On November 13, the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica reaffirmed, in an audiovisual statement, its “firm and absolute commitment to the protection of minors and vulnerable people, as well as to the inviolability of sacramental secrecy”.
In a context of tension between the Catholic Church and the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica, due to the legislative proposal called “Law against silence about sexual crimes against children and people with disabilities. Joint civil liability, the duty to denounce and guarantee compliance with investigation protocols”, which proposes breaking sacramental secrecy, the bishops of the Central American nation have made their rejection public, considering that it ‘attacks religious freedom’.
Compiled by Dominic Joseph
